Solheim Cup still looking for a presenter

With the definitive hiatus of Golf Channel France and despite the presence of Céline Boutier in the European team for the 4th time, the 19th edition of the Solheim Cup, which starts on Friday in Virginia, has still not found a buyer in France.

A situation that underlines how much women’s golf in France still has a long way to go.

Solheim Cup, tv

This would be a completely unthinkable situation if it were about broadcasting the Ryder Cup, the men’s version of the United States-Europe match, the rights to which have been negotiated for years in advance and for several editions.

However, 4 days before the first start at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville (Virginia) and despite the presence of the French number 1 in the team of Norwegian captain Suzann Pettersen, Céline Boutier, French golf fans are not sure whether they will be able to follow the Solheim Cup on their small screen.

How did we get to this point? It all starts with the planned closure of Golf Channel France (which finally took place on September 1). The channel, created in partnership with NBC UNIVERSAL, was the official broadcaster of the competition for many years.

In 2023, viewers barely missed a thing of the 3rd consecutive win (draw) of the European players. Negotiations underway?
But as of Monday, the rights to the tournament, which pits the 12 best American golfers against the 12 best Europeans and is being negotiated with the Ladies European Tour, have still not been acquired.

On the side of the European body, which we have contacted, we assure that “negotiations are ongoing and this with various broadcasters in France”. It is about time, we would be inclined to write. At the French Golf Federation, which has recovered the rights to the LPGA with L’Equipe TV, Pascal Grizot explains that the discussions are about the price to be paid.

“We are ready to broadcast with our partner, but the Ladies European Tour has to give us the green light.” That means the LET has to agree to reduce its rights claims, which would be worth between 30,000 and 40,000 euros.

According to the latest news, Golf+, which broadcast the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open this summer, will not be participating.