LPGA moves McDonald's from CBS to TGC

Golf_Beauty · April 19, 2006

Feeling dissed by CBS, McDonald's LPGA moves to the Golf Channel

CBS asked the LPGA major to end early, so tournament officials decided to change networks and play all afternoon.

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. (AP) -- The PGA Tour's new television contract with CBS Sports and NBC Sports has led to the LPGA Tour moving one of its major championships from network coverage to The Golf Channel.

And that's just fine with Herb Lottman, co-founder of the McDonald's LPGA Championship.

"CBS decided they would rather take care of the boys than the girls," Lottman said. "We had an association with them for over 13 years. They made a change, and told us after the fact."

With an increased load of PGA Tour coverage starting next year, CBS has the Memphis tournament on June 7-10, 2007 -- the same week as the McDonald's LPGA Championship. Lottman said CBS officials asked that the final round of the McDonald's LPGA end at 3 p.m. Sunday, allowing the network to shift to the final round of the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

Lottman refused to go along. He said fans at the McDonald's LPGA, which moved last year to Bulle Rock about 45 minutes north of Baltimore, usually don't arrive at the course until 11 a.m. and prefer to spend the afternoon at the tournament.

"That is not acceptable," he said. "They want to do the LPGA until 3 p.m., the[n] do the boys' show from 3 to 6. This was an option year for us, and we decided to walk away."

The LPGA Tour does not have a TV contract with the networks. This contract was a "time buy," meaning McDonald's (the title sponsor) bought the time and was responsible for selling the ads.

CBS Sports spokeswoman LeslieAnne Wade said there was "definitely a scheduling issue" but declined further comment.

The McDonald's LPGA Championship instead signed a three-year deal with The Golf Channel to broadcast the tournament through 2008. A year ago, Annika Sorenstam won for the third straight time, holding off a late charge from Michelle Wie for a three-shot victory and the second leg of the Grand Slam.

Lottman said the tournament would be carried live from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. all four rounds, with replays in the evening.

Even when CBS Sports televised the event, the McDonald's LPGA Championship felt it was being neglected. Jim Nantz, the voice of CBS' golf coverage, only came to the tournament once in the last seven years -- and the third round was washed out by rain.

"We were getting the second team up in the tower and out on the course," Lottman said. "All in all, I'm very happy to be with The Golf Channel. They're in 80 million homes and they continue to grow. And quality of their production has gotten better."

utopiapga · April 19, 2006

Good for the LPGA, I think GC's coverage is better anyway and would be great if they held all the events including PGA, LPGA, and Nationwide Tours. I know they are going to start having more coverage but would be great if they had all the Events.

kmrev · April 20, 2006

Good news! TGC's coverage is geting better all the time, especially with the firey Ms. Pepper! Without CBS now we won't have to listen to syrupy smooth goody two shoes Jim Nantz, who during an LPGA broadcast would find a way to talk about Tiger all day long. Has he ever said anything critical of anyone?

Golf_Beauty · April 20, 2006

I'm glad they're moving...TGC does not stop telecasting because the tourney's run over. There's usually a "program alert" to let you know that the scheduled programming will continue AFTER the round, etc. And like you, kmrev, I like "firey" Dottie (cool) . She makes it fun to watch and now that they have Rosie Jones out there, it should add more to the commentating and post interviews. :golfer:

kmrev · April 20, 2006

I'm glad they're moving...TGC does not stop telecasting because the tourney's run over. There's usually a "program alert" to let you know that the scheduled programming will continue AFTER the round, etc. And like you, kmrev, I like "firey" Dottie (cool) . She makes it fun to watch and now that they have Rosie Jones out there, it should add more to the commentating and post interviews. :golfer:

Hi Golf Beauty... thanks for reminding me about Rosie coming on board to broadcast as well... I forgot about that for a moment. She and our buddy Dr. Pepper will really tell it like it is! I love the LPGA and look forward to more TV broadcasts. The players are so fan friendly and accomodating.

Golf_Beauty · April 20, 2006

That's one of the many reasons why I love watching the LPGA (not just because we share the same anatomy parts (cool) ), but because they look like they're having fun out there. They're talking and sharing laughs with each other while they're walking down the fairway. Most of the time, they look like buddies out playing a regular round of golf. Prime example was Wie and Gulbis at the the Kraft Nabisco. They looked like they were talking about their nails or polish or something. That was refreshing. You don't see that much on the PGA tour. :golfer:

kmrev · April 20, 2006

That's one of the many reasons why I love watching the LPGA (not just because we share the same anatomy parts (cool) ), but because they look like they're having fun out there. They're talking and sharing laughs with each other while they're walking down the fairway. Most of the time, they look like buddies out playing a regular round of golf. Prime example was Wie and Gulbis at the the Kraft Nabisco. They looked like they were talking about their nails or polish or something. That was refreshing. You don't see that much on the PGA tour. :golfer:

I couldn't agree with you more. They're so friendly, especially on practice days before the tournament when they don't have their game faces on. You don't see that much on the PGA Tour... there's a little camaraderie, but not much. The women stop to talk or sign autographs without giving it a second thought.

You're right about the LPGA players having fun together. I think that's a big part of why they do so well as a team at The Solheim Cup.