McIlroy Leads Stellar Field at Historic Royal County Down for Highly Anticipated Irish Open
Spieth Headlines the Field at the AT&T Byron Nelson
Lewis Defends ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer in New Jersey
Coverage of the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships Begins Monday, June 1
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 26, 2015) – World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will conclude a stretch of five consecutive starts this week at the event bearing the name of his foundation – the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation – being contested at Royal County Down Golf Club in McIlroy’s native Northern Ireland. The PGA TOUR remains in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the second consecutive week, as World No. 2 Jordan Spieth headlines at the AT&T Byron Nelson in his home state. On the LPGA Tour, Stacy Lewis defends at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer in Galloway, N.J.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation
Dates: May 28-31
Venue: Royal County Down Golf Club (Championship Links) Newcastle, Northern Ireland
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-8 a.m. (Live) / 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 1-3:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 7 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
McIlroy playing host: This is the first year that the event will be hosted by World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and his Rory Foundation. The foundation was created in 2013 to raise funds for children’s charities around the world, with one of the charity’s major beneficiaries – the Cancer Fund for Children – located just a few miles from the tournament site.
Unfamiliar venue: Royal County Down will act as the host course of the Irish Open for only the fourth time in the event’s history, and the first time since 1939.
Ilonen defends: Mikko Ilonen won by one stroke over Edoardo Molinari for his fourth career European Tour victory.
Headlining the Field: Rory McIlory, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Uihlein.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Ken Brown / Jay Townsend
On-Course: Gary Murphy
PGA TOUR
AT&T Byron Nelson
Dates: May 28-31
Venue: TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, Irving, Texas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 4-7 p.m. (Live) / 8-11 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 4-7 p.m. (Live) / 8-11 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Todd defends: Brendan Todd finished two strokes ahead of Mike Weir to earn his first career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Brooks Koepka, Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, and Brandt Snedeker.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Brian Hammons
Analyst: Frank Nobilo
Tower: Matt Gogel / John Mahaffey
On-Course: Craig Perks
LPGA TOUR
ShopRite LPGA Classic
Dates: May 29-31
Venue: Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club (Bay Course), Galloway, N.J.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday 1-3:30 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-3 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-3 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Lewis defends: Stacy Lewis won by two strokes over Christina Kim for her 10th LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Hyo Joo Kim, Shanshan Feng, Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and Brooke Henderson.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Whit Watson
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Karen Stupples / Jim Gallagher Jr.
NCAA
NCAA Men’s Golf Championships
Dates: June 1-3
Venue: Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Fla.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Monday, June 1 Final Round, Individual Stroke Play 4-7 p.m. (Live)
Tuesday, June 2 Quarterfinals, Match Play 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Tuesday, June 2 Semifinals, Match Play 3:30-7 p.m. (Live)
Wednesday, June 3 Finals, Match Play 3-7 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Coverage plans: Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage of the men’s championships will begin on Monday, June 1 to crown the individual national champion. On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2-3, Golf Channel will feature the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the team match-play competition. In addition, Golf Central will air on-site from Concession Golf Club with pre-and post-event news coverage.
NCAA Men’s Golf Championship Preview Media Conference Call – Thursday, May 28, 2 p.m. ET: Golf Channel will conduct a media conference call previewing the NCAA men’s championships this Thursday, May 28 at 2 p.m. ET. The call will feature Golf Channel on-air personalities who will be on-site at Concession Golf Club next week, including: Steve Burkowski (college insider); Lanny Wadkins (lead analyst); Charlie Rymer (analyst, Golf Central); Billy Ray Brown (on-course reporter) and former University of Florida men’s golf coach Buddy Alexander (guest analyst, Golf Central).
Universities competing: University of Illinois; Southern Methodist University; University of Nevada (Las Vegas); University of California (Los Angeles); University of Oregon; University of North Carolina (Charlotte); Stanford University; Florida State University; University of Florida; Clemson University; University of Oklahoma; Arizona State University; Georgia Tech; University of Georgia; University of Virginia; University of Texas; Texas Tech University; Duke University; Auburn University; University of Houston; University of Alabama (Birmingham); University of South Carolina; University of Southern California; Texas Christian University; University of Washington; University of South Florida; San Diego State University; Oklahoma State University; Vanderbilt University; Louisiana State University.
Individuals competing: David Oraee (University of Colorado); J.T. Poston (Western Carolina University); Gudmundur Kristjansson (East Tennessee State University); Robin Sciot-Siegrist (University of Louisville); Kyle Mueller (University of Michigan); Tolver Dozier (Troy University).
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: Curt Byrum
On-Course: Notah Begay / Billy Ray Brown / Phil Parkin
Insider: Steve Burkowski
Golf Central News Broadcast Team:
Host: Ryan Burr
Analyst: Gary Koch / Charlie Rymer / Notah Begay / Buddy Alexander (former Univ. of Florida men’s golf coach)
Reporter: Angela Hamann
Insider: Steve Burkowski
-NBC Sports Group-