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Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
The Open sees expensive new addition never used in golf – and football fans know it well
The Open Championship organisers have brought in a new era at Royal Portrush this week by implementing technology in the form of a Spidercam, as seen in the Premier League and the Champions League The Open Championship at Royal Portrush is the first golf tournament in history to use a Spidercam. The R&A has invested £300,000 in a four-point wire-cam system for the event - something that has not been done previously in the sport. With the second round's action underway, the technology is being used above the 18th hole to offer breathtaking aerial views and unique perspectives of the action, due to the absence of a clubhouse on the final hole where spectators can watch. Players were informed of the change last week, with organisers of the Open worried they might be unhappy with the potential distraction of a moving camera during their shot preparations. But there were reportedly no complaints. It's understood that the R&A is spending around £300,000 on the Spidercam's operational costs for the week in Northern Ireland, following a year-long planning project in partnership with European Tour Productions. Alongside IMG, European Tour Productions is tasked with covering the Open, the Ryder Cup, and the DP World Tour. The Spidercam footage is accessible to the R&A's broadcast partners, including Sky Sports in the UK and NBC in the US, who are reportedly delighted with the innovation. The technology could be utilised at future tournaments wherever feasible, although it's unlikely to become a regular feature at golf events due to its hefty cost. R&A head of broadcasting and media rights Paul Sutcliffe told The Guardian: "It's not often The Open is the first to do something, as usually innovations are made by the Tours before being introduced by the majors, so this is really exciting. "Portrush is one of the few venues without a clubhouse on the 18th green so that gave us a unique opportunity. With more space around the green we have been able to install technology. "There will be some wires around the green, but the camera will retract to the grandstand before each player's second shot so we're confident there will be no interference. "2019 was one of the iconic Opens with the emotion of Shane Lowry winning at Portrush and Spidercam will enable viewers to walk with the 2025 champion up the 18th. It's the greatest walk in golf and should be very special." Football fans will be well-acquainted with the Spidercam already, with Champions League matches unveiling the technology as early as 2010. The Premier League, meanwhile, rolled it out it in January 2017 for a Manchester United vs Liverpool fixture. Operational considerations, costs and existing broadcast practices were the reasons for its relatively late usage. It is also commonplace in rugby union and cricket, while the aforementioned reasons have prevented its implementation in golf in the past.
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
The Open organisers agree to use of Spidercam on 18th green at Portrush
The R&A has installed a Spidercam above the 18th green at Portrush for next week's Open – the first time the technology has been used in golf. The four-point wire-cam system has been suspended above the final hole using four 25-metre-high pylons and will be used to provide spectacular aerial views and unique angles of play, as well as capturing the Open champion's final walk up the 18th in unprecedented detail. The players were briefed on the R&A's plans on Friday morning. While there were concerns expressed during internal discussions beforehand that some players would be unhappy with the intrusion and the potential for distraction caused by a roving camera during preparations for a shot, it is understood there have been no complaints. Spidercam has been deployed by broadcasters in stadium-based sports such as football, rugby union and cricket for several years, but the logistics and cost involved have prevented it being used in golf. The R&A is understood to be paying the operational costs of about £300,000 for the week at Portrush after a 12-month planning project undertaken in collaboration with European Tour Productions, which, in conjunction with IMG Media, is responsible for producing coverage of the Open, the Ryder Cup and the DP World Tour. The Spidercam coverage will be made available to the R&A's broadcaster partners, including Sky Sports in the UK and NBC in the US, who are both delighted with the innovation. If deemed successful, Spidercam could be used in future tournaments where the logistics allow, although due to the cost, it is unlikely to become a regular feature of golf events. Discussions over whether Spidercam can be used at next year's Open at Royal Birkdale will take place after the championship. 'It's not often the Open is the first to do something, as usually innovations are made by the Tours before being introduced by the Majors, so this is really exciting,' the R&A's head of broadcasting and media rights, Paul Sutcliffe, said. 'Portrush is one of the few venues without a clubhouse on the 18th green so that gave us a unique opportunity. 'With more space around the green we have been able to install technology. There will be some wires around the green, but the camera will retract to the grandstand before each player's second shot so we're confident there will be no interference. '2019 was one of the iconic Opens with the emotion of Shane Lowry winning at Portrush and Spidercam will enable viewers to walk with the 2025 champion up the 18th. It's the greatest walk in golf and should be very special.' Spidercam will complement existing technology, including a plane camera, aerial drones and bunker cameras, to enhance live coverage of the Open. Neil Armit, chief commercial officer at the R&A, said: 'We have worked closely with European Tour Productions to invest in cutting-edge broadcast technology and believe that Spidercam will bring millions of fans a new perspective of the action with incredible detail and accessibility wherever they are in the world. Richard Bunn, chief content and revenue officer at the European Tour Group, said: 'European Tour Productions has 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 tor the action than ever before.' The Open is the longest single broadcast in golf, with 48 hours of live coverage on air over four days from next Thursday. — The Guardian
