Tag: NBC

Postage Stamp: You can watch every shot live on the shortest hole of all the British Open courses

It was once described as “a pitching surface skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp.”

It’s the shortest hole of them all in the British Open rota.

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It got its name from Willie Park Jr., who won the Open twice and later wrote about the eighth hole at Royal Troon’s Old Course for Golf Illustrated, calling the shortie “a pitching surface skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp.”

At the 152nd edition of the British Open, which gets underway Thursday, this pint-sized terror will challenge the field of 158. Overall, the par-71 course measures 7,385 yards but the offical yardage for No. 8 is 123 yards, although it can play as short as 99. The putting surface is surround by five bunkers. In 1950, amateur Hermann Tissies needed five shots to get out of one of the bunkers, leading him to post a 15.

In 2024, golf fans can watch every shot over all four days live on the R&A’s website. Called “Postage Stamp Live“, the live streaming channel will have all the shots, from the first golfer to the last.

The Royal Troon website offers this description of the hole:

“The tee is on high ground and a dropping shot is played over a gully to a long but extremely narrow green set into the side of a large sandhill. Two bunkers protect the left side of the green while a large crater bunker shields the approach. Any mistake on the right will find one of the two deep bunkers with near vertical faces. There is no safe way to play this hole, the ball must find the green with the tee-shot. Many top players have come to grief at this the shortest hole in Open Championship golf.”

Henrik Stenson, the most recent to win the Claret Jug at Royal Troon in 2016, said, “If you’re the kind of fan that wants to see carnage I can highly recommend going out to that eigth hole and sitting in that grandstand on a difficult day.”

Tiger Woods was asked about the hole during his Tuesday news conference.

“I hit 9-iron and a pitching wedge the last two times I played it. I’ve hit as much as a 7-iron,” he said. “But it’s a very simple hole; just hit the ball on the green. That’s it. Green good, miss green bad. It doesn’t get any more simple than that. You don’t need a 240-yard par-3 for it to be hard.”

NBC, USA and Peacock have live coverage of all the golf for all four rounds starting at 1:30 a.m. ET on Thursday.

How to watch the 2024 British Open on NBC, USA and Peacock

The Open will be on NBC and USA Network as well as NBC’s Peacock streaming service.

The 152nd edition of the British Open will get underway Thursday with a field of 158 golfers looking to take home the Claret Jug and the golf season’s final major title.

Royal Troon – just outside Glasgow in Scotland – will be hosting this year’s event for the 10th time in its history.

The par-71 course measures 7,385 yards from the championship tees, but – as with most courses in the Open rota – the wind, gorse and bunkers will all play major roles in how it plays.

Among Troon’s most notable holes are the 632-yard, par-five No. 6, the Open’s longest hole, and the par-3 No. 8, better known as the “Postage Stamp.” It’s the Open’s shortest par 3, playing from as little as 99 up to 123 yards.

Royal Troon Golf Club
The par-3 eighth “Postage Stamp” hole at Royal Troon’s Old Course in Troon, Scotland. (David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

The Open is July 18-21, Thursday through Sunday, on the Old Course at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Founded in 1878, it last hosted the British Open in 2016, when Sweden’s Henrik Stenson prevailed in a thriller over Phil Mickelson.

How to watch 2024 British Open on TV

The Open will be broadcast live over the air on NBC and on cable on USA Network, with NBC’s Peacock offering the streaming. Golf Channel is also offering pre- and post-round coverage.

Tuesday, July 16

R&A Live at the Range, 4 a.m., Peacock

Live From the Open, 6 a.m., Golf Channel

R&A Live at the Range, 11 a.m., Peacock

Live at the Range, 11 a.m., Golf Channel

Wednesday, July 17

R&A Live at the Range, 4 a.m., Peacock

Live From the Open, 6 a.m., Golf Channel

R&A Live at the Range, 11 a.m., Peacock

Live at the Range, 11 a.m., Golf Channel

Thursday, July 18

First round, 1:30 a.m.- 4 a.m., Peacock

First round, 4 a.m.-3 p.m., USA Network (Watch USA FREE on Fubo)

First round, 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m., Peacock

Live from the Open, 3 p.m., Golf Channel

Friday, July 19

Second round, 1:30 a.m.- 4 a.m., Peacock

Second round, 4 a.m.-3 p.m., USA Network (Watch USA FREE on Fubo)

Second round, 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m., Peacock

Live from the Open, 3 p.m., Golf Channel

Saturday, July 20

Third round, 4:15 a.m.-7 a.m., Peacock

Third round, 7 a.m.- 3 p.m., NBC/Peacock (Watch NBC FREE on Fubo)

Live from the Open, 3 p.m., Peacock

Sunday, July 21

Final round, 3:15 a.m.-7 a.m., Peacock

Final round, 7 a.m.- 2 p.m., NBC/Peacock (Watch NBC FREE on Fubo)

Live from the Open, 2 p.m., Peacock

The R&A’s website is also streaming “Live at the Range” as well as featured groups and “Postage Stamp Live”, showing all the shots on the famed par 3.

