While many had different expectations of the 2015 U.S. Open, this year’s tournament is undergoing some technological upgrades. This will be the second year of Fox’s 12 year deal in covering the U.S. Open and after the loads of criticism thrown at them last year, they are ready to prove themselves.
One of the first changes will be the addition of analyst Paul Azinger in place of Greg Norman. Fox believes that Azinger’s background will be able to bring a knowledge that Norman couldn’t.
Get The Golf Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
Next was bringing in even more technology then ever before to give viewers a more in-depth look into the Open. Here is a list of the equipment that will be used and where:
- Protracers in thirteen of the tee boxes, which will draw out the flight path of the ball and overlays that show the carry distances.
- Trackman radars on the fourth and 12th hole that will measure club speeds, ball speeds, the launch angle, spin rate and yardage carry figures.
- Cameras that will be built into the teeing ground for low-angle views of the players at holes 13, 15 and 17.
- A combination of shading and a grid systems on nine holes (1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18) that will gives the fans a better idea of how exactly the greens look.
Some of the listed technology, like the Protracers, were used previously but have now been added to even more locations throughout the course. In addition, the vivid color of the Oakmont Country Club will assist in the ability to locate the ball on the green, which was difficult for everyone (anchors, fans and even the players) to do last year.
One aspect of the coverage from the 2015 U.S. Open that Fox got good feedback about was picking up on-course audio of players and caddies through microphones in six holes, which will be used again this year in all 18.
Another gadget that will be used again is the drone-cam but, unlike before, the footage they broadcast will all be shot beforehand. This was decided because there are no safe locations to keep the drones between shots at Oakmont due to highways and other hazards. Fox will insert the shots to portray the hole locations, shot flight patterns, and the golfers’ options for hole strategy.
Coverage of the U.S. Open starts June 16th and will be hosted at Oakmont for the first time since 2007.