Sky Sports takes US Open golf for next six years
Sky Sports has been awarded exclusive live rights to golf’s US Open Championship for the next six years by the US Golf Association
The new deal, announced during Sky s exclusively live coverage of the 2008 event, will bring each US Open from 2009 to 2014 and extends a relationship with the USGA to over 20 years.
It will also give Sky Sports live coverage of the US Open Women s Championship, US Senior Open Championship, US Amateur Championships, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and the US Junior Amateur championships until the end of 2014.
The new contract means that Sky Sports now has exclusively live coverage of:
MAJORS Two Majors each summer with exclusively live coverage of The US Open in June until 2014 and the US PGA Championship in August until 2016.
THE RYDER CUP This year s Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky followed by the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales, and the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, Illinois.
WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Each event for the next four seasons; the Accenture Matchplay, CA Championship and Bridgestone Invitational plus Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
EUROPEAN TOUR At least 32 live events each season until the end of 2012, including the European Open, Dubai Desert Classic, and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
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OTHER EVENTS The Solheim Cup, Seve Trophy, Walker Cup and events from the Champions Tour, the LPGA Tour and Amateur Tours.
Announcing the new deal, Vic Wakeling, Managing Director Sky Sports, said: "In a Ryder Cup year it is particularly exciting to be able to show a Major golf event for another six years.
He continued; Sky has a rich pedigree in golf; we ve given viewers quality live golf since we launched 17 years ago, can offer golf programming every week of the year and now provide TV coverage in high definition as well as simultaneous coverage on PC and mobile.
A long-term deal for a second Major, the US PGA Championship, was secured in 2006 and will bring exclusive live coverage of the tournament up to, and including, the 2016 event.
Within the last year Sky Sports has also secured new long-term deals for The Ryder Cup and the PGA European Tour until the close of the 2012 season. Sky Sports has also started HD coverage of the PGA European Tour in March this year adding to the HD coverage of the US Open, US PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup.