The Loop
Forward Press: Silly season for LPGA and Champions Tours; Oakmont awaits
US PGA TOUR
Forget the fall, it’s silly season in golf with LPGA and Senior majors on the cusp of another U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Let’s get to the times and goodies.
Sahalee Is Back, Inbee Goes For History
The LPGA’s second major of the season heads west for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club. Just a year removed from the sports-crazy Seattle market hosting a major, we’ll find out just how devoted they are as major championship golf returns to the Ted Robinson-designed course where Vijay Singh won the 1998 PGA Championship.
They have 18 of the world top 20, including Lydia Ko, Inbee Park and Lexi Thompson and all-in, prime time coverage from the Golf Channel as well as NBC. That’s right, the LPGA in prime time on network TV.
Park this week attempts to become the first female golfer to win the same major in four consecutive years while Ariya Jutanugarn tries to win her fourth straight start.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday: 7-10 p.m. (Live) / 1:30-3:30 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday: 7-10 p.m. (Live) / 1:30-3:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday: 5-6 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Sunday: 6-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday: 2-5 p.m. (Live)
Sunday: 4:30-6 p.m. (Live)
Here is Sahalee in 1998 when people wore golf shirts past their elbows:
Philly Cricket In The Spotlight!
The twelfth third senior major of 2016 is at a must-see venue, A.W. Tillinghast’s restored Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course), Flourtown, Pa. Keith Foster did the meticulous work and the geezers should love playing this venerable layout.
You’ll be shocked to find out that Bernhard Langer defends a title he won by six.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday: 12:30-3:30 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-5 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday: 12:30-3:30 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-6 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday: 3-5 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-5:30 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 4-5:30 a.m. (Monday replay)
Philadelphia Cricket Club from above:
Memphis Provides One Last U.S. Open Tune-up:
Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Ernie Els headline the FedEx St. Jude Classic this weekend on CBS. Keep an eye on Wesley Bryan, who has two wins on the Web.com Tour, making his PGA Tour debut on a sponsor’s invite.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday: 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday: 3:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday: 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / Midnight-3:30 a.m. (CBS Sunday replay)
Sunday: 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4 a.m. (CBS Monday replay)
Tournament Airtimes on CBS (Eastern):
Saturday: 3-6 p.m.
Sunday: 3-6 p.m.