Peyton Manning’s busy summer continues with coverage of 2024 Olympics

Peyton Manning’s busy summer will continue next week when he co-hosts NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Peyton Manning’s had a busy year, and things won’t slow down this summer.

Manning kicked off 2024 by calling a playoff game on ESPN2 as part of his ManningCast with his brother, Eli. The brothers then coached the Pro Bowl (Eli won again) and Peyton starred in a Super Bowl commercial.

Peyton and Eli later appeared in an ad for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Peyton starred in a commercial for the 2024 NFL draft. Peyton then successfully recruited free agent coach Bill Belichick to join his ManningCast lineup in 2024.

The annual Manning Passing Academy also had another successful run this year.

More recently, Peyton stole the show at Tom Brady’s roast, then he surprised his friend and old rival at No. 12’s Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony. Last week, Manning’s newest show, Receiver, made its debut on Netflix.

Next week, Manning will be part of NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Manning spoke with WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel about the opportunity earlier this month:

Manning will join Mike Tirico and Kelly Clarkson for live coverage of the opening events at 10:00 a.m. MT on Friday, July 26 on NBC and Peacock. Manning previously starred in a commercial promoting the 2024 Olympics last year. Although he never played in the Games himself, Manning is an iconic sports figure in the USA and a perfect candidate to co-host next week.

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Watch: Roger Maltbie, Gary Koch share special moment during 2024 U.S. Senior Open broadcast

The duo got together for an interview in the first round and it was priceless.

Get the tissues out.

Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie are names familiar to most golf fans who have watched any NBC Sports telecast over the last couple decades. The two haven’t worked full-time for the network since the end of 2022, but they returned in March for the 50th anniversary of the Players Championship, and fans loved seeing their faces on TV and listening to their analysis.

Well, the duo and good friends were together on TV again Thursday, this time in a bit different capacity. Koch qualified for this week’s U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island (the oldest player to ever do so at 71 years and 7 months), and Maltbie was walking around as an on-course reporter.

The duo got together for an interview in the first round, and it was priceless.

How could you not love that?

NBC will use A.I. Al Michaels for Olympic recaps and the video example is, as he said, ‘frightening’

Al Michaels is still alive! What is NBC doing?

Have you ever wondered what the “Miracle on Ice” would’ve felt like with the cheap, wooden imitation of a legendary broadcaster? What if a soulless automaton had been on the call for Malcolm Butler’s stunning goal-line interception in Super Bowl 49?

No? Really? Clearly, you don’t want to embrace the glorious future.

Well, too bad because NBC is bringing light, depressing dystopia to your sports anyway!

In next month’s Summer Olympics, the colorful peacock network plans to have Al Michaels recap each day’s most important events. Oh, I’m sorry. That’s misleading. It won’t be the Al Michaels we all know and love from decades of calling some of the most famous moments in sports history. It’ll be an A.I. version of him trained to his voice to make it sound like one of the most iconic American broadcasters ever is blasting right into your living room or headphones.

The preview of Fake Al Michaels — who, mind you, is still very much alive at age 79 and could’ve easily done these personalized recaps himself — is as saddening as it sounds:

Personally, I love having a de facto sports Siri that sounds like it was prerecorded without any emotion or authenticity. Again, I remind you all that we live in the future.

You just can’t put a lid on human beings’ ambition!

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Michaels revealed that he gave NBC his blessing to use his voice in these A.I. Olympics recaps. While his concerns were alleviated, he still didn’t sound too enthused — and understandably so.

More from Vanity Fair:

Michaels was “very skeptical” of the proposal—until he heard the A.I. for himself. “Frankly, it was astonishing. It was amazing,” he told me in a phone interview last weekend. “And it was a little bit frightening.” Michaels was left in awe of the nuance—the way it captured his intonations and verbal subtleties. “It was not only close, it was almost 2 percent off perfect,” he said. “I’m thinking, Whoa.”

