Game needs to think outside the box as TV moves forward
THE BBC’s decision to end their live coverage of The Open Championship came as no surprise to me.
Their contract had included next year’s event at Royal Troon, but now Sky will take over a year earlier.
We’ve all grown up watching live golf on BBC and it’s been great for golf and The Open down the years.
But times have changed, and in recent years, I have detected an increasing reluctance in the BBC’s attitude to show live golf.
They have ploughed their money for sports into Formula 1 and retaining the rights for Match of the Day.
Once they had lost the contract, there was always a suspicion that St Andrews might be their final Open.
With Tom Watson’s farewell, Jordan Spieth chasing history and an exciting play-off, in hindsight, the Home of Golf was probably the right place to bow out.
I’ve always had the impression the BBC would be far happier just to show the last two hours of play on Sunday than dedicate lots of hours to it from a Thursday onwards.
But golf, and especially our flagship event, needs the platform of superb TV coverage to showcase our sport.
There is no point in showing golf unless you are going to do it properly.
What must not be forgotten, though, is that the BBC will continue to have two hours of primetime highlights in the evenings.
That means people who have been at work or out for the day or have no access to Sky will be able to catch up with the action, and still listen to Peter Alliss.
While BBC Radio, who I was fortunate enough to work with for 10 years, will still have blanket live coverage across the four days.
It’s undoubtedly the end of an era but you can guarantee that Sky will do a great job.
And in Ewen Murray, they have one of the best commentators in modern sport. He’s nothing like Peter, but he is so informative and knows the players so well.
The biggest disappointment is that the BBC are giving up just as golf is entering an exciting new era and viewing figures have been up.
Spieth and Jason Day have led the charge, and with Rory McIlroy also there, 2015 has been one of the most exciting seasons for years.
Tiger Woods no longer has to carry the sport on his own, but instead we have this group of wonderful new stars.
Not everyone has Sky, but this is the time for people connected to golf to start thinking outside the box about making sure everyone can watch The Open.
Ordinary clubs that have Sky TV in the clubhouse should consider doing promotions while it’s taking place, to get people playing and watching golf that week.
Why not have a junior competition in the morning, provide a spot of lunch and then the youngsters can watch their heroes on the TV?
It’s about moving with the times, so let’s all do our bit to ensure our sport prospers. THIS week heralds a welcome return to the European Tour schedule for the much-loved British Masters.
I’m particularly fond of this event, having won it in 1974 and 1975, the first time beating Gary Player in a play-off at St Pierre.
The Tour and Sky have wanted this back on the calendar for a good while, and it’s great that Ian Poulter has stepped forward to be the tournament host.
We’re back at Ian’s home club, Woburn, which will be a fabulous venue. And you can guarantee the autumnal conditions will mean the course is in fantastic condition.
The crowds will be out in force and this restored event can take up the place in the calendar of the much-missed World Matchplay at Wentworth.