NBC & ESPN to Air More Than 30 Hours of Live U.S. Open Coverage
Far Hills, N.J. (May 7, 2012) – The United States Golf Association, in conjunction with its television partners NBC Sports, ESPN and Golf Channel, today announced the broadcast schedule for the 2012 USGA championship season. In all, 60 hours of live coverage will air from the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, including more than 30 hours of live coverage of the 112th U.S. Open Championship from The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.
In addition to the three Open championships, NBC and Golf Channel will provide television coverage of the U.S. Amateur Championship, to be held at Cherry Hills Country Club, in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., in August. The U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior championships are also part of the broadcast schedule.
“It is important that we continue to provide golf fans access to both the USGA’s Open and amateur championships,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “NBC and ESPN’s primetime coverage of the U.S. Open will heighten the viewer experience of the national championship and capture the drama that will unfold at The Olympic Club. Network coverage of the Women’s Open and Senior Open will display each championship’s spirited competition on challenging venues.”
NBC and ESPN will combine to air 32 hours of live U.S. Open coverage. ESPN has added one hour to its Thursday and Friday broadcasts, which begin at noon (EDT) on June 14-15. NBC’s coverage of the first two rounds can be seen from 3-5 p.m. EDT, followed by coverage from 5-10 p.m. EDT on ESPN. NBC will broadcast the third round (June 16) and fourth round (June 17) from 4-10 p.m. EDT and will precede that coverage with a 60-minute pre-round program, beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. If necessary, a playoff will be contested on Monday, June 18, starting at noon EDT. ESPN will cover the first two hours and NBC will provide coverage through the playoff’s completion.
The first two rounds of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis. on July 5-6 will be televised on ESPN2, from 4-8 p.m. EDT. NBC will air the third and fourth rounds (July 7-8), from 3-6 p.m. EDT. The network has added a 30-minute pre-round program to the schedule, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The U.S. Senior Open’s first and second rounds (July 12-13) from Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich. will air on ESPN2, from 3-7 p.m. EDT. NBC Sports will broadcast the third and fourth rounds (July 14-15), from 3-6 p.m. EDT.
NBC and Golf Channel will work together on the coverage of the 112th U.S. Amateur. NBC will show both the semifinal matches (Aug. 18) and the championship match (Aug. 19) at 4 p.m. EDT. Golf Channel is moving its Thursday and Friday coverage (Aug. 16-17) to prime time. Thursday’s match play begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT, while Friday’s quarterfinals is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT.
USGA Championship Television Schedule
112th U.S. Open Championship, The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif. (June 14-17)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
June 12/Tues.
2-3 p.m.
ESPN2
Preview
June 13/Wed.
2-3 p.m.
ESPN2
Preview
June 14/Thurs.
Noon-3 p.m.
ESPN*
First Round
3-5 p.m.
NBC
5-10 p.m.
ESPN*
June 15/Fri.
Midnight-1 a.m.
ESPN2
S/C @U.S. Open
1-4 a.m.
ESPN2
First Round Highlights
Noon-3 p.m.
ESPN*
Second Round
3-5 p.m.
NBC
5-10 p.m.
ESPN*
June 16/Sat.
Midnight-1 a.m.
ESPN2
S/C @U.S. Open
3-6 a.m.
ESPN2
2nd Round Highlights
1:30-2:30 p.m.
ESPN
S/C @U.S. Open
3-4 p.m.
NBC
Live @U.S. Open
4-10 p.m.
NBC
Third Round
June 17/Sun.
Midnight-1 a.m.
ESPN2
S/C @U.S. Open
3-6 a.m.
ESPN2
3rd Round Highlights
1:30-2:30 p.m.
ESPN
S/C @U.S. Open
3-4 p.m.
NBC
Live @U.S. Open
4-10 p.m.
NBC
Fourth Round
June 18/Mon.
Midnight-1 a.m.
ESPN2
S/C @U.S. Open
1-4 a.m.
ESPN2
4th Round Highlights
Playoff Round
Noon-2 p.m.
ESPN
2 p.m.-Conclusion
NBC
* Indicates program will also be broadcast via ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile TV
S/C @U.S. Open – SportsCenter at the U.S. Open
67th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wis. (July 5-8)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
July 5/Thurs.
4-8 p.m.
ESPN2*
First Round
July 6/Fri.
4-8 p.m.
ESPN2*
Second Round
July 7/Sat.
2:30-3 p.m.
NBC
Live @Women’s Open
3-6 p.m.
NBC
Third Round
July 8/Sun.
2:30-3 p.m.
NBC
Live @Women’s Open
3-6 p.m.
NBC
Fourth Round
*Indicates program will also be broadcast via ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile TV
33rd U.S. Senior Open Championship, Indianwood Golf & Country Club, Lake Orion, Mich. (July 12-15)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
July 12/Thurs.
3-7 p.m.
ESPN2*
First Round
July 13/Fri.
3-7 p.m.
ESPN2*
Second Round
July 14/Sat.
3-6 p.m.
NBC
Third Round
July 15/Sun.
3-6 p.m.
NBC
Fourth Round
*Indicates program will also be broadcast via ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile TV
64th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, Lake Merced Golf Club, Daly City, Calif. (July 16-21)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
July 20/Fri.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Golf Channel
Quarterfinal Matches
July 21/Sat.
6-8 p.m.
Golf Channel
Championship Match
112th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, The Country Club, Cleveland, Ohio (Aug. 6-12)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
Aug. 8/Wed.
3-5 p.m.
Golf Channel
1st Round Match Play
Aug. 9/Thurs.
3-5 p.m.
Golf Channel
3rd Round Match Play
Aug. 10/Fri.
3-5 p.m.
Golf Channel
Quarterfinal Matches
Aug. 11/Sat.
3-5 p.m.
Golf Channel
Semifinal Matches
Aug. 12/Sun.
3-5 p.m.
Golf Channel
Championship Match
112th U.S. Amateur Championship, Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. (Aug. 13-19)
Date/Day
Time (EDT)
Network
Program
Aug. 15/Wed.
4-6:00 p.m.
Golf Channel
1st Round Match Play
Aug. 16/Thurs.
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Golf Channel
3rd Round Match Play
Aug. 17/Fri.
8:30-10:30 p.m.
Golf Channel
Quarterfinal Matches
Aug. 18/Sat.
4-6 p.m.
NBC
Semifinal Matches
Aug. 19/Sun.
4-6 p.m.
NBC
Championship Match
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
Contact:
Pete Kowalski, USGA Communications, pkowalski@usga.org, 908-234-2300 x1322 and
Brian DePasquale, USGA Communications, bdepasquale@usga.org, 908-234-2300 x1292
Media Contact: Brian DePasquale (bdepasquale@usga.org)
Web Address: www.usga.org
USGA Phone: (908) 234-2300
