Thanks to Awful Announcing for posting this Sports Business Daily article about ESPN expressing interest in acquiring the rights for early round coverage of the British Open after '09.
GOLF WORLD's Ron Sirak cites sources as saying that discussions are "under way for ESPN to take over" broadcast rights for the British Open in 2010 when the tournament returns to the Old Course at St. Andrews. TNT currently has a contract to broadcast the Open through the '09 event.
If ESPN picks up the British Open, they will have early round coverage for three out of the four majors (TNT would still have the PGA). The move makes sense because the ABC crew (fellow Disney channel) will already be overseas.
The Open Championship is difficult for any American network to broadcast because the BBC has control over most of the cameras.
