The LPGA announced details surrounding the league's exclusive ESPN+ feature group streaming coverage of the tour’s first major of the year, The Chevron Championship beginning on Thursday. The dedicated stream will follow two pairings -- one in the morning and another in the afternoon -- on each day of competition and allow fans the ability to watch 40 hours of live coverage. The Chevron Championship marks the second tournament of a two-year streaming deal on ESPN+ that will see the platform present live feature group coverage of eight LPGA tournaments through the 2025 season.
LPGA Chief Marketing, Communications & Brand Officer Matt Chmura said the goal of these broadcasts is to differentiate the LPGA and its athletes outside of a traditional telecast. “There’s nothing wrong with [a traditional broadcast],” he said. “But there’s a whole new segment of fan that we can start to reach and involve different personalities from the golf media world and that’s critically important for us to grow our fan base.”
The LPGA announced that broadcaster Will Haskett will call the streamed coverage alongside former LPGA player Gerina Mendoza serving as an analyst. Golf reporters Hally Leadbetter, Chantel McCabe and Hope Barnett will serve as on-course reporters and provide player interviews. And in a unique addition, the LPGA has partnered with the “No Laying Up” podcast to provide a different perspective. "No Laying Up" Chief Security Officer/Producer Cody McBride and co-host Tron Carter will call The Chevron remotely. McBride said the remaining events will be called by himself and Phil "Big Randy" Landes. “No Laying Up” previously worked with Omaha Productions to call weekend coverage of last year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill for a show on ESPN+. McBride said having that experience made the decision easier for the group to sign on to call four live tournaments for the year.
Chmura said the decision to involve “No Laying Up” stemmed from its vocal support of the LPGA and its strengthened relationship with the tour over the past 18 months. “We saw what they did [at the PGA Championship],” Chmura said. “I think equally as important is the fact they want to be partners in growing women’s golf. We don’t want to go and hire someone to be a part of the broadcast who doesn’t have a vested interest in helping our athletes and league grow.” McBride said "No Laying Up" competed in a pro-am round at last year’s Founders Cup with LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, which is where this dialogue began.
ESPN+ is slated to stream another six LPGA tournaments before the end of the 2025 season. The remaining streaming slate for the 2024 season will include the Cognizant Founders Cup in May, CME Group Tour Championship in November and one other event yet to be decided.
