ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Golf Channel will televise the NCAA Division I golf championships starting in 2014.
The network and NCAA made the joint announcement Monday.
The Golf Channel will broadcast three days of the 2014 men's championship from Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.
It then will carry the men's and women's championships the following year when South Florida plays host to both at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. It marks the first time since 1997 that the women's championship will be televised live.
Network president Mike McCarley said the partnership ``will be the centerpiece of our broader commitment to covering the collegiate game.''
Mark Lewis, the NCAA's executive vice president of championships and alliances, called the deal ``the culmination of a collaborative effort between a lot of individuals over a long period of time.
``We are excited for our men's and women's golf student-athletes to gain additional exposure and for the fans of the sport to be able to see up close what makes these championships so special,'' Lewis said. ``Partnering with the Golf Channel made perfect sense for us and we appreciate their commitment in helping to grow the audience'' for the championships.
