Staff WriterIf you thought golf coverage had already reached its peak, think again—and look up. Spidercam is descending on the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, and it’s not here to just hang about.
In a world-first for the sport, this four-point wire-cam system will swoop over the 18th green, offering millions of TV viewers the kind of aerial wizardry usually reserved for football finals and Tom Cruise stunts.
That’s right. Spidercam—the same acrobatic contraption that’s zipped over rugby scrums and cricket wickets—will now cast its all-seeing eye over golf’s most storied major.
Suspended high above the final hole, it’ll give fans a fresh look at those delicate chips, nervy putts, and the greatest walk in golf as the Champion Golfer of the Year is crowned on Sunday, July 20.
During approach shots, the camera will obediently retreat to a resting spot behind the green, like a well-trained drone dog. But when the moment comes to shine? It’ll be ready to capture every wobble of the ball and twitch of the putter with cinematic flair.
It’s all part of a broader push by The R&A and European Tour Productions to jazz up the broadcast with a medley of tech tools. Plane cams? Check. Drones? Naturally. Bunker cams and Toptracer? You bet. But Spidercam is the headline act in this tech ensemble.
Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, put it this way: “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.”
Translation: forget grainy zooms and awkward tower angles—this is HDTV on steroids.
“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.”
Richard Bunn, Chief Content and Revenue Officer at the European Tour Group
It’s not just about pretty pictures, though. The Open’s digital presence is getting a revamp, too. TheOpen.com will roll out a new homepage designed to serve real-time updates with the efficiency of a Tiger Woods fairway iron.
There’s even a built-in weather feed—because if there’s one thing you need at Portrush, it’s a good brolly and better forecasts.
But wait, there’s more:
- Four Featured Groups will be streamed live each day.
- A dedicated Par 3 Channel will zoom in on the notorious 16th hole, “Calamity Corner.”
- ‘Live at the Range’—sponsored by HSBC—will offer behind-the-scenes insights during practice and early rounds.
- R&A TV viewers can juggle multiple streams like a caffeinated octopus.
- And for those who prefer their golf with a side of audio? The Open Radio delivers 50+ hours of live commentary.
Mobile users aren’t left out either. From lock-screen leaderboards to player-specific news feeds, fans can vote for their Golfer of the Day and follow every slice, hook, and miracle up-and-down as if they were walking the links themselves.
In short, this year’s Open isn’t just about who lifts the Claret Jug—it’s about how the rest of us get to see it happen. With Spidercam in full flight, the view’s never been better.
