How to experience golf’s greatest walk without leaving your sofa!

The 153rd Open Championship will bring viewers closer to the action than ever before.

Ever dreamt of strutting up the 18th fairway at The Open Championship to rapturous applause, knowing that you’re about the be crowned ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’?

Of course you have.

But this week, in a world-first for golf, there’s no need to close your eyes and imagine.

That’s because, at Royal Portrush, the R&A will bring you closer to the action with a deeply immersive experience of play unlike anything you’ve seen before.

But wait, I didn’t tell you the best part.

You’ll get a true feel for the natural undulations and just how tricky it is to get up and down around the iconic 18th green – Babington’s.

Oh, wait, I still didn’t tell you the best part.

You’ll feel like you’re walking in the footsteps of the 153rd Open Champion in real time.

No, no, no, wait…I still didn’t tell you the best part.

He’s not imaginary!

It’s….

Spidercam, Spidercam, does whatever a Spidercam does.

Right enough of all that. I’ve been humming that tune all day. What did the R&A expect to be fair?

Essentially, this year’s Open will see a four-point wire system, as seen in many other major sports, suspended above the 18th green, providing spectacular aerial views of the concluding blows to each round across the four days of action.

Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “The Open stands among the world’s greatest sporting occasions, an event that calls for the highest standards in live television production to ensure that millions of viewers worldwide can witness every moment, every detail of play and every chapter in the unfolding story of this historic Championship.
 
“We have worked closely with European Tour Productions and their production partners IMG to invest in cutting-edge broadcast technology and believe that Spidercam will bring millions of fans a new perspective of the action from Royal Portrush with incredible detail and accessibility wherever they are in the world.”

But what if Spidercam intercepts Rory’s 9-iron approach into the 72nd hole and hands the Open Championship to Patrick Reed, I hear you ask?

Fear not, Spidercam will take a well-deserved rest behind the green during approach shots.

Richard Bunn, Chief Content and Revenue Officer at the European Tour Group, added: “European Tour Productions has a long track record of producing coverage for many of golf’s biggest tournaments.

Alongside our production partners IMG, we have a shared vision with The R&A to use the latest technologies to create a truly immersive experience for the millions of fans watching the global broadcast. With new innovations such as Spidercam being rolled out this year, the 153rd Open will get fans closer to the action than ever before.”

The Open offers 48 hours of main coverage over the four rounds of the Championship, making it the longest single feed in golf, via broadcasters including Sky Sports in the UK and NBC in the USA.

Bonus live content includes four dedicated Featured Groups per day, a unique Par 3 channel capturing the breathtaking 16^th hole, ‘Calamity Corner’, as well as the behind-the-scenes show, ‘Live at the Range, which airs during practice days and the first two rounds of the Championship.

Now go get yourself a crate of Duff and settle in.

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