BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss has expressed his "sadness" after the corporation pulled out of its contract to show The Open a year early.

Sky Sports were due to take over UK coverage of the tournament from 2016, but will now step in a year early after the BBC withdrew from broadcasting next year's edition at Royal Troon.

Writing in The Times, Alliss said: "I am embarrassed that an organisation the size of the BBC with its worldwide reputation is in this situation, but it is inevitable.

"Whether we like it or not, golf is a minority sport and covering The Open doesn't come cheap. I was once told its costs were exceeded only by the cost of a state funeral.

"I feel sadness that it has come to this. The R&A will end up with millions of pounds, we will have a daily package of highlights that will be very good and will be watched by between three and four million people. Sky will struggle to get one million viewers. They have wonderful technology, every gizmo under the sun, but what they don't have are viewers."

The move sees the BBC's 60-year partnership with the R&A come to an end.