Mike Tirico debuts with NBC Sports Group in prominent host roles at The Open, Rio Olympics

Mike Tirico, the newest member of NBC Sports Group's lineup of commentators, tees up his first network assignments at The 145th Open from Royal Troon in Scotland next week, followed in August by the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Tirico makes his NBC Sports Group debut as host of NBC Sports' live coverage of The Open on Golf Channel and NBC from Thursday, July 14, through Sunday, July 17. NBC and Golf Channel will provide live coverage from the first tee shot on Thursday to the final putt on Sunday, when the Claret Jug is awarded to the "Champion Golfer of the Year." The Open marks Golf Channel's first-ever live coverage of a major championship.

Three weeks later, Tirico will make his Olympics debut as a host of NBC's daytime coverage, which will originate from Rio's iconic Copacabana Beach (click here for more information). The opening ceremony of the Summer Games is Aug. 5 on NBC, with NBC daytime coverage airing from Aug. 6-21.

In addition, at the end of August, Tirico will handle play-by-play alongside analyst Cris Collinsworth on NBC's two NFL preseason games - Atlanta vs. Miami (in Orlando) on Thursday, Aug. 25, and Cincinnati at Jacksonville on Sunday, Aug. 28.

"As promised, Mike will contribute to all of our biggest events," said Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports. "From Royal Troon to Rio to the NFL, and that's just the start."

Tirico's assignments beyond Aug. 31 will be announced at a later date.

Tirico joins NBC after 25 years at ESPN/ABC (1991-2016), where he established himself as a pre-eminent broadcaster on properties and events including "Monday Night Football," The Open, The Masters, NBA, college football, college basketball, FIFA World Cup, and tennis' U.S. Open and Wimbledon. He was named the 2010 Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, an award voted on by his industry peers.