BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes re-visit memorable moments and stories from past Open Championships with some of the biggest names in golf.
The Women's Open 2022
Iain Carter is joined by Emma Ballard from Women and Golf ahead of an historic AIG Women’s Open to be held at Muirfield.
It’s as the club holds its first ever women’s event since it abolished its controversial men-only members rule in 2017.
The 2018 Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall joins the pod to talk about what it means to her to play at Muirfield and how she thinks more progress can be made for women’s golf.
The R&A chief exec Martin Slumbers tells us about the rise in the prize purse for the Women’s Open and how equal prize money with The Open has to be the goal for the sport.
You’ll also hear about what is being done to get more women into golf, how Muirfield has changed as a club in the past five years and why it’s a challenge to get more female golf fans to follow the women’s tour.
8/3/2022 • 44 minutes, 29 seconds
Tiger Woods
BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes look at the extraordinary life and career of one of the greatest players in Open Championship history – Tiger Woods.
Iain travels to Adare Manor in Ireland to talk to the man himself about what The Open means to him as he prepares for the 150th Championship at St Andrews.
You’ll hear at length from Steve Williams, his former caddie who was on the bag for Woods for 13 of his 15 major wins, on how they spoke daily about trying to beat Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 major victories.
We look back on some of his greatest achievements - from winning four consecutive majors in 2000 and 2001 to earn the “Tiger slam”, being crowned US Open champion at Torrey Pines in 2008 with a broken leg, his unlikely “redemption” win at The Masters in 2019 and of course, lifting three Claret Jugs in sensational style.
The Golf Channel’s Jaime Diaz was one of the first journalists to get to know Tiger Woods at the age of 14. He joins the pod to talk about how he developed into one of the greatest golfers of all-time.
USA Today columnist Christine Brennan explores how Woods’ image has changed and evolved in the media spotlight in recent years following three high-profile incidents with cars, personal scandal and injury.
TOPICS:
1’00” – Eldrick Tont Woods - nominative determinism?
6’42” – Is he the most famous sports star there has ever been?
13’06” – Tiger Woods’ fans on why they support him
14’35” – Tiger Woods on what The Open Championship means to him
17’25” – Woods’ childhood
23’38” – How race fuelled his career
31’30” – Steve Williams on the achievement of the “Tiger slam”
38’30” – Woods’ extraordinary US Open win at Torrey Pines with a broken leg in 2008
41’50” – Tiger Woods’ three Open Championship titles
49’50” – Woods’ aim of surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ majors record
51’14” – How Tiger has transcended his sport
54’30” – Tiger Woods – the man in the media spotlight
58’00” – Car crashes, personal scandal and injury
7/7/2022 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 12 seconds
The Legends of The Open
Katherine Downes and BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter celebrate some of the greatest players in the history of The Open championship.
Five-time Open champion Tom Watson shares his memories of his victories with Iain and gives us an insight into how he handled missing out on the Claret Jug in 2009 at Turnberry.
Three-time winner Gary Player also joins the pod to talk about what The Open Championship means to him.
From Arnold Palmer to Jack Nicklaus, the former European Tour player Andrew Murray and US journalist Alex Miceli share their stories of meeting legendary players and pick their greatest Open champion.
TOPICS:
1’20” – What makes an “Open legend?”
7’40” – Why Tom Watson is an Open legend
10’17” – Interview with Tom Watson
18’55” – Andrew and Alex share their stories of playing with Tom Watson
25’16” – Why Jack Nicklaus is an Open legend
33’45” – The legendary status of Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer.
41’26” – Why Gary Player is an Open legend
48’16” – Who is the panel’s ultimate Open legend?
6/30/2022 • 51 minutes, 27 seconds
Phil Mickelson
Katherine Downes and BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter discuss the rise, and more recently fall, of Open champion Phil Mickelson.
They’re joined by Sports Illustrated journalist Bob Harig to celebrate his playing career, to look back on his memorable Open victory in 2013 at Muirfield and to analyse his rivalry with Tiger Woods.
Biographer Alan Shipnuck, who published Mickelson’s comments on Saudi Arabia earlier this year, tells us what he’s made of Mickelson’s downfall since those quotes were released.
The panel discuss whether Mickelson has damaged his legacy after breaking away from the PGA Tour and signing up to the controversial Saudi-backed LIV golf series.
TOPICS:
1’15” - Reflection on Phil Mickelson’s illustrious career
7’00” - Phil Mickelson becomes Open champion in 2013 at Muirfield
10’50” - Interview with biographer Alan Shipnuck on following Mickelson’s career
19’00” - Rivalry with Tiger Woods
23’10” - Alan Shipnuck on publishing Phil Mickelson’s comments about Saudi Arabia
29’00” - How Mickelson has changed in 2022
6/23/2022 • 45 minutes, 2 seconds
The British and Irish Open champions
Katherine Downes and BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter are joined by Ladies European Tour winner Trish Johnson to celebrate the British and Irish golfers who have lifted the Claret Jug.
From Tony Jacklin to Shane Lowry, the panel share their favourite memories and stories of those Open Championships, which resulted in a home-grown hero.
You’ll hear at length from Sandy Lyle on what it was like to win The Open in 1985 at Royal St. George’s and how even a streaker didn’t put him off from winning.
And Shane Lowry joins the pod with Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll to discuss Lowry’s memorable victory at Portrush in 2019.
