BBC SPORT | Golf | The Open | Meet the BBC team

A host of well-known faces - and voices - will ensure you see and listen to the best and most informative coverage of the 2002 Open Championship.

Over the four days of the Open, the BBC team will bring you expert analysis, news, views and interviews from the windswept Muirfield course.

BBC Sport's Open coverage

Steve Rider

Steve Rider began his career as a junior sports reporter on his local weekly newspaper in South East London before going to work at Hayters sports agency.

He reported on the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow for ITV and occasionally presented its flagship sports programme, World Of Sport.

Steve joined BBC Sport in July 1985.

After spending six years presenting Sportsnight, he moved over to his current job as the main presenter of Grandstand, succeeding Desmond Lynam.

He is also the frontman for the BBC's golf and motorsport coverage, and his role with Grandstand involves presenting prestigious weekend events such as rugby union's Six Nations Championship.

A regular co-presenter of the BBC Sports Review of the Year, Steve also plays golf.

Peter Alliss

Born in 1931 in Berlin, the name of Peter Alliss would appear on many people's list of the top 50 golfers since the war.

Son of Percy Alliss, one of the foremost British professionals between the wars, Peter lost no time in following in his father's footsteps, turning pro in 1946 at the age of 15 and playing in his first Open a year later.

Peter Alliss is a man of many talents
Alliss is a man of many talents
Although he never succeeded in winning any of the Major championships, his victory tally in European tournaments was impressive, no less than 20 wins between 1954 and 1969, including the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese Opens in the space of three weeks in 1958.

His first appearance in the Ryder Cup was in 1953, and with the single exception of 1955 he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the event until 1969.

Peter Alliss' retirement from international golf at the early age of 38 - "I began to twitch on the short putts" - has led to a successful triple career as a broadcaster, writer and golf course design consultant.

He joined the BBC television commentary team in 1961 and has become known to millions of viewers around the world as the "Voice of Golf".

Peter counts yoga, meditation and keeping fit among his hobbies.

Alex Hay

Born in Edinburgh in 1933 and educated at Musselburgh Grammar School, Alex Hay was a professional golfer until 1994.

He started his commentating career with BBC television in 1978 with the Open championship and has covered many golfing events - including all the Opens - since then.

Hay has forged a superb broadcasting partnership with his great friend and partner in crime Peter Alliss and the pair bring authority and genuine humour to the BBC television coverage.

Away from the commentary box, Alex is involved with course management and was until recent times the managing director of Woburn Golf Course - venue for the British Masters.

Outside of the game, Alex enjoys rugby, football and art.

Ken Brown

Ken Brown was born in January 1957 in Hertfordshire and educated at Roundwood Park School.

Ken Brown played in several Ryder Cups
Brown played in several Ryder Cups
He was a professional golfer for 17 years until 1992 before swapping his golf bag for a microphone and a commentary position with Sky Sports.

He joined the BBC team in 2000.

During his playing days, Ken featured in Ryder Cups and won the Southern Open.

Off the course, Ken is a keen gardener and sportsman. He currently lives with his wife and children in Hertfordshire.

Ken Brown's round from hell

Dougie Donnelly

Dougie Donnelly was born in Glasgow and attended Hamilton Academy before taking a law degree at the University of Strathclyde.

His career in broadcasting began in 1979 when he presented Radio Clyde's mid-morning show.

Dougie is the main presenter of BBC Scotland's sport output, a position he has held since 1980 and which includes fronting Sportscene.

In 1992 Dougie joined up as a presenter and reporter with the award-winning BBC Network team and has covered Olympic Games, major football tournaments, and World Championship snooker since.

Golf has featured regularly on Dougie's schedule and he has also presented a variety of sport productions, including Grandstand.

Outside of his broadcasting activities, Dougie remains a sports enthusiast and a keen golfer.

Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker is England's second-highest goalscorer after Sir Bobby Charlton, with 48 strikes in 80 appearances for his country.

Born in 1960, he made his name with local club, Leicester City, and then with Everton.

Gary fronts BBC Sport's Match of the Day, most recently at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

A keen golfer, cricketer and snooker player, Lineker is also a team captain on BBC TV's irreverent sports quiz They Think It's All Over.

John Inverdale

John Inverdale leads Five Live's team at the Open
John Inverdale leads a radio Five Live team that includes Mark Pougatch, Andrew Cotter and John Murray - providing updates every fifteen minutes throughout play.

John joined BBC Radio Lincolnshire in 1982, and from 1988 to 1994 he worked for Radio Five Live as the presenter of its flagship sports programme Sport On Five.

He has also presented On The Line and Rugby Special, both on BBC Two, as well as Grandstand, Sunday Grandstand and The World's Strongest Man for BBC One.

Tony Adamson

Perhaps best known as BBC Radio's golf correspondent - since 1988 - Tony Adamson is also renowned for his commentaries from the Wimbledon Championships.

His career in radio sport began at BBC Radio Oxford, where he was a sports producer and presenter of the early morning show.

Tony joined BBC network radio in 1977, and had spells presenting Sport On Two and Sport On Four before going on to become one of Radio Five Live's most familiar voices.


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