FOX made its golf major championship debut on Thursday with the start of the 2015 U.S. Open. Coverage improved some on Friday with the second round as the kinks started to get worked out. Now, FOX will be fully in the spotlight with the tournament heading to the weekend.
U.S. Open 2015 TV schedule: Coverage of Saturday’s Round 3 at Chambers Bay
The entire third round broadcast will head to FOX for Saturday at the U.S. Open.
During the first two rounds, FOX and FOX Sports 1 split the television coverage with the majority of the broadcast airing on the secondary network. That will change on Saturday with the entire eight-hour broadcast being shown live of FOX. The coverage will remain the same with Joe Buck serving as the main host and Greg Norman handling the main analyst responsibilities. The shift will open the broadcast to more viewers, especially those who don’t have a cable package with FOX Sports 1.
Although the broadcast insights have left a thing or two to be desired at times, the production value of FOX has added to the broadcast. That includes extensive use of the tracer technology, showing viewers a detailed look at the ball flight. FOX has not only used it for tee shots, but for some approach shots. It provides an interesting look at the strategy of the players and the type of shape they are using to attack the challenging Chambers Bay setup.
Coverage on Saturday won’t be quite as extensive, but there will be eight hours of live television coverage with the broadcast running from 2 to 10 p.m. ET. There will also be an additional broadcast on FOX Deportes from 7 to 10 p.m. The coverage will likely be heavily focused on Jordan Spieth who shares the co-lead after 36 holes and is attempting to win his second straight major. Spieth hasn’t been great off the tee thus far, but has done an excellent job of still managing to hit greens in regulation. He’s also putted well, a phase of the game that has been a real issue for many. If he finds a little more accuracy off the tee, he’ll be on the way to his second major. He is the betting favorite to do just that with 2/1 odds.
Spieth and the late groups won’t tee off until close to 6 p.m. but there will be a few notable names to follow in the early going. Rory McIlroy will be on the course when television coverage begins, while Phil Mickelson will tee off at 2:10 p.m. Both would need to go low early on if they are going to have a chance to contend on Sunday.
In addition to the main television coverage, FOX Sports Go and USOpen.com will combine to provide four online streams. They both will have a featured group stream, a featured hole stream and “U.S. Open 360” coverage. The featured hole stream will focus on Nos. 12 and 15 once again. FOX Sports Go will also provide a simulcast stream of the television coverage. Like the broadcast, it will begin at 2 p.m.
Here is a complete look at the third round coverage. All times Eastern.
Saturday’s third round coverage
Television:
2 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET -- FOX
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET -- FOX Deportes
Online streams:
2 p.m. ET to TBD -- Featured groups stream / Featured holes stream, Nos. 12 and 15 / “U.S. Open 360”
2 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET -- TV simulcast stream
2 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET -- Featured groups stream / Featured holes stream, Nos. 12 and 15 / “U.S. Open 360” stream
Radio:
2 p.m. to 10 p.m. -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
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