In a world-first for golf broadcasting, ‘Spidercam’ technology will debut at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, giving millions of viewers an unprecedented, immersive view of the action.
The four-point wire-cam system will be suspended above the 18th green, capturing dramatic aerial shots and dynamic angles that highlight the natural undulations and subtle challenges of the closing hole. As players approach the green, Spidercam will rest behind the hole before soaring into action to follow the final putts and the iconic walk of the Champion Golfer of the Year on Sunday, 20 July.
Already a fixture in football, rugby, and cricket coverage in the UK, Spidercam will join an extensive suite of broadcast innovations deployed by The R&A and European Tour Productions. These include aerial drones, plane cameras, bunker-cams, and Toptracer technology—all designed to elevate the live viewing experience of golf’s oldest major.
Neil Armit, chief commercial officer at The R&A, commented: “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.”
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… 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 will offer 48 hours of live coverage across the four rounds—making it the longest continuous broadcast in golf—through global partners like Sky Sports in the UK and NBC in the USA. Digital coverage will be stronger than ever, with The R&A and IMG enhancing TheOpen.com, R&A TV, and the official mobile app.
Fans will enjoy supplementary content like four Featured Groups per day, a Par 3 channel focused on the iconic 16th hole “Calamity Corner,” and behind-the-scenes show Live at the Range in partnership with HSBC. R&A TV also allows simultaneous streaming, while The Open Radio will broadcast over 50 hours of live audio coverage.
The revamped homepage on TheOpen.com promises faster access to updates, a live leaderboard lock-screen preview, weather forecasts from Portrush, and a personalised experience with tailored news, video, and Golfer of the Day voting.
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