The 150th anniversary Open – live from St Andrews on the BBC and in HD

BBC Sport brings live and exclusive coverage of the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship from St Andrews. The event commences on Thursday 15 July, with all the action available for the first time in HD.

The BBC’s coverage is presented by Hazel Irvine, with the expert commentary and analysis team of Peter Alliss, Ken Brown, Sam Torrance, Mark James, Wayne Grady and Andrew Cotter.

New this year, Jean Van de Velde joins the on-course team of Maureen Madill and Philip Parkin with reporters Dan Walker, Shane O’Donaghue and Russell Fuller.

BBC coverage begins on Wednesday 14 July at 7pm on BBC Two, with a one-hour highlights programme of The Open Champions Challenge.

This special event celebrates the 150th anniversary of The Open and will feature legendary past winners including Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino. Coverage of The Champions Challenge is also available on the Red Button from 3.30–6pm. (see Notes to Editors below for full schedule).

Over 40 hours of coverage will be broadcast over the four-day competition on BBC One, BBC Two and the BBC HD Channel, starting at 9am on Thursday 15 July. There will be approximately 40 hours of content available on the Red Button.

BBC Sport Online will also carry live streaming of the network feed (UK users only), along with rolling highlights, live leaderboard, live text commentary and video clips of the best bits of action.

There will be blogs and tweets from web, TV & radio reporters, all the latest reports and photos with opportunities to interact and get involved.

BBC Red Button will broadcast comprehensive coverage on each day of The Open (see Notes to Editors for full details); Freeview viewers will be able to access live video with leaderboard; satellite and cable viewers will also be able to select a three-hole option where you can see play through the 9th, 10th and 11th holes only; plus a daily 30-minute highlights package and live play outside of network coverage at the weekend.

All live coverage will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

BBC Radio 5 Live has extensive coverage of The Open Championship 2010.

John Inverdale presents live from St Andrews daily, from 10am, on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 July and 12pm on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July. Radio 5 Live’s golf correspondent, Iain Carter, heads up the commentary team with John Murray, Clare Balding, Alistair Bruce Ball and Conor McNamara.

Former Scottish Ryder Cup player and captain, Bernard Gallacher, provides expert analysis, alongside European tour player and leading coach Mark Roe and former PGA and European tour player Jay Townsend.

Nicky Campbell will host 5 Live Breakfast, from 6-10am, live from St Andrews on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 July, with the early action from the course and all the latest national and international news.

Ahead of the opening day’s play, golf fanatic Chris Evans presents a special 5 Live Sport Open Preview programme, live from the famous Old Course Hotel at St Andrews, on Wednesday 14 July from 7-9pm.

Chris will be joined by special guests, including golf legend Gary Player and a live audience, to look forward to the championship and assess who’s best placed to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday evening.
Notes to Editors

For any picture requests from current BBC Programming, please email pictures@bbc.co.uk, stating programme name, transmission date, deadline, intended usage and contact details.

If you have access to our website to download pictures, please visit bbcpictures.com.

Programming details are correct as at 09.07.10 and may be subject to schedule changes.

BBC TV Schedule

Wednesday 14 July
3.30-6pm: BBC Red Button, Golf – The Open Champions Challenge
7-8pm: BBC Two, Golf – The Open Champions Challenge Highlights

Thursday 15 July
9am-8pm: BBC Two and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
9am-8pm: Red Button

Friday 16 July
9am-8pm: BBC Two and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
9am-8pm: Red Button

Saturday 17 July
10am-5.15pm: BBC One and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
5.15-7.30pm: BBC Two and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
10am-7.30pm: BBC Red Button

Sunday 18 July
11am-12.45am: BBC Two and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
12.45am-8pm: BBC One and BBC HD, Golf – The Open, live coverage
11am-8pm: BBC Red Button

Please note alternative Red Button schedule for Freeview viewers:

Saturday 17 July
10–11.50am: BBC Red Button
3–7.30pm: BBC Red Button

Sunday 18 July
12.05–2pm: BBC Red Button
2.30–8pm: BBC Red Button

Radio 5 Live schedule

Wednesday 14 July
7-9pm: 5 Live sport Open Preview with Chris Evans

Thursday 15 July
6-10am: 5 Live Breakfast, live from St Andrews, with Nicky Campbell
10am-7pm: Open Golf, live from St Andrews, presented by John Inverdale

Friday 16 July
6-10am: Radio 5 Live Breakfast, live from St Andrews, with Nicky Campbell
10am-7pm: Open Golf, live from St Andrews, presented by John Inverdale

Saturday 17 July
12-7pm: 5 Live Sport – Open Golf, live from St Andrews, presented by John Inverdale

Sunday 19 July
12-7.30pm: 5 Live Sport – Open Golf, live from St Andrews, presented by John Inverdale

You can listen to Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra via DAB radio, online at bbc.co.uk/5live, digital Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and 909 & 693 AM.