Sky Sports to be an important broadcaster of Golf Master’s Championship 2011
The 2011 Masters is scheduled to take place at The Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in April 2011. Even with many months remaining to go for the first major event of the year, talks have already started. The Augusta National Golf Club proclaimed that
it has given Sky Sports the rights to broadcast the Masters event 2011. The chairman of the club Billy Payne said that Sky Sports will show all four days of the Masters live. The screening will be in HD and for the very first time, the major golf tournament
will be shown in exclusive 3D coverage. The viewers who own 3D televisions are in for a treat this golfing season.
The controversy also revolves around BBC. The channel will not be hosting the first round of the event next year, something it has been doing since 25 years now. The contract BBC had with the championship ended and after signing a new deal, it was revealed
that BBC will still be covering the event for the remaining three days. There will also be detailed coverage on Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website.
The channel in the spotlight, Sky Sports will cover the traditional Par 3 contest along with the extra hour’s live coverage of the first two rounds on Friday and Thursday. Payne said that ever since the first time the tournament was telecasted in 1965, they
have kept a tradition of good quality programming with a suitable broadcast window. He acknowledged that now that they have adequate infrastructure and resources with them, they are pretty sure the extra screening will meet the high expectations of the millions
of golf fans that love watching the Masters.
Highlighting sky sports in his statements, Bill Payne was sure to not let the other major channel out of the limelight. He said that that they are fortunate to have two such devoted television partners. Payne, who received criticism from golf fans when they
weren’t able to watch Tiger Wood’s opening round after his divorce, will make sure that the sports coverage doesn’t lag behind.
"This agreement was successful in both preserving a long-term partnership and adding a new dimension to our coverage in the U.K," Payne said regarding the changes in Master’s broadcast in 2011.
Sky sports will not only cover the event for all four days, but also have the Sky Sports News report live throughout the week. The coverage will also be available on Sky Mobile TV and Sky Player to Sky Sports subscribers.
"Sky Sports has enjoyed a great partnership with golf for nearly two decades. We follow a hundred different tournaments each year, from five different continents, and are excited that The Masters is now at the heart of this calendar," said Sky Sports Managing
Director Barney Francis.
In the Master’s Championship next year, all eyes will be Phil Mickelson, who is the defending champion. Mickelson won his third Master’s tournament in April 2010, when he swung an astounding shot and amazed his fellow players and fans. Mickelson was victorious
by only three shots ahead of Europe’s number one player, Lee Westwood. For next year, the golf fans are eager not only for Mickelson’s defence but other golf action they will get to see on the sacred grounds of Augusta.
As hard as it is to believe, the Augusta club had difficulty attracting a crowd for the Masters at one time. Rumours were that the club officials would go to downtown Augusta and hand out the tickets. Slowly the Masters tournament began to grow in popularity.
Arnold Palmer played significant role in elevating the sport and make the tournament seem like a ‘cool’ sport back then. The club began noting down the names of its ‘patrons’ and would inquire whether they would attend next year or not. With the continued
visits of the members and further awareness of the championship, the Master’s has now become one of the most difficult sporting events to get a ticket to.
Even though now covered by a different channel in the U.K, this event is sure to attract just as much or maybe even more golf fans. With World Number two as the defending champion, the Master’s championship 2011 is definitely an event to look forward to.
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