ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2015) – World No. 1 and FedExCup Champion Jordan Spieth returns to the tournament where it all began for him one year ago as he defends his title at the Australian Open, airing live in primetime starting at 8 p.m. ET on Golf Channel Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 25-28. The Australian Open, taking place at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, Australia, is the first of 14 events in nine countries that will comprise The Open Qualifying Series for 2016. Spieth headlines the field that also includes Aussie standouts Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Steven Bowditch and John Senden, along with Englishman Lee Westwood.
In South Africa, the 2016 European Tour season kicks off this week with the Alfred Dunhill Championship, where defending champion Branden Grace headlines the field that also features Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA
Emirates Australian Open
Dates: Nov. 25-28
Venue: The Australian Golf Club, Sydney, Australia
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live) / 1-5:30 a.m., 2-7 p.m. (Thursday Replays)
Thursday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live) / 1-5:30 a.m., 2-7 p.m. (Friday Replays)
Friday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live) / 1-5:30 a.m., 2-7 p.m. (Saturday Replays)
Saturday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live) / 1-5 a.m., 2-7 p.m. (Sunday Replays)
Broadcast Notes:
Australian Open Kicks off The Open Qualifying Series for 2016: The official process for The 145th Open at Royal Troon begins this week with the Australian Open. The Australian Open is the first of 14 events in nine countries that will comprise The Open Qualifying Series for 2016. The top-3 finishers in the top-10 not already qualified will receive exemptions into the 2016 Open Championship.
Spieth defends: World No. 1 Jordan Spieth defends his title one year after closing with a final round 63 to win the 2014 Australian Open.
Headlining the field: Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Steven Bowditch, Darren Clarke, Bryson DeChambeau, Marc Leishman, Jarrod Lyle, George McNeill, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott, John Senden, Peter Senior, Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood
EUROPEAN TOUR / SUNSHINE TOUR
Alfred Dunhill Championship
Dates: Nov. 26-29
Venue: Leopard Creek Country Club, Malalane, South Africa
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 5:30-7:30 a.m. (TD), 7:30-10:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 5:30-7:30 a.m. (TD), 7:30-10:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 5:30-9:30 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 5:30-9:30 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Grace defends: Branden Grace defeated Louis Oosthuizen be seven strokes for his fifth career European Tour win and his second Alfred Dunhill Championship victory.
2016 Race to Dubai Begins: The Alfred Dunhill Championship is the first of 45 official events in the 2016 Race to Dubai on the European Tour and the second-to-last event on the 2015 Sunshine Tour.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Ken Brown/Denis Hutchinson
On-Course: Jay Townsend
Contact:
Jeremy Friedman
Golf Channel Communications
407-355-4058
Jeremy.Friedman@golfchannel.com