TOPICS:
5’55” – Tony Jacklin
8’40” – Interview with Sandy Lyle
28’30” – Nick Faldo
35’30” – Paul Lawrie
39’45” – Padraig Harrington
43’10” – Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy
49’40” – Interview with Shane Lowry and Brian O’Driscoll
6/22/2022 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
The nearly men
Commentator Katherine Downes is joined by BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and European Tour winner Andrew Murray to look back on the players who appeared destined to win The Open, only to be denied from lifting the Claret Jug.
You'll hear from Jean van de Velde on his infamous performance on the final hole of The Open in 1999 at Carnoustie.
Adam Scott gives us an emotional interview, on how it still haunts him to this day, that he let The Open in 2012 at Royal Lytham St Annes slip away.
And Ian Poulter talks about coming so close, yet so far, to lifting the Claret Jug in his career.
TOPICS:
00:51: Kat, Iain and Andrew discuss The Open’s nearly men.
06:18: Nearly man: Jean van de Velde in 1999.
22:18: Nearly man: Adam Scott in 2012.
40:07: Nearly man: Ian Poulter in 2008.
48:22: Kat, Iain and Andrew discuss their own Open nearly men memories.
6/22/2022 • 54 minutes, 44 seconds
The origins of The Open
BBC correspondent Iain Carter takes a trip back in time to discover the origins of The Open ahead of the 150th championship at St Andrews this summer.
Commentator Katherine Downes and former European Tour player Zane Scotland join the pod to find out why the championship is called The Open and why the winner gets the Claret Jug.
During his journey, Iain visits St Andrews and Prestwick to discuss the fascinating history of The Open and to tell you about the three pioneers who helped shape what the championship has become today.
6/22/2022 • 34 minutes, 31 seconds
Seve Ballesteros
BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes look back on the incredible career of three-time Open champion and legend of the sport, Seve Ballesteros.
You'll hear Iain's last interview with Seve on his retirement from golf.
Seve’s son, Javier Ballesteros, joins the podcast to share memories of his father and discuss his legacy in the sport.
And BBC commentators Ken Brown and Alistair Bruce-Ball share their stories and anecdotes of one of sport’s true greats and personalities.
TOPICS:
1'00" - What was behind the magic of Seve?
6'09" - Iain's last interview with Seve
10'45" - Interview with Javier Ballesteros, Seve's son
26'38" - Ken Brown and Alistair Bruce-Ball share their stories on Seve
6/22/2022 • 48 minutes, 30 seconds
Collin Morikawa
Katherine Downes, BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and former European Tour player Zane Scotland delve into the fascinating mind of the 2021 Open champion, Collin Morikawa.
Morikawa reveals to us how he’s able to hit “the reset button” when things aren’t going his way on the golf course and reflects on his impressive victory at Royal St George’s, as he prepares to defend his title at St Andrews this summer.
Collin Morikawa’s coach Rick Sessinghaus joins the pod to tell us what it’s been like to work with him since the age of eight, about his mental strength and dealing with comparisons to Tiger Woods . . . And who exactly is Post Malone?
TOPICS:
2’00” – Reflections on Collin Morikawa’s win at The Open in 2021 at Royal St George’s
5’50” – Zane Scotland on why Morikawa’s victory was impressive
8’12” – Morikawa’s meteoric start to his professional career
11’33” – Morikawa on being successful early on in his professional career
15’35” – Morikawa on his ability to hit “the reset button”
20’10” – Morikawa’s mental strength
23’00” – Interview with Morikawa’s coach Rick Sessinghaus
28’31” – What’s he like away from the golf course?
34’05” – What potential does Morikawa have?
38’10” – Can he defend his Open title at St Andrews?
6/22/2022 • 39 minutes, 54 seconds
Rory McIlroy
Mark Chapman is joined by BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes for the first episode in a brand new podcast series – All About: The Open.
In this pod, Rory McIlroy reflects on winning The Open in 2014 at Royal Liverpool and why he thinks he hasn’t won a major since his victory at the PGA Championship that same summer.
The panel are joined by Greg Allen from RTE, to give us an insight into what McIlory is really like, and to discuss whether he’ll have another “purple patch” of major wins in his career.
It’s the first episode in 5 Live’s All About: The Open series, to get you in the mood ahead of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews from 14th July 2022.
A new pod will be released every Thursday only on BBC Sounds
TOPICS:
0’30” – The highs and lows for Rory McIlroy at The Open
2’20” – Why is St Andrews so special?
5’20” – Why is Rory McIlroy a fans’ favourite?
7’50” – Rory McIlroy on why he thinks he hasn’t won a major since 2014
10’40” – McIlroy reflects on his victory at The Open in 2014 at Royal Liverpool
14’20” – McIlroy on whether an injury in 2015 affected the momentum in his career
21’00” – Greg Allen from RTE gives us an insight on McIlroy
23’40” – Is he a better golfer now than he was back in 2014?
28’41” – Will McIlroy have another purple patch in his career?
36’20” – Could his projects outside of golf help or hinder his performances?
6/22/2022 • 38 minutes, 48 seconds
The Open
A brand new golf podcast series, All About: The Open, is coming your way on this feed.
BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and commentator Katherine Downes will re-visit memorable moments and share stories from Open Championships in recent years, through exclusive new interviews with some of the biggest names in golf. Episode one features the 2014 Open champion Rory McIlroy, who reflects on his victory at Royal Liverpool and why he thinks he hasn’t won a major since winning the PGA Championship that same summer.
It’s to gear you up ahead of the 150th Open at St Andrews – full coverage on 5 Live from 14th July 2022. Make sure you subscribe to this feed to get a brand new episode weekly episodes, plus the full boxset, dropping soon.