Toptracer will have its biggest-ever presence at a major championship when The 154th Open begins at Royal Birkdale next week, with its ball-tracing technology powering the global broadcast and, for the first time, delivering live shot data to on-site fans during practice rounds.
Royal Birkdale hosts The Open for the 11th time, with championship rounds running from July 16 to 19. Toptracer will be active throughout the week, across the television broadcast, the practice range, and multiple fan areas around the grounds.
Live data on tee boxes
Spectators attending practice rounds will be able to scan QR codes on each tee box to access Toptracer Go, pulling up real-time statistics for every shot they watch. The available metrics include ball speed, carry distance, launch angle, landing angle, height, spin and curve.
The feature gives on-site fans broadcast-level information as they follow practice-round action.
Tournament Range and the global broadcast
The worldwide television coverage of The 154th Open will be exclusively traced by Toptracer. Viewers at home will see ball-flight graphics on every shot during competitive play.
On the practice range, a large LED screen will allow spectators to follow players’ warm-up sessions in detail. Toptracer Go will also be available to track every golfer hitting balls on the range simultaneously, letting fans compare routines and ball-flight numbers across the field.
Simulators across the grounds
The R&A’s Swing Zone, located in the Spectator Village, will offer complimentary 15-minute golf lessons on 10 Toptracer simulators, the most it has featured. Sessions are open to visitors of all ages and skill levels.
Beyond the Swing Zone, Toptracer indoor simulators will be available at five additional locations: the HSBC Golf Zone (five units), Dunes House (two), the Patrons Pavilion (one), the Mastercard Club (one) and, new for this year, the Player Clubhouse (one).
“What we have on display for our platform at Royal Birkdale is unprecedented, so we hope the fans take advantage and interact with The Open like never before,” said Scott Blevins, President and GM of Toptracer.
Henry Keeling, Director of Commercial Partnerships at The R&A, said: “What Toptracer can bring to a major championship setting is remarkable in terms of technology and fan experience.”
Global Challenge for fans at home
For those unable to attend Royal Birkdale, Toptracer is running a Global Challenge from July 13 to 19 at participating ranges worldwide. Players complete a virtual round on a digital version of Royal Birkdale, with a closest-to-the-pin contest on the newly created 241-yard par-3 15th hole.
The grand prize includes two tickets to the final round of The 155th Open at St Andrews and the opportunity to play the Old Course the following day. If multiple players record a hole-in-one on the 15th, the prize goes to the golfer with the most aces during the challenge window.
Find your local range and experience everything Toptracer has to offer HERE.
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.