Thursday, May 19, 2016

PGA TOUR Champions Enters Majors Stretch on Golf Channel & NBC

Three Majors Over Four Weeks Include Regions Tradition (May 19-22); Senior PGA Championship (May 26-29); Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS (June 9-12)

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – This week the PGA TOUR Champions begins the majors stretch of its 2016 schedule, featuring three of the Tour’s five majors over a four week span, as the Regions Tradition kicks off this Thursday, May 19, from Birmingham, Alabama. Golf Channel and NBC Sports will provide exclusive coverage of this stretch, highlighted by the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, May 26-29, which will air on Golf Channel and NBC. In all, NBC Sports Group will carry four of the five PGA TOUR Champions majors in 2016, including The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex (July 21-24) airing on Golf Channel and NBC.

Regions Tradition (May 19-22): The field at the Regions Tradition this week is preparing for a new venue, with the Tour shifting the event to Greystone Golf & Country Club, which will serve as host of the event through 2018. Jeff Maggert outlasted Kevin Sutherland in a playoff last year to claim his first career PGA TOUR Champions major title.

Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid (May 26-29): Colin Montgomerie successfully defended his 2014 title at the Senior PGA Championship in 2015, finishing four shots clear of the field to win at French Lick Resort in Indiana. The 2016 Senior PGA Championship will be contested at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, located in the southwest region of the state along Lake Michigan.

Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship (June 9-12): Bernhard Langer also went back-to-back in 2015, winning the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship for the second consecutive year courtesy of a six-stroke win at Belmont Country Club outside of Boston. This year’s event will be contested at Philadelphia Cricket Club.

“Our commitment to showcasing the PGA TOUR Champions on Golf Channel and NBC is a direct response to our viewers’ recognition that the game’s most celebrated champions continue to compete at a high level,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer for Golf Channel. “Viewership in April for PGA TOUR Champions coverage on Golf Channel was up 18% year-over-year, and our investment in this Tour and its established stars will continue to grow as we prepare to cover the first edition of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs later this year.”

In total Golf Channel and NBC Sports Group will televise 25 PGA TOUR Champions events in 2016, culminating with the inaugural Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, a three-tournament, season-ending competition modeled similarly to the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs.

The PowerShares QQQ Championship at Sherwood Country Club in California (October 28-30) will include a field of 72 and serve as the first playoff event. The top-54 will advance to The Dominion Charity Classic, contested at the Country Club of Virginia (November 4-6) in Richmond. The top-36 then will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club in Arizona (November 10-13). A points system will be utilized, with each player’s season-long earnings equating to their respective points at the beginning of the playoffs. A reset will be made ahead of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship (similar to the FedExCup Playoffs’ TOUR Championship) guaranteeing that the top-five players in the standings would win the Charles Schwab Cup with a victory. A $1 million bonus will be presented to the Charles Schwab Cup champion, and the top five finishers also will receive bonus payouts.

Upcoming PGA TOUR Champions Majors Programming Schedule (Eastern, EST)

Regions Tradition
Thursday, May 19 1-3:30 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Friday, May 20 1-3:30 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Saturday, May 21 5-7 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Sunday, May 22 5-7 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel

Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid
Thursday, May 26 1-4 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Friday, May 27 1-4 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Saturday, May 28 2:30-5 p.m. (Live) NBC
Sunday, May 29 3-6 p.m. (Live) NBC

Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship
Thursday, June 9 12:30-3:30 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Friday, June 10 12:30-3:30 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Saturday, June 11 3-5 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel
Sunday, June 12 3-6 p.m. (Live) Golf Channel

No comments: