PGA of America, CBS Sports agree to long-term broadcast extension

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA of America has reached a new, eight-year agreement with CBS Sports to extend broadcast rights of the PGA Championship through 2019, which includes support of The PGA's Centennial in 2016. The announcement was made Thursday by PGA President Allen Wronowski, PGA Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka, and CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus.

"The PGA of America has been fortunate to have a valued partner in CBS Sports that has worked so well with telling the historic story of the Season's Final Major," said Wronowski. "The PGA Championship's trademark is its commitment to annually feature the strongest field in major Championship golf, and the world's top players have returned by producing some of golf's most dramatic moments. As The PGA and our 27,000 PGA Professionals celebrate our 95th Anniversary in 2011, and begin the countdown to our Centennial, The PGA of America is excited about extending this wonderful partnership that brings the PGA Championship story to golf and sports fans around the country."

"We are extremely pleased to extend our 20-year partnership with the PGA of America," said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports. "The PGA Championship is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, and we are thrilled to continue to broadcast this major championship on Network television. With this long-term extension, CBS Sports will maintain its leadership position as the premier Network of golf programming well into the future."

Spanning the age of televised sport, CBS Sports has captured the drama of the PGA Championship, which has defined some of the most signature moments in golf history.

"Starting with the first PGA Championship of the stroke-play era in 1958, and continuously since John Daly's miracle run at Crooked Stick in 1991, CBS Sports has partnered with The PGA of America to bring the spectacle of the PGA Championship to golf fans everywhere." said Steranka. "The PGA of America is delighted to annually deliver one of the most coveted Championships in all of sport to a worldwide audience, featuring the best players from around the globe. And we are thrilled that CBS Sports will also showcase to the nation the talents of PGA Professionals, as the experts in the game and business of golf."

Each year, CBS Sports will produce five hours of high definition coverage of each of the final two weekend Championship rounds. Additionally, CBS Sports will produce annual one-hour specials on The PGA of America and also the "Road to the PGA Championship" program, which highlights the behind-the-scenes stories of the 20 PGA Professionals participating in the Season's Final Major. A promotional campaign highlighting The PGA's Centennial Celebration will appear on CBS Sports during 2016.

The PGA Championship is one of only four major golf events in the world and the only one featuring an all-professional field. It perennially hosts the strongest field and deepest international lineup of any major golf championship. Since 1994, the PGA Championship has featured the most top-100 world-ranked players of any major championship.

Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy. Past champions include: Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and recent international stars Padraig Harrington, Y.E. Yang and Martin Kaymer, the defending PGA Champion.