I understand Michaels’ fears. Any time a broadcast company decides to use a voice you might find in a video game like Madden, it can make a person’s stomach queasy.

Still, that’s not the main takeaway I have from this whole fiasco.

It’s dispiriting that NBC is content to imitate one of the biggest sports voices it has ever had, especially since he is still alive and kicking. Michaels does a pro football game every week on a streaming service during the NFL season. He couldn’t have come back to NBC to record a few lines for a worldwide sports event? I find that hard to believe.

It’s troublesome that these kinds of decisions might soon define our sports-watching and sports-consuming future, which is only a microcosm of a greater collective. When the human element is even excised from the broadcast booth — the one place where a fan should always reasonably expect dependability and energy — then nothing is off limits.

Most of all, watching companies like NBC willingly hop into bed with these sorts of services without even a second thought is infuriating. And it doesn’t matter why they have decided to do so, either. Be it to cut costs or to invest in a hollow foundation devoid of any real exciting spark, it all comes from the same place of desperation and motivation. It’s all borne of the same brand of business cowardice to “get ahead or get left behind” without ever thinking about potential long-term consequences.

Having A.I. Al Michaels recap the Olympics is a sign of overzealousness, of NBC trying to jump onto a fad no one on the outside looking in wants a part of. I sure hope this doesn’t balloon into something much more expansive down the line. Otherwise, I’ll likely soon be inclined to agree with Michaels’ initial thoughts about his fear.

Do you believe in miracles? Well, this wouldn’t qualify.

How to watch the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock

Here’s how to follow the action.

The third women’s major championship of the year is here.

The 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is set to kick off Thursday at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the second oldest LPGA major championship, beginning in 1955. Originally being played as the LPGA Championship, in 2015 it was renamed the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after a partnership was announced between the PGA of America, the LPGA and KPMG.

This will be the second time this major championship will be played at Sahalee Country Club. It was first played at the venue in 2016 and won by Brooke Henderson.

Ruoning Yin is the defending KPMG Women’s PGA champion, having captured the title last spring at Baltusrol.

The purse is $10 million with $1.5 million going to the winner.

Here’s how to watch the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. All times listed below are ET.

Thursday, June 20

Peacock: 4-6 p.m.; Golf Channel: 6-10 p.m.

Friday, June 21

Peacock: 4-6 p.m.; Golf Channel: 6-10 p.m.

Saturday, June 22

Peacock: 1-3 p.m.; NBC: 3-6 p.m.; Golf Channel: 6-8
p.m.

Sunday, June 23

Peacock: 12-3 p.m.; NBC: 3-7 p.m.

Notre Dame Football: Shakeup Coming to NBC Broadcast Booth This Fall

Big News Regarding the Notre Dame on NBC TV Booth

The last two seasons have seen Notre Dame home football games on NBC announced by play-by-play voice Jac Collinsworth.

Collinsworth is a Notre Dame graduate and was an up-and-comer when named to succeed Mike Tirico, who left the booth to take over NBC’s Sunday Night Football call when legendary Al Michaels left for Amazon

According to Dan Marchand of The Athletic, Collinsworth is out for this fall and replacing him will be longtime NBC Sports voice Dan Hicks, who happens to be married to Notre Dame graduate and veteran sports reporter/anchor Hannah Storm.

According to the report Jason Garrett will remain as the color commentator for Notre Dame on NBC.

No offense to Collinsworth but going from Tirico to him felt like getting spit in the face.  Collinsworth didn’t scream “big time” in any capacity, something that is done by more flight miles and experience – not by having a known last name.

How to watch the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst on NBC, USA and Peacock

Get ready for more than 200 hours of live golf.

It’s finally here, the 124th U.S. Open.

The national championship is being staged at Pinehurst No. 2 for a fourth time. Payne Stewart (1999), Michael Campbell (2005) and Martin Kaymer (2014) are the previous winners of the event there.

There is a field of 156 tackling a par-70 track measuring 7,543 yards. The Donald Ross design opened in 1907.

In 2024, there will be more than 200 hours of coverage on the NBC family of networks, with the main broadcast, featured groups and featured holes as well as and studio coverage on NBC, USA and Golf Channel and streamed on Peacock.

U.S. OPEN: Tournament hub | Hole-by-hole | Field

NBC’s coverage starts Friday and continues with over the weekend up through the trophy ceremony Sunday evening.

Note: All times listed are ET.

