Ken Brown goes back to basics with his enjoyable lo-fi segment on BBC Open Credit: BBC iPlayer
If we want to have a two-tier sports TV system, Open Golf Live's breakdown on Sky Sports, plus a couple hours of highlights every night on the BBC are probably as good as we can hope for. Over the weekend, as England fans were drowning in despair at a Test match, the golf coverage was something of a lifeboat as what should have been an exciting sports weekend was sunk by Manchester weather.
Sky covers golf comprehensively, innovatively and confidently. With a range of pundits, commentators, and analysts, no viewer will applaud every voice, but this year I liked Nick Dougherty, reliable and personable, and the knowledgeable Andrew Coltart. Sir Nick Faldo, such a ruthless gambler, seems to have evolved into a relaxed, insightful and, in his own way, likable TV character.
Dame Laura Davis still belongs to the school of experts who say “he'll want to hit the golf well.” The crazy antics of the Australian prankster Wayne Riley, nicknamed “Radar” – this is an amateur, like, for example, strychnine. But still. Overall, it's a decent spread.
Perhaps lesser known to some casual viewers, Henny Koyak did a great job with the interview, and Jamie Weir also had an impressive week. Weir got into some pretty impromptu business when he did the burgundy pitcher trophy segment.
Weir, reading the names: “all the greats: Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Trevino, Ballesteros, Faldo. . .”
Cameron Smith, passing by: “Smith.”
Of course it's upsetting given events elsewhere to see a smiling Aussie and the only joyful moment this weekend for cricket fans came when Ricky Ponting and Mark Butcher jumped out of Old Trafford to score at Sky's ground. It's always nice when characters from another franchise drop in for a cameo; and Butcher managed to win that mini Ashes contest for England, at least.
In addition to flair, the hallmark of the Sky Golf is its love of gizmos: the holographic player pumps doo-da, aerial photography of the course turned into controllable on-screen graphics and, without a doubt, the “scratch and sniff” function on 94K HD coverage any day.
TV directors seem to have an appetite for art, especially with liberal use of super slow motion replays at every opportunity. One Telegraph reader, Terry Lloyd, summed it up in impeccable style, writing, “I think it makes no sense and I would rather watch golf live, which is what I pay for. If they think slow motion is so great, why not replay the program at half speed at night?”
Also running at a different speed is the BBC's highlight coverage, which feels like a throwback to Sky's busy tech case. Important shots, a strange interview, some editing and historical context: done.
Brown climbs into the bunker to prove his point. Photo: BBC iPlayer a hole in the sky, the soul of a BBC report is carried by Ken Brown, that gentle and wise keeper of the flame.
“Once Ken was the future. He undoubtedly advanced British television coverage of golf with his informative, naturalistic stories about tactics and technique. The 'Ken on Course' interludes are still present on BBC programming, but they have a lo-fi, charming homely feel to them. On Thursday, Ken painted a sad face in the sand trap with a broom.
Brown makes it clear what can happen to the player's mood if they end up in the Hoylake bunker. Credit: BBC iPlayer He plots a route up 13th Street in strong winds using a similarly pleasant method: he takes out his footage book and makes notes in it with a pen. The gusts of wind continued to turn the pages in question, but Ken didn't mind. What a professional; and his ability to really get excited about rolling a golf ball on the grass remains unmatched. It all seems a far cry from flamboyant young people scurrying around with giant iPads and screaming about AI-powered 4D golf swings.
It's a shame the BBC no longer has live TV rights, but the ramifications of fast-paced, vibrant live coverage and laid-back evening roundups, both of which work well on their own, saved the weekend from a complete flop. At least the Australian didn't win.
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