Golf Channel makes additional programming investments to keep golf in the headlines through balance of year

(ORLANDO, Fla.) - Continuing the huge momentum it has gained in 2011, Golf Channel is making sure the golf season is far from over. Established stars like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are still in the mix and are drawing record number of fans at tournaments in exotic locales around the world.

Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy – members of the so-called “Young Guns” – are making headlines, while dramatic playoff victories seem to happen every week.

Golf Channel has made significant programming investments to supplement an already stout fall tournament schedule to make its fourth quarter of programming star-studded and the strongest in its history.

As golf becomes more of a global game and international players regularly make headlines in the U.S., Golf Channel’s tournament lineup represents an array of international stars playing in tournaments from North America to Asia.

The cable network also in December will roll out a golfer’s dream week of instructional programming from golfing legends Nick Faldo, Johnny Miller and Raymond Floyd during “7 Nights at the Academy.”
Although the PGA TOUR domestic schedule concludes this week, it’s just the beginning of an exciting roster of top tournaments to close out the year.

GOLF CHANNEL NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS
CIMB Asia Pacific Classic (PGA TOUR)
Dates: Oct. 26-29
Venue: The MINES Resort & Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Field: Camilo Villegas, Tommy Gainey, Vijay Singh, Brandt Snedeker, Stewart Cink*, Ben Crane, David Duval*, Angel Cabrera*

World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions
Dates: Nov. 2-5
Venue: Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
Notes: All four 2011 major championship winners will be in the field, in addition to World No. 1 Luke Donald.
The Field: Rory McIlroy (U.S. Open)*, Keegan Bradley (PGA Championship)*, Charl Schwartzel (Masters)*, Darren Clarke (British Open)*, Martin Kaymer*, Luke Donald, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, K.J. Choi

Lorena Ochoa Invitational by Banamex and Corona Light (LPGA Tour)
Dates: Nov. 10-13
Venue: Guadalajara Country Club, Guadalajara, Mexico
Notes: 36 of the best female players in the world will compete.
The Field: World No. 1 Yani Tseng*, Cristie Kerr*, Suzann Pettersen*, Paula Creamer*, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressel*, Karrie Webb*, Jiyai Shin*

Emirates Australian Open (PGA Tour of Australasia)
Dates: Nov. 9-12
Venue: The Lakes Golf Club, Sydney, Australia
Notes: Most of the players competing in The Presidents Cup the following week will be competing in this tournament, as well, including team captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman.
The Field: Tiger Woods*, Adam Scott, Greg Norman*, Fred Couples*, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Geoff Olgilvy*

Barclays Singapore Open (European Tour)
Dates: Nov. 10-13
Venue: Tanjong Course, Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore
The Field: Phil Mickelson*, Ernie Els*, K.J. Choi

The Presidents Cup (PGA TOUR)
Dates: Nov. 16-19
Venue: Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Melbourne, Australia
Notes: A team of the best from the United States takes on a team of International players in this biennial match-play competition.
The Field:
USA – Captain Fred Couples
Tiger Woods*, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson*, Bubba Watson, David Toms*, Hunter Mahan, Jim Furyk*, Bill Haas
International – Captain Greg Norman
Jason Day, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel*, K.J. Choi, Kyung-tae Kim, Retief Goosen*, Geoff Olgilvy*, Ernie Els*, Y.E. Yang*, Ryo Ishakawa, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby

CME Group Titleholders (LPGA Tour)
Dates: Nov. 17-20
Venue: Grand Cypress Resort, Orlando, Florida
Notes: Season-ending tournament with a unique field comprising of three qualifiers from every tournament on the 2011 LPGA Tour schedule. 16-year-old sensation Lexi Thompson will be competing.
The Field: Yani Tseng*, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer*, Brittany Lincicome*, Cristie Kerr*, Stacy Lewis*, Lexi Thompson

Omega Mission Hills World Cup (PGA TOUR)
Dates: Nov. 23-26
Venue: Mission Hills Golf Club, Hainan Island, China
The Field: Martin Kaymer*, Rory McIlroy*, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell*, Charl Schwartzel*, Louis Oosthuizen*, Ian Poulter, Gary Woodland

Australian PGA Championship (PGA Tour Australasia)
Dates: Nov. 24-27
Venue: Hyatt Regency Coolum, Queensland, Australia
The Field: Greg Norman*, Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Darren Clarke*, Geoff Olgilvy*, Aaron Baddeley

Chevron World Challenge (PGA TOUR)
Dates: Dec. 1-4
Venue: Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
The Field: Tiger Woods*, Keegan Bradley*, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, Keegan Bradley*, Bill Haas, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson, K.J. Choi, David Toms*, Paul Casey, Hunter Mahan, Jim Furyk*, Brandt Snedeker

Dubai World Championship (Season-Ending Event on European Tour)
Dates: Dec. 8-11
Venue: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Field: Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy*, Charl Schwartzel*, Martin Kaymer*, Lee Westwood*, Darren Clarke*, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ian Poulter, Matteo Manassero, Graeme McDowell*, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen*, Retief Goosen* and Paul Casey.

Franklin Templeton Shootout (hosted by Greg Norman)
Dates: Dec. 9-11
Venue: Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
The Field: Keegan Bradley*, Stewart Cink*, Rickie Fowler, Fred Funk*, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Anthony Kim, Greg Norman*, Nick Price*, Kenny Perry, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker and Jhonattan Vegas

Omega Dubai Ladies Masters (Season-Ending Event on Ladies European Tour)
Dates: Dec. 14-17
Venue: Emirates Golf Course, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Field: Michelle Wie, Caroline Hedwall

JBWere Masters (PGA Tour of Australasia)
Dates: Dec. 14-17
Venue: Victoria Golf Club, Victoria, Australia
The Field: Geoff Ogilvy*, Robert Allenby, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Stuart Appleby, Matteo Manassero

Thailand Golf Championship (Season-Ending Event on Asian Tour)
Dates: Dec. 14-17
Venue: Amata Spring Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand
The Field: Rory McIlroy*, Darren Clarke*, Lee Westwood*, Ryo Ishikawa

Recent Additions to the 2011 Tournament Schedule: Emirates Australian Open, Australian PGA Championship, Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, JBWere Masters and Thailand Golf Championship

*Major Championship Winner

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