ESPN to air The Open highlights in HD

ESPN has confirmed plans to broadcast a nightly highlights show from The Open Championship in high definition.

From July 15 to July 18, ESPN and ESPN HD will air the recap programme, titled The Open Highlights, every night from 11pm.

The channels will also broadcast a one-hour SportsCenter preview of The Open Championship on July 14 at 11pm.

The Open Highlights will be fronted by golfer and commentator Peter Allis, with contributions coming from golf legends Paul Azinger, Tom Watson and Curtis Strange.

Colin Montgomerie, who will be competing at the famous tournament at the St Andrews golf course, will also appear on the programme.

To celebrate the 139th Open Championship, ESPN Classic will broadcast a range of archive films from the tournament's history, starting tonight at 5.15pm.

"We are delighted to bring British golf fans a nightly high definition roundup of the best of The Open," said ESPN EMEA vice president of TV channels Jeroen Oerlemans.

"ESPN is no stranger to golf having televised golf for decades around the world, including all four majors. We will look to continue to build our golf programming in the UK as part of our commitment to building a channel with a wide variety of sport."

Also today, the BBC has confirmed plans to broadcast all of its live coverage from The Open in HD for the first time.