Mock the BBC’s Open coverage and Peter Alliss if you must, but we’ll miss it when it’s gone | Scott Murray

With Sky hovering to take control, the days of uninterrupted golf, wildlife and fashion chat from dawn to dusk could be over sooner than we all realise

There’s a fair chance Manchester United’s Rory McIlroy will forever regret his decision to hare around a football pitch last weekend like a slightly less relaxed Roy Keane. Bang went that ankle ligament and with it the chance, at the peak of his powers, to join that illustrious roll-call of stars to win an Open at the home of golf. Jones, Snead, Nicklaus, Faldo, Seve, Tiger and Rory had such a lovely rhythm to it. Ah well, never mind, Jordan’s got the same number of syllables. 2020 maybe.

Silver linings, though. At least poor Rory will have the chance to put that injured foot up, hunker down and devour every single minute of the BBC coverage. We’d all do well to follow his lead, too, because with Sky taking charge in 2017, and the BBC reportedly looking to offload its rights a season early, this week could potentially mark the corporation’s last-ever live Open. Whatever transpires, there’s a whiff of fin de siècle in the air.

Related: The Open 2015 quiz: test your knowledge of golf's oldest major

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