The Ricoh Women’s Open will be broadcast on the BBC up to and including the 2016 Championship, following a new five year agreement announced today by the LGU, IMG and BBC Sport.
Guy Kinnings, IMG’s Director of Golf, EAME, said, “The BBC’s long term commitment to the Ricoh Women’s British Open is fantastic for golf in the UK, and ensures that the only two Majors played outside the US are both available on terrestrial television. The BBC is a wonderful platform for both the players and Championship and we very much look forward to strengthening this relationship in the future.”
BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater said: “We are delighted to have extended our partnership with the Women’s British Open and feel it goes hand in hand with our recently announced new five year deal with The R&A to broadcast The Open. The BBC is proud of its history of top class golf coverage and looks forward to continuing to bring the sport to audiences nationwide through to 2016.”
Shona Malcolm of the Ladies’ Golf Union said: “We are very pleased that the BBC is demonstrating this commitment to women’s golf and look forward to continuing our long standing relationship. The LGU is committed to giving as many people as possible the opportunity to watch the world’s best women golfers play in our flagship event and the BBC is an ideal partner in fulfilling this ambition.”
The 35th Championship, being played at The Royal Birkdale Golf Club (29 July – 1 Aug), will be broadcast for the first time in High Definition (HD). Hazel Irvine presents the BBC coverage on all four days, with commentary from Peter Alliss, Andrew Cotter and Maureen Madill, and the on-course team of Ken Brown, Philip Parkin and Kirsty Taylor.
LGU www.lgu.org
Royal Birkdale www.royalbirkdale.com