Masters, The Open and Ryder Cup headline a huge year of golf on Sky
Monday 26 March 2018 17:07, UK
There is still plenty to look forward to in the world of golf in 2018, and you can catch the very best of the action on Sky Sports.
We have already been treated to a feast of world-class golf over the first three months of the year, with Tiger Woods the hot topic after his impressive comeback from back surgery while the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson have all returned to the winners' circle.
"Tigermania" is back in full swing as a fit and healthy Woods returns to Augusta National for the first time since 2015, and he is fired up for his bid to add a fifth Masters title to his collection of 14 majors.
Can Woods end his major drought? Will McIlroy join an elite list of career Grand Slam winners? Can Sergio Garcia defend his crown? And what are the chances of another European success to give Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn further encouragement after an excellent start to the year from his prospective team members?
Find out when our comprehensive coverage starts on Monday, April 2 with the first "Live on the Range" broadcast, and live action from the tournament once again includes bonus coverage from Amen Corner via the Red Button and on digital platforms.
We will also be at historic Shinnecock Hills in June for the 118th US Open, where Mickelson came so close to ending his hunt for his national title only to lose out to a red-hot Retief Goosen on the final day in 2004.
Golf fans around the globe will then be fixated on the famous links of Carnoustie a month later, with Sky Sports bringing you innovative coverage of the 147th Open throughout the week from the Fife coast.
The world's oldest and most prestigious major has produced back-to-back thrilling finales in front of the Sky cameras, with Henrik Stenson edging a memorable duel with Mickelson at Royal Troon and Jordan Spieth staging a remarkable comeback to thwart Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Kuchar at Royal Birkdale last year.
Once the Champion Golfer of the Year lifts the Claret Jug on Sunday, July 22, the countdown will be on for the Ryder Cup as Bjorn attempts to regain the coveted gold trophy from what is certain to be a powerful Team USA line-up in Paris.
The US have not won the Ryder Cup overseas for 25 years, and the great Dane will be pulling out all the stops to extend that record for another four years over three days of intense match play competition at Le Golf National.
And judging by the early-season results of several players on Bjorn's radar, he could be sending out the strongest European team in living memory. Don't miss a shot of this year's contest, which starts on September 22.
While the majors and Ryder Cup take centre stage this year, Sky Sports will not be neglecting the European and PGA Tours and we will again be live at all five of the women's majors while also bringing you action from the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.
The eight-event Rolex Series proved a resounding success for the European Tour last year, and this season's Series again kicks off at their Wentworth headquarters as Alex Noren defends his BMW PGA Championship title.
The Rolex Series and the Race to Dubai conclude at the DP World Tour Championship in November, and we'll have weekly live coverage from the European Tour throughout - including the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, which tournament host Justin Rose takes to Walton Heath in October.
We'll also have plenty of star-studded fields on the PGA Tour, including extended coverage of golf's unofficial fifth major as The Players Championship at Sawgrass is played for the final time in May before moving to a March date from 2019.
Cards and careers will be on the line over the final few events ahead of the lucrative FedExCup Play-Offs, with the Tour Championship finishing on September 23 - just a week before the Ryder Cup.
The first ladies major of the year preceeds the Masters, with Charley Hull and Georgia Hall looking to give British golf a boost with victory at the ANA Inspiration, and Sky will also be broadcasting live coverage of each of the remaining four majors this year.
The highlight is certain to be during the first week of August, when the best ladies professionals in the world will gather at Royal Lytham and St Annes for the Ricoh Women's British Open.
All this and much, much more. Don't miss a thing on Sky Sports - your home of golf.
