The return of The Open Championship to Royal Portrush is bringing not only record crowds and world-class golf but also a wave of innovation that is transforming how fans experience the game.

At the heart of that transformation is the debut of Spidercam, a high-tech, cable-suspended camera system making its first-ever appearance at a golf major.

Suspended above the 18th green and operated via a four-point wire system, Spidercam provides dynamic aerial shots that track players from tee to green, capturing the emotion, movement, and drama in a way previously unseen in golf broadcasts.

Used frequently in sports such as football, American football, and cricket, Spidercam is best known for bringing audiences closer to the action in immersive, cinematic ways.

At Royal Portrush, its introduction will add a new dimension to the coverage of the final hole.

The Spidercam glides effortlessly above players and fans alike, capturing high-definition footage of body language, club selections, crowd reactions, and the natural beauty of the course from above.

Its ability to pan, tilt, and zoom from a bird’s-eye view will provide fans at home with the sensation of walking alongside the players in real-time.

The system was installed following a successful series of tests and careful negotiations with local authorities and safety teams, ensuring minimal disruption to play while maximising visual impact.

It complements other advanced broadcast tools, including drone cameras, bunker-mounted cameras, and ShotView graphics, all of which combine to create a pretty exceptional viewing experience.

Beyond Spidercam, The Open’s media and technology footprint has grown considerably.

The R&A’s digital strategy has placed fans at the centre of the action, regardless of where they are watching from.

The Open App and Website have been revamped to include:

  • Live ShotView powered by NTT Data: showcasing every player’s shot path with heatmaps, scatter plots, and strategic insights.
  • Leaderboards on lock screens, push notifications, and custom player tracking.
  • A daily ‘Golfer of the Day’ fan vote, offering chances to win tickets and merchandise.

For those attending in person, the NTT Data Wall in the Spectator Village is a showstopper.

Stretching 20 metres wide, the giant screen displays live highlights, real-time analytics, animated score movements, and crowd-driven features, all tailored to provide context and engagement while moving between holes.

With a record attendance expected to surpass 278,000, organisers have had to balance cutting-edge fan engagement with robust crowd management.

Sport for Business will be reporting from the course on Friday.

 

 

Sport for Business Events

 

 

Find out More about Our Sport for Business Events Programme Here

 

The Latest Sport for Business Podcasts

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Check out more of our Sport for Business coverage of Golf

 

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

Sport for Business is in planning for major events bringing together leaders in Irish Sport and Business across a range of subjects in the second half of the year.

On Thursday, August 29th we will host a special event looking at Future Proofing Irish Sport including the use of AI in sport. Then in September we will host our Annual Children in Sport Conference, in October, our Annual Sport for Social Good Event, in November a new event focused on Sustainability in Sport and in December our 12th Annual Women in Sport Conference.

Find out More about Our Sport for Business Events Programme Here

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

Golf Ireland and KPMG, as well as all the leading sporting and business organisations in and around the world of sport are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business community.

This includes all of the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, individuals interested in our world, and an increasing number from beyond these shores taking a keen interest in Ireland.  

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.