IMG extends deal with LPGA

The IMG Media agency has struck a deal to continue to distribute worldwide media rights for events operated by the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

The length of the extension was not disclosed.

The agency has represented the association since 1996, when coverage was distributed to six countries.

Rights to LPGA Tour events are now distributed to about 160 countries worldwide, with the majority taking live action.

“The LPGA is truly the only global golf tour,” IMG Media’s senior vice-president and director of international sales, Peter Smith, said. “Both the continuing growth of the schedule, domestically and internationally and the remarkable skills and personalities of such a widely geographic group of talented players are the real reasons for this tremendous growth and global visibility of the LPGA Tour.”