You may not be aware of the Symetra Tour, the developmental tour for the LPGA. Players from all over the world play on the Symetra Tour for the opportunity to be promoted to the LPGA Tour. A major reason you may not be aware of the Symetra Tour is the fact that it doesn’t have a television contract. While the LPGA is shown regularly on Golf Channel, the Symetra Tour isn’t televised.

But in March, the Tour will have its first-ever live stream on Facebook. The final round of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic will be shown on Sunday, March 12 through the LPGA’s Facebook page.

And calling it will be an all-female crew, which will be a first for a golf tournament. Amy Rogers, a host on LPGA.com will be the lead on the live stream. Karen Stupples who works on Golf Channel’s LPGA telecasts will be lead analyst with Sara Brown working as a secondary analyst. Bailey Mosier who is seen on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive program will conduct interviews at the 18th hole.

VISTA Worldlink will produce the live Facebook stream and will utilize former PGA on CBS employee Mike Freeman as producer.

In the official announcement, Stupples says she’s pleased to be part of golf history:

“The LPGA Tour, both playing and announcing, has been a large part of my life for the past 18 years,” said Stupples. I have witnessed the growth of the Symetra Tour and have seen first-hand the quality of players it produces. It will be a huge honor to be part of the first-ever Symetra Tour broadcast on Facebook Live as it will give more people the opportunity to watch the players’ skills and witness the future stars of the LPGA.”

Cameras will be placed at the back nine and a broadcast production truck will be on-site to cover the final round action. The Symetra Tour hopes that the stream will be successful and will lead to more live online events and perhaps some TV down the line.

[Golf Digest]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.