The 2016 Open Championship got off to a roaring start on Thursday with what could only be considered an ideal opening round. There was great weather, tremendous golf and nearly some history. Things don't figure to be as bright and sunny for the second round on Friday, but we'll have to wait and see if the field can reproduce the results.
Like it did in the opening round, Golf Channel will provide exhaustive coverage from Royal Troon on Friday. That includes a live television broadcast that starts before any player tees up a shot. The broadcast will begin at 1:30 a.m. ET and continue until 4 p.m., providing viewers with more than 14 hours of live coverage. It's unprecedented coverage for a major championship, that is if viewers in the United States are willing to forgo sleep to watch.
Phil Mickelson did his part to set the stage for a great week on Thursday, nearly setting the scoring record in a major championship. Mickelson headed to No. 18 at 8-under on the round and had a 16-foot putt to shoot a 62, the lowest score ever in a major. The putt was tracking perfectly, until it went just a touch right at the end and lipped out. Mickelson was devastated and said he felt like crying after just missing out on history. The consolation prize of an 8-under round of 63 and a three-shot lead after the first round isn't too shabby though.
Perfect weather made for ideal scoring conditions on Thursday, and a good portion of the field took advantage. A whopping 50 players of the 156-player field finished the opening 18 holes under par. That included Patrick Reed and Martin Kaymer, who are both tied for second place at 5-under. Defending champion Zach Johnson is 4-under while Justin Rose is in the mix at 3-under.
If the forecast holds true through Friday, the scores aren't likely to go as low. There was hardly any wind on Thursday and no rain. More significant wind is expected during the second round, and it figures to be wet with off-and-on showers. That should make the course more difficult and could pose a challenge for players trying to make up ground like Jason Day (2-over), Jordan Spieth (even) and Dustin Johnson (even).
In addition to the main Golf Channel broadcast that will run the entire round, there will also be supplemental coverage available thanks to four live streams. There will be a simulcast stream as well as a stream dedicated to the first tee box. Viewers can catch even more of the action with the featured holes and featured group streams.
Here is a complete look at the full coverage for Friday. All times Eastern.
Friday's second round coverage
Television:
1:30 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Golf Channel
Online streams:
1:30 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Golf Channel broadcast simulcast stream
1:30-11:30 a.m. -- "First Tee" stream
3 a.m.-1:30 p.m. -- Featured holes stream, Nos. 6 to 8 (famous Postage Stamp par-3)
Radio:
3 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio (Ch. 92/208)
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