The LPGA unveiled seven major broadcast enhancements for the 2026 season at last week's Founders Cup, marking the most significant television overhaul in tour history.
The biggest change brings live TV coverage to all LPGA event rounds for the first time ever, as the tour partnered with FM to dramatically expand broadcast hours and maximize audience reach.
Craig Kessler leads the transformation, joining the LPGA less than a year ago and before spending the past 12 months reinventing how the tour approaches its audience. Kessler's strategy mirrors the NFL's playbook of maximizing viewership — even at the expense of some TV revenue.
Camera equipment received a 50% increase for 2026. The LPGA also upgraded microphones and slow-motion camera capabilities to add more texture and detail to broadcasts.
Drone photography also got an upgrade, with a larger fleet capturing dynamic new images during competition, while shot tracer capabilities quadrupled through an expanded partnership with TrackMan. According to reports, the graphics department saw the largest increase between 2025 and 2026.
The LPGA is investing heavily in feature-driven programming designed to run during tournament broadcasts. The first feature profiled world No. 78 Rose Zhang, detailing the US golfer's educational journey at Stanford during Founders Weekend.
Player access has expanded via enhanced walk-and-talk efforts during the season, making the tour's most prominent faces and names more accessible to fans. Similar improvements are also popping up on the LPGA's social media accounts, with more coming during tournament broadcasts.
The changes mirror advancements in the men's game while positioning the LPGA to capture — and grow — a new generation of golf fans.
