November 17, 2023

LPGA, ESPN agree to new two-year deal through 2025

Written by Staff@PGATOUR

NAPLES, Florida – The LPGA and ESPN have signed a new two-year agreement to stream Featured Group coverage at eight LPGA Tour events live and exclusively on ESPN+ through the 2025 season.

  • ESPN+ will cover each day of selected LPGA Tour tournaments with one feed showcasing the rounds of four Featured Groups, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
  • The agreement includes this week’s CME Group Tour Championship and the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship. The full slate of LPGA Tour events on ESPN+ will be announced in 2024.

“We are excited to partner with ESPN+ to elevate women’s golf,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA Commissioner. “The LPGA represents the best of the best and we’re thrilled to be able to offer more opportunities for fans to watch these incredible athletes perform on the biggest stage. Fans are in for a real treat as we create unique broadcasts to bring them closer to the action.”

“ESPN’s commitment to covering world-class golf and women’s sports has never been stronger, and having more of the LPGA on ESPN+ is a vital component of that commitment,” said Tim Bunnell, Senior Vice President, ESPN Programming and International. “With PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, the Masters, PGA Championship, TGL and now the LPGA on ESPN+, we’re bringing more golf to more fans than ever before.”

This week’s CME Group Tour Championship on ESPN+ marks the second consecutive year of live, exclusive Featured Group coverage of the LPGA Tour on ESPN’s industry-leading streaming platform, part of a continuing relationship between the LPGA Tour and ESPN.

  • In 2022, ESPN+ streamed the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
  • ESPN aired the first two rounds of the AIG British Open from 1982-2002 and all four rounds from 2010-2015, as well as the first two rounds of the U.S. Women’s Open from 1982-2014.
  • The first golf ever televised on ESPN was the LPGA Sahara Open on Sept. 8, 1979, ESPN’s second day on the air.
  • ESPN televised a schedule of regular LPGA Tour events from 1979-2009, and ABC covered the CME Group Tour Championship from 2015-2018.

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November 16, 2023

Meet The 93-Year-Old Who May Well Have Set A Golfing World Record

93-year-old Marjorie Curtin won Carus Green Golf Club’s medal competition – 50 years after taking up the sport for the first time…

Anyone who is still striving to tick an achievement off their golfing bucket list despite having entered retirement – take note. This year, Marjorie Curtin managed to win her club medal competition, and she was 93 years old when she did it.

The competition at Carus Green GC in Cumbria, England – which was also a qualifier for England Golf’s Race To Woodhall Spa competition – saw Marjorie score net two-under with her Playing Handicap of 34.

Having bought Carus Green in 2003, Marjorie’s knowledge of the layout is likely to have been better than most, and so it proved courtesy of eight net-birdies and a spectacular net-eagle.

Her total of 104 was enough to win the event on countback over the desperately unlucky Janet Ingham, with Avril Standing one shot further back in third. Both of the challengers had more than 30 years less experience in the school of life than Marjorie.

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“I was astonished to win,” said the 93-year-old, whose Handicap Index is now 31.3 following her stellar showing.

Asked what her highlights of the round were, she joked: “Not going in the bunkers or water!”

Marjorie has been playing golf since the age of 43 and has enjoyed a wonderful career in the sport ever since. Explaining her favourite moments, she said: “My highlights have to be my hole-in-one at Workington Golf Club, being Lady Captain of Kirkby Lonsdale and Casterton Golf Clubs, as well as playing in the Cecil Leitch League. It’s all been memorable!”

With women’s golf continuing in its upward trajectory, the former primary school teacher shared the following message for fellow females looking to break into the sport: “Golf is a sport that you can enjoy your whole life. It’s such a great sport for families to play together.

“After my son injured his knee playing rugby, we would hit a few balls on the field. Both my son and husband played, in fact, that’s why we bought Carus Green Golf Club in 2003 – we just loved playing golf.

“My husband Mike wanted everyone to have access to golf. Now my grandchildren play and it’s great to see their enthusiasm for the sport. What other sport can a 93-year-old play alongside their grandchildren aged 8 and 9?”

Marjorie, whose golfing idol is the late, great Seve Ballesteros, said she has no plans to quit playing any time soon either.

The nonagenarian said: “I’ll keep going for as long as I can. You make lifelong friends and meet people from all over the world, it keeps you fit, healthy and is a great social game.

“There is always someone to chat to and have coffee and cake with and to go on social outings with.”

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