Ko Defends at Swinging Skirts Classic, Airing in Primetime
Johnson, Day Headline the Field at Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Nicklaus, Player Paired for Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge
Levy Defends at Volvo China Open
ORLANDO, Fla. (April 21, 2015) – World No. 1 Lydia Ko returns to defend her title at the Swinging Skirts Classic in San Francisco, Calif., airing in primetime on Golf Channel, 6-9 p.m. ET. In last year’s event, Ko battled Stacy Lewis – current No. 3 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings – down the stretch to win her third career LPGA title. On the PGA TOUR, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day headline the field at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Golf Centralwill originate from TPC Louisiana Thursday-Sunday, with Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, David Duval anchoring coverage. The Champions Tour is in Missouri for the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge, where World Golf Hall-of-Famers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are paired together in the Legends division of the two-man team event. And the European Tour is in Shanghai, as Alexander Levy defends at the Volvo China Open.
LPGA TOUR
Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic
Dates: April 23-26
Venue: Lake Merced Golf Club, San Francisco, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Friday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Ko leads a strong field: World No. 1 Lydia Ko headlines a field that includes each of the top-10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Lee to be featured in “Rookie Spotlight”: Alison Lee will be the focus of this week’s “Rookie Spotlight,” as she discusses the adjusting to life on Tour as a full-time LPGA member.
Ko defends: Lydia Ko finished one stroke ahead of Stacy Lewis for her third career LPGA Tour victory.
Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Hyo Joo Kim, Shanshan Feng, Brittany Lincicome, So Yeon Ryu, Suzann Pettersen, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Terry Gannon
Analyst: Kay Cockerill
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Dates: April 23-26
Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Golf Central, Morning Drive on-site from TPC Louisiana: Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee and David Duval will anchor the coverage of Golf Central from a dedicated set on-site at TPC Louisiana beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through Sunday evening. Matt Ginella, Charlie Rymer and Jim Gallagher Jr. also will report on-site for Morning Drive, Wednesday-Sunday.
Noh defends: Seung-Yul Noh won by two strokes over Robert Streb and Andrew Svoboda for his first career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Billy Horschel, Steve Stricker, Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Erik Compton, Justin Thomas and Jamie Donaldson.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner
Analyst: Nick Faldo
Tower: Jim Gallagher Jr.
On-Course: Matt Gogel
Interviews: Steve Burkowski
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge
Dates: April 24-26
Venue: Buffalo Ridge (Springs Course); Top of the Rock, Ridgedale, Mo.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday Noon-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 1-3 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-6 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Tournament format: Two-man teams will compete in two divisions: the Champions division (54-hole tournament) and the Legends Division (45-hole tournament for players age 65+). Teams will compete in a better-ball format at Buffalo Ridge and will play nine holes each of alternate shot and better-ball at Top of the Rock. Each division will play one round on each course over the first two days, and the final round will be played at Top of the Rock.
Nicklaus, Player team up in the Legends division: World Golf Hall-of-Famers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will team up in the Legends division. Over the course of their respective careers, the pair combined to win 29 Champions Tour titles.
Funk, Sluman defend: Fred Funk and Jeff Sluman finished one shot ahead of Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen last year.
Champions Division Teams: Andy North/Tom Watson, Jeff Sluman/Tom Lehman, Peter Jacobsen/D.A. Weibring, Brad Bryant/Bart Bryant, John Cook/Joey Sindelar, Ben Crenshaw/Jerry Pate, Fred Funk/Eduardo Romero, Sandy Lyle/Ian Woosnam, Lee Janzen/Rocco Mediate, Corey Pavin/Duffy Waldorf, Olin Browne/Steve Pate.
Legends Division Teams: Jack Nicklaus/Gary Player, David Graham/Tony Jacklin, Chi Chi Rodriguez/Bob Murphy, Mike Hill/Lee Trevino.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: John Mahaffey / David Marr
On-Course: Phil Blackmar
EUROPEAN TOUR
Volvo China Open
Dates: April 22-26
Venue: Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, Shanghai, China
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Live)
Thursday 2:30 a.m.-5:30 a.m. (Live) / 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 12:30-2:30 a.m. (Tape delay) / 2:30-5:30 a.m. (Live) / 9 a.m.-Noon (Replay)
Saturday 6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)
Sunday 6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)
Broadcast Notes:
Levy defends: Alexander Levy won by four shots over Tommy Fleetwood for his first career European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Peter Uihlein, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Mikko Ilonen, Tommy Fleetwood, Alexander Levy, Ross Fisher, Alex Noren, Gary Stal, Matteo Manassero and Oliver Wilson.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Scott Walker
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Warren Humphreys
On-Course: Julian Tutt
-NBC Sports Group-