NBC Sports History | Golf

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NBC begins broadcasting U.S. Open golf tournament
June 19, 1954
NBC presents two hours of the 1954 U.S. Open golf tournament from Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. Lindsey Nelson anchors coverage from the 18th hole tower, as Ed Furgol defeats Gene Littler to win his only major title.

Jack Fleck Stuns Ben Hogan – and NBC – at 1955 U.S. Open
June 19, 1955
Contracted to cover only one hour of the 1955 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, NBC commentator Gene Sarazen signs off by congratulating Ben Hogan on winning his fifth U.S. Open, as Hogan sits in the clubhouse two shots ahead of Jack Fleck. After the broadcast ends, Fleck stuns Hogan by sinking a birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff the following day. With no broadcast network covering the 18-hole playoff, Fleck beats Hogan by three strokes to stun the nation.

First telecast of the Ryder Cup
November 6-7, 1959
NBC presents the first telecast of the Ryder Cup. The network airs two hours of highlights from the prestigious golf tournament at the Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif. Led by USA captain Sam Snead, the Americans win the tournament 8 ½ to 3 ½.

NBC presents first golf telecast in color
May 6, 1962
NBC presents the Tournament of Champions as the first color golf telecast. Arnold Palmer goes on to win with a one-stroke victory over Billy Casper.

Nicklaus-Palmer rivalry is born at 1962 U.S. Open on NBC
June 17, 1962
Jack Nicklaus defeats Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff for the 1962 U.S. Open Championship -- highlighting NBC’s first-ever Sunday golf coverage. Palmer is the favorite at Oakmont Country Club, 30 minutes from his hometown of Latrobe, Pa. It’s Nicklaus’ first professional win, and the beginning of a legendary rivalry between two of the greatest golfers of all time.

NBC presents first live color sports transmission from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland
November 1967
Less than a year after sending the Sugar Bowl to Hawaii via satellite, the union’s 50th state returns the favor, as NBC transmits the Hawaiian Open Golf Tournament, in which Dudley Wysong wins.

NBC presents first ever “Skins Game”
November 24 – 27, 1983
NBC airs coverage of The Skins Game, featuring Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson. The format of the event includes cash prizes for the golfer with the lowest score on each hole. In the event of a tie on a hole, the money carries over to the next hole. Vin Scully calls the event with PGA Tour golfer Ben Crenshaw as analyst.

Lee Trevino aces “Alcatraz” at The Skins Game
November 29, 1987
Lee Trevino makes one of the most lucrative shots in golf history, hitting a hole-in-one at the iconic 17th hole, known as ‘Alcatraz,’ at PGA West TPC Stadium Course to win $175,000 in the 1987 Skins Game.

The Ryder Cup returns to NBC
September 29, 1991
NBC reacquires the rights to the Ryder Cup, and in the first event of the agreement presents what would become known as “The War on the Shore.” Europe’s Bernhard Langer misses a potentially match-winning six-foot putt on the 18th hole at Kiawah Island, in his final match against Hale Irwin. Charlie Jones and Johnny Miller call the 14 ½ to 13 ½ United States victory over Europe.

NBC broadcasts U.S. Open Golf again after 30 years
June 15-18, 1995
In NBC’s first broadcast of golf’s U.S. Open in 30 years, Corey Pavin hits an iconic 4-wood on the 18th hole at Shinnecock Hills, in Southampton, N.Y., in the final round on June 18, leading to a par and a two-stroke win for his first major title. NBC goes on to broadcast the U.S. Open through 2014.

Payne Stewart sinks 15-foot putt to win U.S. Open
June 20, 1999
In one of the most amazing battles in U.S. Open history, Payne Stewart sinks a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole of the final round at Pinehurst #2 to defeat Phil Mickelson for his second U.S Open title. It’s the final victory for Stewart, who would pass away just four months later in an airplane accident.

1999 Ryder Cup
September 26, 1999
American Justin Leonard sinks a 45-foot putt on the 17th hole at Brookline Country Club in Chestnut Hill, Mass., against Europe’s Jose Maria Olazabal, sending spectators into a frenzy as the Americans defeat Europe 14 ½ - 13 ½ to retake the Ryder Cup. The event delivers a 4.6 rating on NBC.

Tiger Woods Wins His First U.S. Open
June 19, 2000
Tiger Woods wins his first U.S. Open by 15 shots, a record for all majors, with a to–par tournament record score of –12 from Pebble Beach, Calif. With a total score of 272, Woods ties the record for the lowest 72-hole score in U.S. Open history.

NBC Broadcasts the 2003 U.S. Open
June 12–15, 2003
The 2003 U.S. Open takes place at the North Course of Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill. Jim Furyk wins his only major championship, three shots ahead of runner-up Stephen Leaney. With a total score of 272, Furyk ties the record for the then-lowest 72-hole score in U.S. Open history. Bob Costas works the U.S. Open in a host role for NBC for the first time.

