Two-Hour Film to Document Woods’ 81 Wins Chronologically, Detail Meteoric
Ascension to Becoming One of the Greatest Athletes of the Past Century
Film to be Narrated by Carson Daly, Emmy Award-Winning Producer &
Television Host, Who Competed Alongside Woods as a Junior Golfer
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 18, 2019) – In advance of Tiger Woods’ opening round at The 148TH Open today (10:10 a.m. ET), GOLF Channel announced details for its next GOLF Films project, Tiger Woods: Chasing History, which will premiere on Monday, July 22 at 8 p.m. ET. The film will present viewers with an up-tempo, chronological glimpse at the sights and sounds from each of Woods’ 81 professional victories, from his first at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1996, through the most recent win at the Masters earlier this year.
Beginning with the subdued “Hello world” declaration at a press conference on the eve of his first tournament as a professional in 1996, the film will chronicle Woods’ meteoric ascension to becoming one of the greatest athletes over the past century. Tiger Woods: Chasing History also will detail how Woods was able to popularize golf beyond the game’s diehards in a way never previously seen, which is demonstrated through excerpts from several of his appearances over the past two decades on entertainment and late-night talk shows (within the chronological timeline of his 81 wins). Also included throughout the film are countless reactions and memorable broadcast calls – often in bewilderment and awe – from some of Woods’ most iconic and defining moments over the past nearly quarter-century.
“You will see a sustained level of excellence that you’ve never seen before.”
– Earl Woods speaking on his son’s potential during a 1997 GOLF Channel interview
Currently, a single victory shy of matching Sam Snead’s record of 82 wins for the most all-time on the PGA TOUR, the film also documents the advent of Woods wearing his signature red shirt on Sunday while he left scores of his professional golf peers staring up at his name at week’s end. Tiger Woods: Chasing History also reflects on the special bond between Woods and his father Earl, and the emotional response from Woods following Earl’s passing in 2006.
“My game is far from being at its peak, and you never really get there. But it’s a
wonderful journey.” – Tiger Woods after winning the 1999 PGA Championship
Tiger Woods: Chasing is narrated by Emmy Award-winning producer and television host Carson Daly, who also competed against Woods during their junior golf careers in Southern California.
Following Tiger Woods: Chasing History, other GOLF Films scheduled to debut in 2019 include:
- On the eve of the PGA TOUR’s 20th annual Payne Stewart Award recognition (Sunday, August 18, 1 p.m. ET on NBC), GOLF Films will present an updated version of the Emmy-nominatedPayne (2014), focusing on how the late Stewart’s charismatic spirit is being passed down to future generations of professionals.
- The Legend of East Lake (Monday, August 19, 10 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel): Reflecting on Bobby Jones and Tom Cousins’ impact on the East Lake (Atlanta) golf landscape and community, and recounting Tiger Woods’ unforgettable TOUR Championship victory last September.
ABOUT GOLF FILMS
GOLF Films is a division of GOLF Channel and NBC Sports, led by Emmy-nominated films including Payne (2014), on the late Payne Stewart, and 27 Years: The Exoneration of Valentino Dixon (2018), on how Dixon’s sketch of a famous golf hole would lead to a release from prison for a murder he claims he did not commit. Additional critically-acclaimed GOLF Films projects include a series of “shorts”, led by Emmy Award-winning features, “Don’t Cry for Me – the Ryan Korengel Story” and “Feeling and Reality: the Billy Hurley Story”. GOLF Films is led by 13-time Emmy Award-winning coordinating producer Israel DeHerrera, who has served as the lead producer for several award-winning projects. Other critically-acclaimed GOLF Films include the four-part Arnie (2014), three-partJack (2017), and two-part Hogan films on Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan; Tom at Turnberry, documenting Tom Watson’s inconceivable run (at age 59) at winning The 2009 Open; Famous 5, chronicling how five European golfers – born within 11 months of one another – collectively helped revitalize the Ryder Cup; Go Down Swinging (2018), reliving the unforgettable conclusion to the 1999 Open; Summer of ’76 (2017), recounting the 1976 Open at Royal Birkdale; ’86 (2016), a chronicle of Nicklaus’ final major championship win at the 1986 Masters that aired to coincide with the 30th anniversary of his iconic win; and Ben Crenshaw: A Walk Through Augusta (2015), on the two-time Masters champion’s special relationship with the tournament. Films previously produced by GOLF Channel that have since been added to the network’s GOLF Films library include American Triumvirate (2012), celebrating the 100-year anniversary or the birth of three of golf’s greatest legends: Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead; Go Annika (2013), commemorating Annika Sorenstam becoming the first woman in the modern professional golf era to test her mettle on the PGA TOUR; Lee Trevino: An American Champion (2013), recounting Trevino’s dramatic victory over Jack Nicklaus at the 1971 U.S. Open; and Uneven Fairways (2009), sharing the stories of the little-known, but rich history of the African-Americans who had the courage to stand up for their rights and pave the way for future stars of golf. Golf-Films.com, GOLF Films dedicated digital destination, includes excerpts from the division’s full library of films, along with archived content and testimonials on respective film projects. The website also serves as a source for dedicated information on current and future film projects in the works.
