This year’s golf team event will be The Presidents Cup pitting U.S. golfers vs. golfers from Africa, Asia, Australia, Middle East, New Zealand and South America, unlike the Ryder Cup which has the U.S. vs. Europe.
The Presidents Cup was created in 1994 and doesn’t have the prestige and tradition of the Ryder Cup, but has the same format, match play and the team that amasses 17½ points first wins the meet. The United States has won 6 of the first 8 matches losing only in 1998 and engaging in a draw in 2003.
NBC and Golf Channel will combine for over 50 hours of live coverage as this year’s event will be held in Melbourne, Australia. Even though there’s a 16½ time difference between Melbourne and the U.S. Eastern time zone, much of the action will be held in primetime here so golf fans will see it live. However, Golf Channel and NBC will do a little repackaging so when the action goes into the overnight hours in the Eastern and Central time zones, you can catch up on what you missed.
All action will be live on Golf Channel starting on Wednesday, November 16 all the way through Saturday, November 19. NBC will re-air the foursome and singles action on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, Golf Channel will air its “Live From…” program in Australia with the news conferences on the day before the event, plus recapping the day’s action starting at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
Here’s the press release. By the way, NBC Sports Group must really want to hype this as I received four copies of the same press release in the Fang’s Bites inbox today.
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 50 TOTAL HOURS OF THE PRESIDENTS CUP 2011
All Four Rounds from Australia to be Shown Live on Golf Channel
23 Hours of Golf Channel’s Live From News Coverage to Surround PlayNEW YORK – Sept. 26, 2011 – The NBC Sports Group will provide 50 ½ total hours of coverage of The Presidents Cup 2011 from the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, from Wednesday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 20, on both Golf Channel and NBC.
Despite Melbourne’s 16-hour difference from the Eastern Time zone, Golf Channel will provide 27 ½ hours of live coverage of all four rounds, much of it in primetime, beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 16 (see schedule below). It will mark the first time that all four rounds of a Presidents Cup competition played outside of North America will be presented live. Golf Channel (Thursday and Friday) and NBC (Saturday and Sunday) will also combine to show 23 hours of re-packaged coverage for replay.
“The Presidents Cup is one of golf’s preeminent events and I’m pleased that we’re able to service the golf fan by utilizing multiple assets in our portfolio — Golf Channel for live coverage and NBC for comprehensive coverage on the weekend,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group.
Golf Channel will also televise 23 live hours of news coverage surrounding live play in the form of Live From The Presidents Cup, originating both from Melbourne and the network’s Orlando studios.
The Presidents Cup, which will be played in 2011 for the ninth time, was developed to give the world’s best non-European players an opportunity to compete in international team match-play competition against a team from the United States. For more information on The Presidents Cup 2011, click here: http://www.presidentscup.com
NBC Sports Group’s The President’s Cup 2011 Programming Schedule:
LIVEWednesday, Nov 16
Foursome — Golf Channel, 9 pm – 2 amThursday, Nov. 17
Four Ball — Golf Channel, 7:30 pm – 2 amFriday, Nov. 18
Foursome — Golf Channel, 4 pm – 2 amSaturday, Nov. 19
Singles — Golf Channel, 6:30 pm – 12:30 amRE-AIR
Thursday, Nov. 17
Foursome — Golf Channel, 9 am – 1:30 pmFriday, Nov. 18
Four Ball — Golf Channel, 9 am – 1:30 pmSaturday, Nov. 19
Foursome — NBC, 8 am – 4 pmSunday, Nov. 20
Singles — NBC, Noon – 6 pmLIVE FROM THE PRESIDENTS CUP (on Golf Channel)
Tuesday, Nov. 15
1-3 pm News Conferences
6-8 pmWednesday, Nov. 16
1-3 pm News Conferences
6-9 pmThursday, Nov. 17
2-4 am
6-7:30 pmFriday, Nov. 18
2-4 amSaturday, Nov. 19
2-4 am
4-6:30 pmSunday, Nov. 20
12:30-2:30 am
6-8 pm
That’s all.