Monday, June 10

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel and Peacock, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Golf Channel and Peacock, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 11

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Thursday, June 13

First round, USA, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Featured Groups, usopen.com, USGA App, Peacock, all day

U.S. Open All Access, Peacock, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

First round, Peacock, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Friday, June 14

Second round, Peacock, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Featured Groups, usopen.com, USGA App, Peacock, all day

U.S. Open All Access, Peacock, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Second round, NBC, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Second round, Peacock, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 15

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Featured Groups, usopen.com, USGA App, Peacock, all day

U.S. Open All Access, Peacock, 10 a.m. – noon

Third round, USA, 10 a.m. to noon

Third round, NBC, noon to 8 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 16

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open, Golf Channel, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Featured Groups, usopen.com, USGA App, Peacock, all day

U.S. Open All Access, Peacock, 9 a.m. – noon

Final round, USA, 9 a.m. to noon

Final round, NBC, noon to 7 p.m.

Golf Central: Live From the U.S. Open (Golf Channel), 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay returning to full-time TV duties at NBC/Golf Channel, starting at U.S. Open

Bones is lightening his load once again.

Jim “Bones” Mackay is lightening his load once again – from 14 clubs in a PGA Tour bag to simply a microphone.

Sam Flood, the executive producer of NBC Sports and president of production, confirmed on a conference call with media that Bones is back full time as part of a multi-year deal.

“He will be part of NBC Sports for years to come as we’re going to partner for a long time with him,” Flood said.

Bones previously had been announced as part of the broadcast team for NBC Spots/Golf Channel’s coverage of the U.S. Open next week at Pinehurst No. 2, where he caddied for Phil Mickelson in the final group in 1999 and finished second as well as in 2005 and 2014.

“It’s great for me and I couldn’t be happier about the situation,” Bones said in a separate phone call with Golfweek. “In terms of where I am in my life this is the perfect scenario for me and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Bones, 59, is regarded as one of the most popular and best caddies in the game. He spent a stretch of 25 years as caddie for Mickelson before joining NBC in 2017 as an on-course reporter and quickly becoming one of the best in the business in that role. He took a step back from his TV gig to join forces with Justin Thomas in September 2021. They won one title together – the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

2024 Players Championship
Justin Thomas and caddie Jim “Bones” MacKay look on from the 14th fairway during the second round of the 2024 Players Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Their partnership ended after the Valspar Championship in March. When Thomas had been off, Bones still did TV from time to time for NBC, including for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship last year, and he served as the lead analyst for the Tour’s Mexico Open, the first time an active caddie has ever filled that role.

“I’m going to do several (tournaments) this year,” said Bones of an NBC schedule that still includes the British Open, all three of the FedEx Cup Playoff events and late-season unofficial events such as the Hero World Challenge and PNC Championship. “It’s a bit TBD and will have a more well-established schedule the next few years.”

Bones said he’s game for whatever Flood and longtime NBC golf producer Tommy Roy, who first hired him for a tryout role at the 2015 RSM Classic, want him to do but he expects to contribute mostly as an on-course reporter. Asked whether he will still pursue caddying, he said, “Television is my No. 1 priority and I’ll do what I did before – if someone is sick or between caddies and needs a guy for a week and it’s not an NBC event, then I’d be happy to help out, but beyond that I will be doing TV primarily as far as what I do for a living.”

2024 U.S. Women’s Open TV viewership down big but attendance was best in nine years

There is good and bad to report from the Open.

The TV ratings for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open are out, according to a report by essentiallysports.com, and it shows the major championship viewership was down considerably from a year ago.

But while there were fewer people watching from home, there were a big number of them on site.

The U.S. Golf Association didn’t release specific attendance figures but did report that it’s the highest-attended USWO since 2015, a year when the tournament grounds were open for seven days, as compared to six this time around.

And the fans that went were spending money. The USGA says hospitality at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, matched the all-time high while it proved to be the best year ever for merchandise sales, including highest average transaction.

As for the TV numbers, though, NBC’s final-round coverage of Yuka Saso’s second USWO title was down considerably from 2023 when the Open was staged at Pebble Beach, pure eye candy for golf viewers at home.

The Essentially Sports report says Sunday viewership was 1.58 million for Pebble but just 943,000 this time around. Saturday’s third round on NBC had 825,000 viewers while Friday’s second round, which was on cable on the USA Network, was 204,000.

It didn’t help that a caravan of big names failed to reach the weekend, including World No. 1 Nelly Korda.