LPGA announces record TV coverage in 2021, but Annika Sorenstam’s return will be tape-delayed

LPGA television coverage in 2021 will be record-breaking including more than 500 hours of women’s golf coverage.

The LPGA has released its television broadcast schedule for 2021. In addition to coverage of 34 LPGA events, NBC Sports will bring the action from the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the NCAA Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, bringing the total count to more than 500 hours of women’s golf coverage – a record tally.

Other highlights include the Solheim Cup broadcast over both NBC and Golf Channel Labor Day weekend at historic Inverness Club. CBS will broadcast both the Marathon LPGA Classic (Sunday, July 11) and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (Saturday, July 17).

While all five majors will be broadcast live, only three of them will feature network TV. Both the ANA Inspiration and Amundi Evian Championship will be exclusively on Golf Channel.

The LPGA has been on a month-long break since Jessica Korda beat Danielle Kang in a playoff at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. The tour returns to action next week at Lake Nona for the Gainbridge LPGA, where Annika Sorenstam will compete for the first time on tour since she retired in 2008.

Unfortunately, the entire week will be tape-delayed on Golf Channel, with Sunday’s coverage ending at 11 p.m.

Golf Channel and NBC will have a familiar team of commentators in 2021 with Terry Gannon and Grant Boone as play-by-play hosts; Hall-of-Famer and 26-time LPGA Tour winner Judy Rankin, Paige Mackenzie and Karen Stupples as analysts; and Tom Abbott, Jerry Foltz, Kay Cockerill, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Stupples as hole announcers and on-course reporters.

“Players on the LPGA Tour come from all walks of life, from countries literally circling the globe. Thanks to our friends at NBC and GOLF Channel, fans across the country will have so many opportunities to get to know these athletes and learn their inspirational stories,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “The future of the game really is female, and I can’t wait for our fans – especially all the young girls watching the telecast – to get to know these athletes who have made such an impact on my life and my career.”

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