U.S. Open Coming to Prime Time

When NBC airs the U.S. Open in June, it will be airing it a whole new way. In primetime.

The U.S. Open takes place June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course outside San Diego, Calif. The West Coast setting gives the network the chance to put golf on television in the evening hours in the Eastern and Central time zones.

The Saturday (third round) broadcast will air 4-10 p.m. Eastern time; the Sunday (fourth round) broadcast, 3-9 p.m. Eastern time. While the U.S. Open telecast has run into primetime on a few occasions in the past - due to delays or slow play - this will be the first time the telecast has been scheduled for an evening broadcast.

"We have a lot of confidence that the U.S. Open is a special event that is going to garner an audience in primetime," NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer told Reuters. The news service also reported that the tournament's afternoon ratings are usually higher than the network's primetime ratings on Saturday and Sunday already. So an evening broadcast should be a win-win, for the network and for golf fans like.

See also:

• U.S. Open golf tournament on About.com
• Profile: Torrey Pines Golf Course

This week:

• Wachovia Championship