The Sky is the limit as The Open looks set to move on

The next two Opens will be the last shown live on BBC.

Their contract for exclusive rights to golf’s major Major ends after Royal Troon in 2016, and I can’t see it being extended.

It will be a sad day when the event is no longer on the BBC and we can’t listen to Peter Alliss, but that is drawing ever nearer.

They are happier to have highlights and coverage of the last hour or two on Sunday but we’re in an era of live sport on TV.

We must come to terms with the idea that The Open needs a big sports channel behind it.

From the R&A’s perspective, they want the maximum exposure in terms of viewing figures, but they also want their prized asset to receive the coverage it deserves.

To remain the best event in golf that means broadcasters paying top dollar and having big prize money. That is the reality of modern sport.

Look at Wimbledon. It’s the title that every tennis player wants to win, but the TV coverage, sponsorship and money reflects that prestige.

And it won’t have gone unnoticed what has happened in the US, where Fox have paid

$1 billion to show the US Open and their Women’s and Senior Opens too, for the next 12 years.

If the R&A receive a favourable bid from Sky, I’m sure they would pledge to channel some of the money into the grassroots of the game.

Their role is to put on the world’s best tournament and to develop our sport across the globe. And they may feel the time is right to strike up a partnership with Sky to carry on that work.

There would be the loss of appealing to casual viewers and non-golfers. Nick Faldo has always talked about taking up golf after watching Jack Nicklaus on TV.

But money could be directed to the Golf Foundation and at initiatives to go into schools and encourage youngsters that way.

There is no real appetite at the BBC to show wall-to-wall live golf for four days.

Their coverage at The Masters and at Wentworth has been scaled right back in recent years.

That makes it harder to cover The Open because they lose the expertise needed as televising a golf tournament is very difficult.

Sky are used to it, witness last year’s Ryder Cup, and they would have huge resources to make The Open a tremendous spectacle for the viewer at home.