Golf Channel & Loch Lomond Partner On Promotional Tour Of the Iconic Claret Jug Ahead of 147th Open

Golf Channel and Loch Lomond Group are partnering on a promotional tour with the Claret Jug - golf's most iconic trophy, first awarded in 1873 to the winner of The Open - to select U.S. cities in advance of the 147TH Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Loch Lomond Whisky's sponsorship of the tour further enhances the brand's existing five-year partnership with the R&A as the official spirit of The Open, initially announced in February.

"We are proud to partner with Golf Channel to support this tour of golf's most iconic trophy," said Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group. "Whisky and golf are two of Scotland's greatest gifts to the world, and following the news of our recent partnership with the R&A for The Open, being a part of the Claret Jug tour was a perfect fit for Loch Lomond Group to further showcase our commitment to the game."

"The Loch Lomond Group could not be a more natural fit to sponsor the Claret Jug tour," said Tom Knapp, senior vice president of golf sponsorship, NBC Sports Group. "Much like the storied history that accompanies the Claret Jug, Loch Lomond's Scottish roots trace back centuries ago, and their aspirations to align with golf's most celebrated traditions will resonate with a broad range of consumers in addition to golf fans and whisky enthusiasts."

The tour kicks off today in Austin, Texas, and will culminate on Wednesday, July 11 at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe one week prior to The Open. Those wishing to engage with the Claret Jug will have an opportunity at one of several tour stops being staged at Topgolf locations in select cities. The tour will feature a custom, authentic Scottish pub where consumers (of age) can sample Loch Lomond's portfolio of whiskies in the spirit of golf's original championship and the Claret Jug. The Claret Jug also will make special pop-up visits to select GolfNow course partners located within some of the designated tour markets.

(All Times Local)

Monday, June 18 Austin, Texas (Topgolf, 5:30-8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, June 19 Houston (Topgolf, 5-8 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 20 Jacksonville, Fla. (Topgolf, 6-9 p.m.)

Monday, June 25 Orlando, Fla. (Topgolf, 6-9 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 4 Washington D.C. (Topgolf, 5:30-8:30 p.m. - Ashburn, Va.)

Monday, July 9 Edison, N.J. (Topgolf, Time TBA)

Wednesday, July 11 Lake Tahoe, Nev. American Century Championship (On Course)

Fans interacting with the Claret Jug and Loch Lomond during the course of the tour are encouraged to share their experience using the hashtag, #ClaretJug on social media, and tag @TheOpen and @LochLomondMalts on Twitter and Instagram.

NBC Sports Group is the exclusive U.S. television home of the 147TH Open from Carnoustie, with nearly 50 live hours of tournament coverage, Thursday-Sunday, July 19-22. The Claret Jug is presented each July to the winner of The Open, with the winner also being given the title of "Champion Golfer of the Year" until the following year's event is staged. The Claret Jug is one of the most storied trophies in all of sports; first presented to the 1873 winner of The Open, Tom Kidd. Each year, the winner's name is engraved on to the trophy, forever etched into the history of golf's original championship. It is customary for the Champion Golfer of the Year to drink a favorite alcoholic beverage from the Claret Jug in celebration of the victory.

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel - co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group - is available to nearly 500 million viewers in more than 80 countries and nine languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Channel Digital and the NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf's latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world's largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf, the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com, the world's largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world's largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.

ABOUT LOCH LOMOND GROUP
Loch Lomond Group produces some of the finest Scotch Whisky in the world with a portfolio present in more than 100 international markets. In addition to several high-quality blends, its Loch Lomond Distillery produces single malts and is situated in one of the world's most NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL locations. Its Glen Scotia Distillery is one of only two in the region that have maintained production from the heady days of Campbeltown whisky in the 1830s.

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