American audiences won't be able to watch the action from Guadalajara, Mexico, this weekend as the Lorena Ochoa Invitational unfolds.
That's because local government funding for the tournament was abruptly cut off, leaving organizers well short of the money they needed to pay for broadcasting the 36-player event on Golf Channel. While the tournament and LPGA have helped to organize a highlights and update package for the event, live action won't be aired this weekend.
There are no streaming options online for domestic audiences either, confirmed an LPGA spokesperson in an email. Golf Channel would have those streaming rights if a broadcast package was put together for their air.
Rather than forcing the tournament to find the funds to pay for a U.S. broadcast, the LPGA was accommodating of the limitations.
"Neither the tournament organizers nor the LPGA is happy with the fact that this great event will not be televised to our worldwide audience – but it is better to work through these issues with our tournament partners, than to be heavy-handed and require our partners to face financial crisis in delivering contractual agreements," the LPGA said in a statement.
Cristie Kerr is defending champion at Guadalajara C.C., while Lorena Ochoa, the tournament's namesake, will not be in attendance as she gave birth to her second child.
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