BBC secure Open contract

THE BRITISH Open Championship will stay on terrestrial television until the next century after the Royal and Ancient Golf Club announced yesterday that they had struck a deal with the BBC.

The new contract will remain with the BBC up to and including the year 2001. Michael Bonallack, secretary of the Royal and Ancient, said "We are delighted that the long and happy relationship between the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and BBC TV continues with the renewal of this contract. It means that millions of viewers can still enjoy live coverage of the Open Championship into the next century."

Jonathan Martin, head of BBC Sport and Events, said "The Open is a huge landmark in every sporting summer and we are delighted to have ensured that coverage will be available to the entire British public for at least the next six years."

The new deal also includes the Women's Open, the 1999 Walker Cup at Nairn, plus highlights of the Curtis Cup and the 1997 Walker Cup in the United States.

Sky Television meanwhile have secured exclusive rights to broadcast the US Open to the turn of the century and to screen another of the four Majors the US PGA Championship to 1999.