Portrush (N Ireland), Jul 17 (AP) – The prestigious world of golf has embraced modern technology with an innovative addition at the British Open, aimed to enhance the experience of its storied finale. The Spidercam—an aerial camera, not a fictional superhero—made its golf debut at Royal Portrush on Thursday. Suspended above the famed 18th green by four towering 25-meter pylons, this technology offers television audiences a fresh and dynamic perspective of the last hole's distinctive undulations.
As players approached the green, Spidercam swooped down from its resting position high above, capturing their journey and hovering closely for dramatic views during putts. Northern Ireland's own Tom McKibbin, the first out on the course at 6:35 a.m. alongside Nicolai Hojgaard and Padraig Harrington, expressed his excitement at witnessing the technology. "It's pretty cool the way it can move and do all those swings," McKibbin remarked, experiencing it firsthand for the first time.
This is a pioneering move by the R&A, as none of the professional golf tours have yet utilized such technology in their events—an investment that reportedly cost £300,000 ($400,000). While novel to golf, Spidercam is no stranger to major sporting events, featuring prominently in sports such as soccer, rugby, and cricket. It has, however, occasionally caused issues; such as when Indian cricket star MS Dhoni famously destroyed a hovering unit with a powerful strike in 2017. Just last year, South African cricketer Anrich Nortje was knocked down by a low-flying camera during a Test match against Australia.
At Royal Portrush, Spidercam adds to the array of technology enhancing broadcast coverage, which includes aerial drones, plane cameras, and bunker cameras. Players were briefed about this new addition at Portrush last week and offered no objections, despite potential distractions during their shots.
During the tournament, as Hojgaard and Harrington made their approach to the 18th green, the camera maneuvered over them, capturing Harrington's two putts in a near-circular view. Hojgaard claimed he barely noticed the camera, signifying its successful integration into the game.
This installation leveraged Royal Portrush's sprawling landscape since there is no clubhouse directly on the 18th green, a luxury that other Open venues cannot afford. Venues like Royal Lytham St. Anne's, Royal Troon, and Hoylake might find adopting such technology challenging due to space constraints. However, next year’s venue, Royal Birkdale, is expected to successfully accommodate this innovative camera.
Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at the R&A, anticipates Spidercam's ability to deliver unparalleled and detailed coverage to millions of fans across the globe. "We believe that Spidercam will bring millions of fans a new perspective of the action from Royal Portrush," he stated, emphasizing the enhanced detail and accessibility it provides.
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