PGA Golf TV1-Bound Round Masters

TV1 will start screening weekly highlights packages of professional men’s and women’s golf the same month Sky goes all out for this year’s Masters coverage.

Live golf on Sky has been decimated following the PGA’s decision to stream exclusively most of the major tournaments in this country, presumably to test the waters for a global rollout.

But Sky has retained rights to the Masters, which it’s promoting as: “Golf has never looked this good” — a reference to not only the Masters being the most prestigious tournament but also how Sky’s 1080i broadcasts will out-class the quality of the streaming service.

The satcaster also will provide more of the extras it should have offered years earlier.

These will include dedicated coverage of the dreaded Amen Corner, from as early as 2.45am on April 9, and two pop-up channels that will follow featured groups for their entire rounds.

There also will be delayed coverage of the par 3 contest that precedes the start of the tournament.

In addition, Sky will screen more of its outstanding Live From the Masters Golf Channel analysis after each day’s play.

Meanwhile, TV1 is expected to start broadcasting weekly late-night highlights packages of the PGA and LPGA tours from sometime next month.

The deal hasn’t been announced yet but expect LPGA highlights, featuring Kiwi sensation Lydia Ko, to screen post-11.30 Sundays and PGA after Tonight on Mondays, subject to what’s happening each week on tour.