BBC loses rights to broadcast The Masters in yet another blow to its golf coverage

The BBC will no longer screen live coverage of The Masters, with Sky Sports becoming the exclusive live broadcaster in the UK of the season's first golf major.
Tiger Woods celebrates his 2019 Masters win. Picture: Getty ImagesTiger Woods celebrates his 2019 Masters win. Picture: Getty Images
Tiger Woods celebrates his 2019 Masters win. Picture: Getty Images

The Beeb will still show highlights but, for the first time since the 1950s, there will be no live coverage of any of the men's majors on the BBC.The corporation, which will again broadcast live golf in the Olympics in next year's Games in Japan, lost the rights to show the Open Championship live in 2017 after 61 years of free-to-air coverage and has now surrendered the Masters, too.The BBC used to screened live coverage from all four days of the Masters, but Sky Sports came in 2011 and the Beeb was reduced to broadcasting live footage from Friday and Saturday only.The 2020 Masters will take place from 9-12 April, with Tiger Woods defending the title he won in such spectacular fashion this year.Sky Sports said on its website: "All four days of tournament action from Augusta National will be broadcast live on Sky Sports' dedicated golf channel, with round-the-clock coverage on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports' social and digital platforms."A BBC spokesperson said: “We continue to operate in a period of huge financial restraint and as such, all sport rights decisions must be scrutinised closely."Our audiences will still be able to follow the Masters extensively across BBC radio and on the BBC Sport website, in addition to the daily television highlights.”