Nationwide, Golf Channel Establish Strategic Partnership

Golf Channel’s Golf Central On-site and Morning Drive Providing Live Hits During 2016 Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – In celebrating more than 40 years as a marquee event on the PGA TOUR, Golf Channel and Nationwide announced today a new partnership that will honor the legacy of tournament host and founder Jack Nicklaus, and showcase the rich philanthropic tradition of Nicklaus’ signature event, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. This strategic partnership includes Golf Channel’s Golf Central being produced live from the home of the Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village Golf Club, and Morning Drive providing live hits from onsite.

“Nationwide’s primary goal as tournament sponsor is to shine a national spotlight on the life-saving work being done by the doctors and staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” said Mike Boyd, senior vice president of Marketing at Nationwide. “This partnership with Golf Channel will provide a unique platform to tell the Hospital’s story to golf fans here in Central Ohio and around the nation.”

“Golf Channel has enjoyed a long relationship with tournament host Jack Nicklaus and the Memorial Tournament, and we are excited by our elevated partnership with Nationwide to work together on impactful ways to raise the profile of this great tournament and its rich heritage,” said Tom Knapp, senior vice president, golf sponsorships, NBC Sports Group. “There is great value for our increasingly loyal audience to have our news platforms on-site at marquee events like the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. Golf Channel can further showcase the wide-spectrum of compelling stories happening both inside and outside the ropes, which helps to further distinguish Nicklaus’ event and the philanthropic contributions it makes within the surrounding community.”

Golf Central and Morning Drive On-Site: Through a new multi-year agreement, Golf Channel will complement live tournament action with comprehensive news coverage produced on-site at historic Muirfield Village Golf Club. Golf Central will commence from a dedicated studio near the 14th green. Morning Drive will have reports from the Memorial throughout the week, with live on-site reports on Thursday and Friday. Golf Channel also will provide custom content surrounding the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide through its on-air and online platforms, highlighted by the tournament’s charitable components and beneficiaries, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its Patient Champion Program.

The Memorial and Nationwide share a genuine, philanthropic vision. Embodied in their enduring partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, pediatric care is at the center of each campaign and event these entities jointly execute. Nationwide’s partnership with the Memorial has helped raise more than $6 million for Nationwide Children’s Hospital since the relationship began in 2011, including a record $1.7 million in 2015. Since its first playing in 1976, the Memorial Tournament has eclipsed $26 million in donations to central Ohio charities, with over $14 million going to Nationwide Children’s Hospital through an alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

The Patient Champion Program is designed to recognize the strong, driving spirit and optimistic outlook of each patient that inspires not only their family and loved ones, but also the entire community. As a part of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, this year’s Nationwide Invitational, the tournament’s official Pro-Am, will include hosting eight Patient Champions from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and their families, for a full morning of VIP Tournament experiences.

Memorial Tournament Honoree Johnny Miller and Memorial Golf Journalism Honoree John Garrity: Golf Channel also will provide live coverage of the Memorial Honoree Ceremony and the Jack Nicklaus Golf Clinic on Wednesday, June 1 during an expanded Golf Central Pre Game news special beginning at 3 p.m. ET. The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide honors men and women who have made significant contributions to the game of golf through Nicklaus’ idea to perpetuate achievements of the game’s greatest individuals. The 2016 Memorial Tournament honoree is Hall-of-Famer and NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller, and the Memorial Golf Journalism honoree is longtime Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine writer John Garrity. The Memorial Tournament will posthumously honor Leo Diegel and Horton Smith, with Rhonda Glenn as the posthumous journalism honoree for 2016.

Hosted and founded by 18-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Jack Nicklaus, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide takes place Monday, May 30 through Sunday, June 5 at storied Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, annually attracting one of the top fields on the PGA TOUR and is one of the larger beneficiaries to charity.