FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED LIVE ACROSS NBC AND GOLF CHANNEL THIS WEEKEND
Spieth, DeChambeau, McIlroy and Reed Headline Arnold Palmer Invitational Field
GOLF Channel Provides Live Coverage of LPGA Tour Drive on Championship Presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala Thursday-Sunday
GOLF Channel and NBC Continue Trend of Viewership Gains with PGA TOUR WGC-Workday Championship and Gainbridge LPGA Coverage
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 3, 2021 – Bay Hill Club and Lodge hosts the PGA TOUR this week, when the Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place Thursday-Sunday in Orlando, Fla., on NBC and GOLF Channel. Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed headline the field, which features 13 of the top 25 players on the Official World Golf Ranking. Tyrrell Hatton defends his Arnold Palmer Invitational title from last year.
The LPGA Tour’s season continues at the inaugural Drive On Championship presented by Volvik from Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla. The Korda sisters – Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda – headline the field, as the LPGA Tour’s only winners thus far in 2021.
Yesterday, NBC Sports announced that major champion and two-time LPGA Tour winner Morgan Pressel has joined GOLF Channel and NBC as an analyst and on-course reporter for LPGA Tour, PGA TOUR and USGA coverage. She will make her 2021 on-air debut this week at the LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala on GOLF Channel. Click here for more info.
GOLF Channel and NBC continue to deliver viewership gains for the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. Following are viewership highlights from last weekend’s coverage:
- WGC-Workday Championship coverage across GOLF Channel and NBC averaged 1.234 million viewers, up 9 % vs. 2020;
- Early-round and lead-in coverage on GOLF Channel averaged 626,000 viewers, up 37% vs. comparable coverage in 2020;
- Gainbridge LPGA coverage in primetime on GOLF Channel averaged 188,000 viewers, up 18% vs. 2020.
PGA TOUR: ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL
NBC/GOLF Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Dan Hicks
- Analyst: Paul Azinger / Justin Leonard
- Tower: David Feherty
- On-Course: Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay / Roger Maltbie
- Interviews: Steve Sands
- Essays: Jimmy Roberts
How To Watch – Thursday, March 4 – Sunday, March 7 (all times ET)
- TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app
| Date | NBC | GOLF Channel |
| Thursday | 2-6 p.m. | |
| Friday | 2-6 p.m. | |
| Saturday | 2:30-6 p.m. | 12:30-2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 2:30-6 p.m. | 12:30-2:30 p.m. |
Notable Players This Week
- Jordan Spieth
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Rory McIlroy
- Patrick Reed
- Rickie Fowler
- Jason Day
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Tyrrell Hatton
LPGA TOUR: DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP AT GOLDEN OCALA
GOLF Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Grant Boone
- Analyst: Morgan Pressel
- Tower: Tom Abbott
- On-Course: Karen Stupples / Jerry Foltz
How To Watch – Thursday, March 4 – Sunday, March 7 (all times ET)
- TV – GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app
| Date | GOLF Channel |
| Thursday | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. |
| Friday | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. |
| Saturday | 2:30-5:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 2:30-5:30 p.m. |
Notable Players This Week
- Nelly Korda
- Jessica Korda
- Danielle Kang
- Lexi Thompson
- Brooke Henderson
- Lydia Ko
- Jin Young Ko
- Stacy Lewis
BROADCAST NOTES
- Golf Today and Golf Central: Golf Today and Golf Central will provide pre-and post-tournament coverage on GOLF Channel Thursday-Sunday. Shane Bacon and Damon Hack anchor Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday editions of Golf Today alongside Steve Burkowski. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Mark Rolfing and Burkowski contribute to Golf Central pre- and post-round coverage this week.
| Date | Golf Today | Golf Central |
| Thursday | 8 a.m.-10 a.m. | 1-2 p.m./6-7 p.m. |
| Friday | 8 a.m.-10 a.m. | 1-2 p.m./6-7 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m./6-7 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m./6-7 p.m. |
–NBC SPORTS–
