Thompson, Henderson Headline Field as LPGA Stages Inaugural HUGEL-JTBC LA Open

PGA TOUR Champions in Missouri for Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge, as Franco & Singh Defend

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The LPGA Tour is in Southern California this week, staging the inaugural HUGEL-JTBC LA Open, airing in primetime on Golf Channel Thursday-Sunday.

The PGA TOUR is in San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open, where Kevin Chappell defends.

Carlos Franco and Vijay Singh are set to defend on the PGA TOUR Champions at the two-man team event, Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge.

Thomas Pieters headlines the field at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.

And tomorrow night, Golf Channel – as part of the NBC Sports Group – will televise a pair of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games, featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning at the New Jersey Devils, live at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Anaheim Ducks at the San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET. Both games also will be available via streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. For more information, visit http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/shows/nhl/

LPGA TOUR

 HUGEL-JTBC LA Open
Dates: April 19-22
Venue: Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)                                  
Thursday 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Live) / 4-6:30 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Inaugural event: This is the inaugural edition of the event, marking the LPGA Tour’s return to the Los Angeles area for the first time since 2011.

Lee to be featured in “Rookie Spotlight”: LPGA Tour rookie Erynne Lee will be featured within Friday’s live tournament coverage as part of a “Rookie Spotlight” feature.

Headlining the field: Shanshan Feng, Lexi Thompson, Inbee Park, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu, Ariya Jutanugarn, Cristie Kerr, Anna Nordqvist, Jessica Korda, Brooke Henderson and Michelle Wie.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Terry Gannon
- Analyst: Karen Stupples
- Tower: Tom Abbott
- On Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill

PGA TOUR 

Valero Texas Open
Dates: April 19-22
Venue: TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:45 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:45 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)

Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-3:30 p.m. / 9:30-10 p.m. (Live)
Friday 3-3:30 p.m. / 9:30-10 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 12:30-1 p.m. / 2:45-3 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 12:30-1 p.m. / 2:45-3 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Chappell defends: Kevin Chappell finished one shot ahead of Brooks Koepka to claim his first PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Sergio Garcia, Si Woo Kim, Xander Schauffele, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Beau Hossler, Shubhankar Sharma, Jim Furyk, Kevin Chappell and Adam Scott.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Rich Lerner
- Analyst: Curt Byrum
- Tower: Matt Gogel / Trevor Immelman
- On-Course: Billy Ray Brown
- Interviews: Lisa Cornwell

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS 

Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge
Dates: April 19-22
Venues: Buffalo Ridge (Springs Course); Mountain Top; Top of the Rock, Ridgedale, Mo.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Friday 12:30-3 p.m. (Live) / 1-3 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4:30 a.m. (Sunday replay)    
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4:30 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Format: All teams will compete on the Springs Course at Buffalo Ridge (better ball) on Thursday, and will alternate between Top of the Rock (combination of alternate shot / better ball) and Mountain Top (better ball) on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be held on Sunday at Top of the Rock.

Franco, Singh defend: Carlos Franco and Vijay Singh teamed up to win last year (15-under), finishing one shot clear of three teams (14-under).

Notable Champions Division teams: John Daly/Michael Allen, Carlos Franco/Vijay Singh, Miguel Angel Jimenez/Jose Maria Olazabal, Davis Love III/Scott Verplank, Sandy Lyle/Ian Woosnam, Tom Lehman/Bernhard Langer, Andy North/Tom Watson and Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Bob Papa
- Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
- Tower: John Mahaffey
- On-Course: John Cook / Arron Oberholser

EUROPEAN TOUR 

Trophee Hassan II
Dates: April 19-22
Venue: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Rabat, Morocco

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 6:30-8:30 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Morning Drive on-site in Morocco: Matt Ginella and Charlie Rymer are scheduled to be on-site at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Red Course, providing updates and conducting interviews Wednesday-Sunday.

Molinari defends: Edoardo Molinari defeated Paul Dunne with a par on the first playoff hole to earn his third career European Tour win.

Headlining the field: Thomas Pieters, Paul Dunne, Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Thomas Bjorn, Edoardo Molinari, Sean Crocker, Gavin Green and Yusaku Miyazato.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Dominik Holyer
- Analyst: Warren Humphreys
- On-Course: Julian Tutt