UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has secured an extension to its rights deal for US golf major the Masters.
The length of the new deal was not disclosed, but it will at least cover this year’s edition of the event, which runs from April 5-8 at Augusta National in Georgia.
Sky will provide live coverage of all four days of play, along with the annual Par 3 Contest and a range of additional content.
It will mark the eighth consecutive year that Sky has provided live coverage of the Masters. The broadcaster’s previous contract for the event ended after last year’s tournament, which was won by Spain’s Sergio Garcia (pictured).
Sky reportedly saw off competition from rival pay-television broadcaster BT Sport to secure the rights to this year’s Masters. According to UK newspaper the Telegraph, BT Sport had been willing to offer more for the rights than Sky.
The Telegraph also reported that Sky’s differences with the PGA of America have “apparently been resolved”, which would allow the broadcaster to resume coverage of the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship.
Sky lost rights to last year’s US PGA Championship following a breakdown in communications with the event organiser. Public-service broadcaster the BBC stepped in to secure last-minute rights to the event, but Sky is set to regain rights to the tournament, which this year takes place from August 9-12 at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri.
Sky already holds rights to golf’s two other majors, the US Open and the Open Championship.