BBC Golf Presenter Leaves Open After Close Contact With Positive Covid Case

The BBC presenter has been identified as a close contact and must therefore leave The Open.

BBC Golf Presenter Leaves Open
(Image credit: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Anchor of the BBC highlights coverage Eilidh Barbour has been identified as a close contact to a positive Covid case.

BBC Golf Presenter Leaves Open After Close Contact With Positive Covid Case

Barbour is the anchor of BBC's Open highlights coverage, which is being shown every day of the tournament on BBC 2 and 8pm BST.

The BBC has only been showing highlights coverage of The Open Championship since it lost full rights to Sky in 2016.

The last Open coverage in full by the BBC was in 2015, where Zach Johnson lifted the Claret Jug at St. Andrews.

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Rishi Persad, who will be taking over the highlights show from Barbour, is a recognised face for the BBC.

He has already covered The Open for the broadcaster in previous years and has also featured on the BBC's coverage of the Olympics and Ryder Cup.

Persad will be most well known for his recent coverage of Wimbledon - where he took charge of many post match interviews - as well as for anchoring Channel 4's cricket coverage of England's tour of India in February and March 2021.

The year's BBC coverage also features Ken Brown on commentary and the two hour highlights show will feature his famous 'Ken On The Course' segments for viewers to enjoy.

Dan Parker
Staff Writer

Dan has been with the Golf Monthly team since 2021. He graduated with a Master's degree in International Journalism from the University of Sussex and looks after equipment reviews and buying guides, specializing in golf shoes, golf bags, golf trolleys, and apparel reviews. Dan is also a co-host of Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show. A left-handed golfer, his handicap index is currently 7.1, and he plays at Fulford Heath Golf Club in the West Midlands.

Dan's current What's In The Bag:

Driver: Cobra DS-Adapt X
Mini driver: TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini
Fairway: Ping G440 Max 21°
Irons: Titleist T250 (5), Titleist T100 (6-PW)
Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro (50, 56, 60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Bag: Vessel Sunday III