The LPGA is currently in France, at the highly anticipated Amundi Evian Championship. However, watching the tournament has proven to be a daunting task for fans and players alike. The lack of coverage has garnered frustration from prominent figures in the golf industry, such as Jessica Korda and Lisa Cornwell.
Tuning into an LPGA major championship should be a seamless experience. Unfortunately, this week’s Amundi Evian Championship has made it nearly impossible. Although the event takes place in France, six hours ahead of the American east coast, the challenges faced by fans are still disheartening.
Comparatively, during last week’s British Open Championship, coverage began at 2 a.m. ET and aired until 3 p.m. ET across multiple platforms, offering fans the opportunity to watch every shot. However, the women participating in the Evian Championship haven’t received the same level of coverage.
For the opening and second rounds on Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel aired coverage from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. ET and again from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET. But then, coverage shifted to Peacock from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET, as the LPGA had to compete for television time with the men’s Senior Open Championship. Additionally, watching the broadcast on Peacock requires viewers to have a premium account, adding yet another hurdle for fans to overcome.
Saturday’s third round poses an even greater challenge, with Golf Channel airing coverage from 2:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. ET, essentially excluding a significant portion of the country from viewing the LPGA’s fourth major of the year.
Sunday brings a slight improvement, with coverage beginning at a more reasonable hour, 5:30 a.m. ET, and running until 11 a.m. ET. While this grants six hours of television time for the final round of a major, it is still deemed insufficient by many.
Expressing her frustration, Jessica Korda shared nine simple words on Twitter: “Sad we can’t watch the rest of the coverage.” Korda’s tweet ignited reactions from fans and other golf enthusiasts who were also eager to watch the entire Evian Championship unfold.
The lack of coverage and accessibility for women’s golf remains an ongoing issue. Although players like Korda are speaking out about it, there needs to be a push for change to further promote the growth of women’s golf.
As we witness such limitations in the broadcasting of women’s golf, it becomes evident that more needs to be done to ensure equal opportunities for both men’s and women’s majors. The voices calling for better broadcast partnerships need to be heard, as the success and growth of women’s golf matter just as much.
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