With the U.S. Open providing all the thrills and spills that we have come to expect from our National Championship, this week in golf provides some relief for the players. All of the major tours are in action and it is a preparation week for both the seniors and the women, as those tours will be participating in major championships next week. Here is a rundown of the biggest professional tournaments coming up this week.
PGA Tour
Callaway Golf 2018 Men’s Rogue Driver
Masters champion Patrick Reed, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, and Justin Thomas are all scheduled to participate in this event. Defending champion Jordan Spieth, two-time winner Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day all will be hoping to come back from missing the cut last week in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Broadcast coverage (All Times EDT)
Thursday June 21st 3:30-6:30 p.m. Golf Channel
Friday June 22nd 3:30-6:30 p.m. Golf Channel
Saturday June 23rd 1-2:45 p.m. Golf Channel
3-6 p.m. CBS
Sunday June 24th 1-2:45 p.m. Golf Channel
3-6 p.m. CBS
Video Courtesy of PGA Tour
LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour will play in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. Defending champion So-Yeon Ryu won by two shots over Amy Yang and Moriya Jutanugarn on this par 71, 6,331 yard layout. The golf course was originally designed by the late Don Sechrest, with former PGA Tour veteran Bruce Lietzke serving as a consultant. In 2009, the course was redesigned by Randy Heckenkemper.
Broadcast coverage (All Times EDT)
Friday June 22nd 6:30-8:30 p.m. Golf Channel Saturday June 23rd 3-5 p.m. Golf Channel Sunday June 24th 3-5 p.m. Golf Channel
European tour
The European Tour will be in Pulheim, Germany for the BMW International open, at the Golf Club Gut Laerchenhof. Andres Romero is the defending champion. Recent U.S. Open runner-up Tommy Fleetwood is scheduled to tee off at 7:40 a.m. EDT. Major champions Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, and Jose Maria Olazabal are also expected to play in this event. The golf course is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Germany.
Broadcast coverage (All Times EDT)
Thursday June 21st 5:30-7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Golf Channel Friday June 22nd 5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Golf Channel Saturday June 23rd 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Golf Channel Sunday June 24th 6:30-11 a.m. Golf Channel
PGA Tour Champions
This week the PGA Tour Champions will play in the American Family Insurance championship at University Ridge Golf Club in Madison, Wisconsin. The course will play to a par of 72 at a distance of 7059 yards. Fred Couples is the defending champion in this event winning last year over Scott Verplank by two strokes. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. was the designer for University Ridge, which opened in 1991.
World Golf Hall of Famers Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, Tom Kite, and Fred Couples, who will be making his first start since the Masters, are all scheduled to play. Madison residents Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly will also be playing here in their hometown.
Broadcast coverage (All Times EDT)
Friday June 22nd 12:30-3 p.m. Golf Channel Saturday June 23rd 5-7 p.m. Golf Channel Sunday June 24th 6-7 p.m. Golf Channel
Web.com Tour
This week the Web.com Tour will play in the in Wichita Open Supporting Wichita’s Youth at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kansas. Crestview will play at 6913 yards with a par of 70. Crestview Country Club was founded in 1921 and has two Robert Trent Jones designed golf courses.
PGA Tour rookie phenom Aaron Wise, who won this event last year by five strokes over Beau Hossler, another standout rookie on the PGA Tour. Wise began last year’s event by shooting 62 on each of the first two days. No television coverage is scheduled for this event.
Upcoming major championships
Broadmoor Club East Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado will host the 39th U.S. Senior Open championship from June 28th-July 1st. The Donald Ross design will measure 7264 yards and play of 70. Kenny Perry won the championship last by Two Strokes over Kirk Triplett at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Massachusetts.
The KPMG women’s PGA Championship will take place at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, Illinois. Kemper Lakes, designed by Ken Killian and Dick Nugent, will play to a par of 70 and measures 6741 yards. Danielle Kang is the defending champion, winning last year by one stroke over Brooke Henderson at Olympia Fields Country Club.
Saying Goodbye
The golf world is mourning the passing of two champions this week. Hubert Green, who won the 1977 U.S. Open and the 1985 PGA Championship, died on June 19th. Peter Thomson of Australia, winner of the Open Championship in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965, passed away today, June 20th.
