British Open, Souped Up

The British Open is always one of the more challenging sporting events to watch. The links-style golf always makes it a bit tough to know precisely where players are, because of a dearth of clear landmarks on the course.

DirecTV might help to make the viewing experience a little easier on Thursday and Friday as it debuts a series of extra channels and interactive features for the first two rounds of the British Open at Turnberry.

If you get DirecTV, here's what you'll get:

-Three extra HD channels, in addition to the main feed by TNT. One channel will be devoted to the 18th hole exclusively, while another channel will alternate between holes 9, 10 and 11.

-There will also be a highlights channel. Viewers can watch all four feeds at once on a special "mix" channel and select which audio feed they want.

-An on-screen tournament leaderboard that's updated in real time.

This new service from DirecTV is similar to what the satellite provider has offered for the U.S. Open and the Masters, as well as Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments. Sports is DirecTV's thing (they have the NFL Sunday Ticket and NASCAR HotPass, for example) and they've made it their mission to offer these extra goodies anytime a major event comes around.

We'll check this service out Thursday and see if the extra channels help us follow the action from Scotland.