Report: BBC To End Masters Highlights Coverage

One of the most anticipated events of the golf calendar, The Masters at Augusta National, is a little over two months away. However, according to a report in The Telegraph, for UK viewers, their options to enjoy the opening Major of the year may be more limited than usual.

That's because, due to cost-cutting measures, the BBC is said to be thinking twice about renewing its deal to show highlights of the tournament. If the BBC does choose to turn its back on the Major, it will be the final act of an association that has become more tenuous in recent years. 

Having once broadcast live coverage of all four days, the BBCs grip on the tournament has become increasingly precarious since 2011, when Sky Sports won the rights to broadcast each day of The Masters and the BBC settled for delivering a highlights package and live weekend coverage only. 

Then, in 2020, after Sky Sports bagged exclusive live coverage in a multi-million pound deal, the BBC began showing highlights only. That marked the first year since 1955 that the BBC had not shown any live coverage of one of the four Majors. According to the report, the cost of the highlights package exceeded £1m per year, and it appears that is a sticking point for BBC director of sport Barbara Slater.

The report comes just over a month after the BBC attracted criticism for snubbing US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in its Sports Personality of the Year award. Among the people to express surprise at that decision was BBC presenter Gary Lineker – a keen golf enthusiast who even anchored the BBC’s coverage of The Masters in 2009.

If the news is confirmed and the BBC ends its association with the prestigious tournament, having originally broadcast coverage of it in 1967, it is sure to come as a blow to golf fans and raise further questions over its commitment to the game.

According to The Telegraph, attempts to reach Augusta National for comment proved unsuccessful while a spokesperson for the BBC told the publication: "We do not comment on sports rights negotiations."