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rory McIlroy adds context to Charley Hoffman's letter: 'He's also talking about himself'
How did Rory McIlroy celebrate his victory on Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am? He was wheels up less than three hours after his final putt dropped, scarfed down two double-doubles from In-N-Out, polished off a couple bottles of wine and finally landed back home in West Palm Beach, Florida, around 1 a.m. local time. His Monday included a workout and some practice, and by Tuesday evening he was in the SoFi Center for his team's second TGL match. Not a lot of downtime, but it's what McIlroy, who also kicked off his DP World Tour season in Dubai last month, signed up for. So, if Charley Hoffman has a problem with that, McIlroy says, so be it; in McIlroy's eyes, his participation outside of traditional PGA Tour events is additive to the PGA Tour, not detractive. Hoffman sent a letter to his fellow PGA Tour members over the weekend. The necessity for the memo is still uncertain, as Hoffman's comments mostly reiterated what Justin Thomas had shared with their peers a few weeks ago, including the topics of slow play and obligations to broadcast partners. Hoffman also criticized how the field at Pebble was filled, seemingly upset that two players in the Aon Swing 5 had already earned their spot via last year's final FedExCup standings while Hoffman, sixth in the Swing 5, wasn't even on the alternate list. And he closed his letter by taking a shot at PGA Tour pros who, Hoffman feels, are supporting as many tournaments as they can. 'If we truly care about strengthening our tour, we should be supporting as many PGA Tour events as we can,' Hoffman wrote. 'Many of you keep saying you want to play fewer events, yet you still find time for TGL, Race to Dubai, and other non-PGA Tour events, and that's going to continue regardless of field size. The best competition happens when the best players go head-to-head in a deep, competitive field. Not in small, limited-entry events that leave deserving players on the outside looking in.' McIlroy couldn't help but notice himself as a target. 'I thought a couple of them (Hoffman's arguments) were pointed at me a little bit,' McIlroy said, 'because TGL, Race to Dubai, non-PGA Tour events like the Showdown that Scottie and I did in December, I've been vocal about not wanting to play quite as much, so it seemed like it was pointed at me.' And so, McIlroy felt the need Tuesday night to contextualize what Hoffman said. 'I think the thing he forgot to mention is the PGA Tour owns 20% of TGL, so he's criticizing his own product,' McIlroy explained. 'They also own a good chunk of European Tour Productions, so again – I thought some of the elements of the letter were fine, addressed some issues. He was criticizing the Aon Swing 5; he was sixth in that. He talks about having it be for the good of the Tour, but he's also talking about himself, as well. … 'Look, what every player has to do is look out for themselves. We have to do what's best for our own individual careers, and yes, at the back of our mind try to do whatever we can to help the Tour, but I think the best way for any of us to help the Tour is to tee it up and play as best we can.'
NBC Sports
05-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Rory McIlroy adds context to Charley Hoffman's letter: 'He's also talking about himself'
How did Rory McIlroy celebrate his victory on Sunday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am? He was wheels up less than three hours after his final putt dropped, scarfed down two double-doubles from In-N-Out, polished off a couple bottles of wine and finally landed back home in West Palm Beach, Florida, around 1 a.m. local time. His Monday included a workout and some practice, and by Tuesday evening he was in the SoFi Center for his team's second TGL match. Not a lot of downtime, but it's what McIlroy, who also kicked off his DP World Tour season in Dubai last month, signed up for. So, if Charley Hoffman has a problem with that, McIlroy says, so be it; in McIlroy's eyes, his participation outside of traditional PGA Tour events is additive to the PGA Tour, not detractive. Hoffman sent a letter to his fellow PGA Tour members over the weekend. The necessity for the memo is still uncertain, as Hoffman's comments mostly reiterated what Justin Thomas had shared with their peers a few weeks ago, including the topics of slow play and obligations to broadcast partners. Hoffman also criticized how the field at Pebble was filled, seemingly upset that two players in the Aon Swing 5 had already earned their spot via last year's final FedExCup standings while Hoffman, sixth in the Swing 5, wasn't even on the alternate list. And he closed his letter by taking a shot at PGA Tour pros who, Hoffman feels, are supporting as many tournaments as they can. 'If we truly care about strengthening our tour, we should be supporting as many PGA Tour events as we can,' Hoffman wrote. 'Many of you keep saying you want to play fewer events, yet you still find time for TGL, Race to Dubai, and other non-PGA Tour events, and that's going to continue regardless of field size. The best competition happens when the best players go head-to-head in a deep, competitive field. Not in small, limited-entry events that leave deserving players on the outside looking in.' McIlroy couldn't help but notice himself as a target. 'I thought a couple of them (Hoffman's arguments) were pointed at me a little bit,' McIlroy said, 'because TGL, Race to Dubai, non-PGA Tour events like the Showdown that Scottie and I did in December, I've been vocal about not wanting to play quite as much, so it seemed like it was pointed at me.' And so, McIlroy felt the need Tuesday night to contextualize what Hoffman said. 'I think the thing he forgot to mention is the PGA Tour owns 20% of TGL, so he's criticizing his own product,' McIlroy explained. 'They also own a good chunk of European Tour Productions, so again – I thought some of the elements of the letter were fine, addressed some issues. He was criticizing the Aon Swing 5; he was sixth in that. He talks about having it be for the good of the Tour, but he's also talking about himself, as well. … 'Look, what every player has to do is look out for themselves. We have to do what's best for our own individual careers, and yes, at the back of our mind try to do whatever we can to help the Tour, but I think the best way for any of us to help the Tour is to tee it up and play as best we can.'
