Double dose of golf on Ten Sports

Mumbai, Aug 10 (UNI) Ten Sports viewers are in for a double helping of golf this weekend with both the KLM Open and The International being shown live.

The KLM Open, part of the European tour has attracted some big names including European number one Colin Montgomerie and Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, a release stated here today.

This year, the KLM Open which gets underway today will be held on one of the continent's finest links courses at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Holland and will end on August 13. Kennemer G&CC has hosted the Dutch Open 16 times, most recently in 1989 and 1990.

In 1989 it ended in a spectacular fashion with the longest play-off in European Tour history as Spain's Josi Maria Olazabal needed nine extra holes to defeat Northern Ireland's Ronan Rafferty after englishman Roger Chapman went out on the first play-off hole.

Montgomerie will be returning to the tournament that he won in 1993 at Noordwijkse. ''I haven't played in Holland for quite a while and am very happy to return,'' said the Scot, who won an unprecedented eighth Order of Merit title at the end of the 2005 season.

Woosnam is making good on a promise he made last year to come and play in the year of his Ryder Cup captaincy. ''I am looking forward to playing in Holland again,'' said the Welshman. ''It is a very important and busy year for me as Ryder Cup Captain. I have to choose the tournaments that I play in very carefully.'' Part of the US PGA Tour, The International has as always attracted a world class field that this year includes Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and 2005 winner Retief Goosen.

Unlike other professional golf tournaments, The International is played under a unique scoring system which awards points for birdies, eagles or better and subtracts for bogeys or worse, the release added.

Goosen will be hoping for a repeat of his victory last year although he will not want to play a 36-hole marathon on the last day as was the case in 2005.

''The chief executive officier (CEO) of Taj Television, owners of Ten Sports, Chris McDonald, said ''We are very excited to broadcast two more exceptional golf tournaments. Last weekend we were able to bring our viewers coverage of Tiger Woods historic 50th PGA victory in the Buick and we will have live coverage of the PGA Championship from August 17.

Ten Sports coverage of the KLM Open begins at 18-30 IST from August 10-13, while coverage of The International begins at 0130 IST on August 11 and 12 August and at 0030 IST on August 13 and 14, the release informs.

Ten Sports is the exclusive broadcaster of the European tour, US PGA tour and Indian tour on the sub-continent and will be showing the US PGA Championship from 17th-20th August.

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