Golf Channel Tournament Airtimes & Notes: PGA, LPGA and European Tour

PGA TOUR Staging Innovative Two-Man Team Format at Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Led By Duos of Day/Fowler, Rose/Stenson & Berger/Pieters

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The PGA TOUR moves to Louisiana this week to unveil an exciting new format at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 80 two-man teams will compete in a 72-hole event that will feature a stroke play, alternate shot format in the first and third rounds, and a better ball format in the second and final rounds. Notable duos in the field include Jason Day/Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson, Daniel Berger/Thomas Pieters and Ryan Palmer/Jordan Spieth.

The LPGA Tour this week boasts a field that includes the entire top-20 in the current Rolex Women’s World Rankings, all convening at the Volunteers of American Texas Shootout. World No. 1 Lydia Ko will make her first start since it was announced that she would team up with Peter Godfrey as her new caddie, and Lexi Thompson is set to return for the first time since finishing runner-up at the ANA Inspiration in April.

The European Tour will stage the Volvo China Open in Beijing, as Haotong Li is set to defend his 2016 title.

PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Dates: April 27-30                                                                    
Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, La.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-10:30 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)

Golf Central (On-Site) Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-3:30 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 3-3:30 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday Noon-1 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-3 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)
Sunday Noon-1 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-3 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Event adopts new team format: The field consists of 160 players competing as 80 two-man teams. The format features a stroke play, alternate shot format in the first and third rounds, and a better ball format in the second and final rounds, with the low 35 teams (and ties) making the 36-hole cut. Both players from the winning team will be credited with an official PGA TOUR victory and receive the normal two-year exemption on TOUR, though there will be no world ranking points allotted for those competing in the event.

Golf Central on-site Thursday-Sunday: Originating from on-site at TPC Louisiana, Golf Central will provide the latest news and storylines beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday’s final round. Cara Robinson will host, while Brandel Chamblee and David Duval will offer analysis, and Heather Cox will provide reports and conduct interviews with players in the field.

Notable Teams: Jason Day/Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson, Branden Grace/Louis Oosthuizen, Ryan Palmer/Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger/Thomas Pieters, J.B. Holmes/Bubba Watson, Kevin Chappell/Gary Woodland, Bud Cauley/Justin Thomas, Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly, Brooks Koepka/Chase Koepka and Patrick Cantlay/Patrick Reed.  

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
- Play by Play: Rich Lerner
- Analyst: Frank Nobilo
- Tower: Curt Byrum / Craig Perks      
- On-Course: Arron Oberholser

Golf Central Broadcast Team:
- Host: Cara Robinson
- Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / David Duval
- Reporter: Heather Cox

LPGA TOUR
Volunteers of America Texas Shootout
Dates: April 27-30
Venue: Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, Texas

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday Noon-3 p.m. (Live)
Friday Noon-3 p.m. (Live) / 1:30-3:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Ko leads elite field that includes entire top-20 of current Rolex Women’s World Rankings: World No. 1 Lydia Ko leads a stout field that will feature the entire top-20 in the current Rolex Women’s World Rankings. Lexi Thompson is among those in the field, as she is scheduled to make her first start since finishing runner-up at the ANA Inspiration in April.

Format: This week’s shootout format is unique in that there is a cut to low 70 and ties after 36 holes and then an additional cut to low 50 and ties after 54 holes.

Korda to be profiled in “Rookie Spotlight” during Friday’s second round coverage: LPGA Tour rookie Nelly Korda (sister of LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda) will be showcased during Friday’s second round coverage as part of Golf Channel’s “Rookie Spotlight” feature.

Shin defends: Jenny Shin finished two shots ahead of Amy Yang, Gerina Piller and Mi Jung Hur to claim her first LPGA Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, So Yeon Ryu, Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, Lexi Thompson, Shanshan Feng, Inbee Park, Ha Na Jang, Amy Yang, Anna Nordqvist, Michelle Wie and Brooke Henderson.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
- Play by Play: Steve Sands
- Analyst: Judy Rankin
- Tower: Tom Abbott
- On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill

EUROPEAN TOUR
Volvo China Open
Dates: April 27-30                                                                    
Venue: Topwin Golf & Country Club, Beijing, China

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Live, Wednesday overnight) / 2:30-5:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Live, Thursday overnight) / 2:30-5:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)
Sunday 6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)

Broadcast Notes:
Li defends: Haotong Li finished three strokes ahead of Felipe Aguilar to earn his first European Tour win.

Headlining the field: Ross Fisher, Bernd Wiesberger, Thongchai Jaidee, Thorbjorn Olesen, Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjorn, Y.E. Yang, Chris Wood, Haotong Li and Jeunghun Wang.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
- Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
- Analyst: Dom Boulet / Jamie Spence
- On-Course: Jay Townsend