Dusty Saunders: Fox Sports gears up for first U.S. Open golf tournament

Exit Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and NBC Sports. Enter Joe Buck, Greg Norman and Fox Sports.

For the first time in 20 years, the colorful NBC peacock won't be lighting up the TV screen during one of golf's most colorful events — the U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Chambers Bay Golf Club in northern Washington.

Fox's entry into the big-time golf world is a direct result of the network's creation of Fox Sports 1, the cable outlet that premiered in August 2013, teaming with regular Fox Sports.

Fox executives, promising the dual operation would become a big-time player in the sports world, immediately outbid NBC for the prestigious USGA package — a 12-year deal that includes the U.S. Senior Open (June 25-28) in Sacramento, Calif., and the U.S. Women's Open (July 9-12) in Lancaster, Pa.

More at: http://www.denverpost.com/dustysaunders/ci_28313399/saunders-fox-sports-gears-up-first-u-s