Exclusive live broadcast rights for the Open Championship have been awarded to Sky Sports from 2017 onwards.

The deal - worth around £15m a year over five years - ends the BBC's 60-year ownership of the Open broadcast rights.

The BBC, which has previously broadcast the tournament live, will now show a two-hour daily highlights package between 8pm and 10pm.

"The new agreement will enable us to increase substantially our support for golf in the United Kingdom and Ireland," Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said.

"That our increased commitment to golf in both countries is to be supported by both Sky Sports and the BBC is a hugely positive step for our sport." 

Sky Sports to exclusively broadcast The Open live from 2017 after signing five-year deal with R&A. pic.twitter.com/BaiCVsAtuQ

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) February 3, 2015