NBC reaches five-year deal with the PGA TOUR
January 11, 2006
NBC Sports increases its coverage of the PGA TOUR to 10 events, up from five, through 2012. NBC becomes the network home of the final three weeks of the Championship Series and secures the rights to two World Golf Championships.

NBC broadcasts the 2006 U.S. Open
June 15 - 18, 2006
NBC broadcasts the 106th U.S. Open from Winged Foot Golf Club West Course in Mamaroneck, N.Y. This is the first U.S. Open broadcast in HD (on both NBC and ESPN). Geoff Ogilvy wins his first career major in one of the wildest finishes in U.S. Open history. Phil Mickelson, playing in the final pairing and seeking his third straight major championship, double-bogeys the final hole after hitting driver off the tee and failing to hit the fairway. Reacting to his double-bogey on the final hole, he bends over, head in his hands, and says, “I am such an idiot.”NBC broadcasts the 2008 U.S. Open
June 12-16, 2008
NBC televises the 108th U.S. Open from Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., including the first-ever primetime coverage of the major. Tiger Woods wins his third U.S. Open Championship and 14th major title. He hobbles to victory with a broken leg and torn ACL after forcing an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate with a 15-foot birdie. After both players shoot 71 in the playoff, and Woods defeats Mediate on the first sudden-death hole.

NBC broadcasts the 2010 U.S. Open
June 17-20, 2010
NBC broadcasts the 110th U.S. Open from Pebble Beach, during which Graeme McDowell wins his only major title.

NBC Sports Group extends rights to PGA Tour
September 2011
NBC Sports Group and the PGA Tour reach agreement to extend NBCUniversal’s rights until 2021.

“Golf Channel on NBC” broadcasts the 2012 U.S. Open
June 14–17, 2012
“Golf Channel on NBC” and Golf Channel broadcast 13 hours of the 112th U.S. Open from the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. Webb Simpson wins his first major title, one stroke ahead of Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson. “Golf Channel on NBC’s” broadcast marks the most-watched U.S. Open final round in four years; the most-watched third round in a decade; and the most-watched combined Saturday-Sunday coverage in four years.

“Golf Channel on NBC” Broadcasts the 2013 U.S. Open
June 13-16, 2013
“Golf Channel on NBC” and Golf Channel broadcast the 113th U.S. Open from the East Course of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Justin Rose finishes two strokes ahead of Jason Day and Phil Mickelson to win his first major title, becoming the first player from England to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970, two strokes ahead of Jason Day and Phil Mickelson. “Golf Channel on NBC’s” weekend tournament coverage is the most-watched East Coast U.S. Open in six years (since 2007 at Oakmont Country Club), while Golf Channel posts the network’s most-watched U.S. Open Week ever for an East Coast event (second most-watched U.S. Open Week of all-time behind 2012’s event).

NBC Sports Group signs partnership with PGA of America through 2030
October 10, 2013
The PGA of America and NBC Sports Group unveil a historic partnership extension through 2030, the most far-reaching agreement in professional sports at the time it is signed. The multi-platform agreement gives NBC Sports Group exclusive broadcast, cable and streaming rights to the Ryder Cup and the Senior PGA Championship through 2030. The Ryder Cup has been televised by NBC since 1991.

“Golf Channel on NBC” signs off on the U.S. Open
June 12-15, 2014
“Golf Channel on NBC” and Golf Channel present 75 combined live hours of television surrounding the 114th U.S. Open from Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., the last in its U.S. Open deal. Martin Kaymer wins his first U.S. Open and second major title, eight strokes ahead of Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler. He is the first to open a major with two rounds of 65 or better, and sets a U.S. Open record for lowest 36-hole score at 130.

20th Anniversary of Golf Channel
January 17, 2015

NBC Sports Group enters into 12-year agreement with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
June 8, 2015
NBC Sports Group enters into a 12-year agreement with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for U.S. television coverage starting in 2017. The partnership includes coverage of The Open, Senior Open, Amateur Championship, Ricoh Women’s British Open and The Walker Cup, and Curtis Cup in years those events are hosted by the R&A and Ladies’ Golf Union. Subsequently, NBC Sports Group secures 2016 media rights for the 145th Open Championship, a year earlier than planned. Airing on NBC and Golf Channel, this deal marks Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship.

GolfNow surpasses 15 million rounds of golf in one year
December 31, 2015

U.S. wins 2016 Ryder Cup
October 2, 2016
For the first time since 2008, the United States wins the Ryder Cup in dominating fashion over Europe, 17-11 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN. Ryan Moore clinches the winning point for the Americans and Patrick Reed posts a 3-1-1 record in his matches over the three-day event, including a theatrical victory over Europe’s Rory McIlroy on the final day. The United States victory comes following the passing of Arnold Palmer one week prior on September 25. As a tribute to Palmer, the first tee at Hazeltine National Golf Club displays the golf bag Palmer received as captain of the 1975 United States Ryder Cup team. Golf Channel produces 23 consecutive live hours of programming and conducts more than 80 interviews with family, friends, fellow golfers and more to recount Palmer's life and legacy as the world’s most influential golfer.