SCOTLAND'S leading golfer Stephen Gallacher has joined critics of the R & A's proposed move to sell the Open Championship TV rights to SKY.

Also expressing surprise, and believing British golf in general will suffer once SKY begin coverage at the 2016 Open, is two-time former Open Champion Ernie Els and England's top ranked Justin Rose.

The R & A's new deal with SKY will bring to an end any free-to-air terrestrial coverage of golf anywhere by BBC TV.

Els's superb five under par 67 on the opening day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters saw him claim third place with five others including, double Doha champion Paul Lawrie and two strokes adrift of England's Ollie Fisher.

The decision by the R & A to sell TV rights to SKY has already been questioned by many, including the BBC's own Peter Alliss.

"I'm really surprised to hear that because I can remember back to the days before Peter Alliss even started when Henry Longhurst commentated on golf for the BBC, and I just used to love listening to him," said Els.

"The BBC covering The Open has been like an institution, and while they're not so great following the golf ball with their camera's because they've only been doing once a year these days, from a pure history point of view it's always been the tradition to watch The Open being covered by the BBC.

"Of course, SKY's coverage of golf, and with this new device that tracks the golf ball, is brilliant and you can't fault it.

"But then the Open Championship has always been extra special knowing it was the only golf tournament the BBC now covers.

"The decision also is going to have a huge, huge impact on British golf in general. I mean everyone has got BBC but not everybody is going to pay to watch SKY. I've got quite a few friends in the UK who refuse to pay for SKY.

"And the great thing about the BBC coverage is you can sit there all day and watch The Open the opening shot on Thursday to the handing over of the Claret Jug, and without any ads that will now take place with SKY.

"So that is going to be a big, big change to those who look forward each year to watching The Open on BBC, and SKY must be paying big, big bucks to the R & A for the TV rights.

"So I am very surprised."

Justin Rose, winner of the 2013 US Open, posted a round of 68 in Doha and also believes British grassroots golf will suffer.

"I remember growing up as a kid being so excited every July when hearing the theme tune at the start of the BBC's coverage of The Open," he said,

"I would literally sit there from nine in the morning knowing that the big matches were about to be shown on TV, and then I would be glued to the coverage all day, and without any ad breaks, right up until late in the afternoon.

"Then when the coverage finished we would rush down the golf club and try and squeeze is as many holes as we could before it got dark.

"Hopefully, SKY will do as good a job as the BBC.

"But then the image of golf has struggled under the BBC including their 'Sports Personality of the Year' awards, as golf has not done very, very well. Some of the winning European Ryder Cup teams could of, and should of, been better honoured.

"The fact also that Rory (McIlroy) should have won the major award last year comes down to the fact that golf is being shown so much on SKY TV and not terrestrial TV impacted those decisions.

"It's fair to say SKY is very well covered in households in the UK and it's not hurting our sport but then having golf coverage on free channels is important to the growth of the game of golf.

"I guess now with the BBC losing The Open coverage it leaves just Wimbledon as the one major sporting event still on the 'Beeb', and you see how that really resonates the support Andy Murray receives given it is available on free-to-air TV and that's a very big factor."

And Gallacher, who played alongside Rose to also shoot aa four-under par 68 in his very first competitive round of the New Year, said the the R & As decision a 'shame'.

"It's a real shame the R & A is making that decision as not everyone can afford SKY TV, and while the SKY coverage is great, it's very disappointing for those who wait all year to watch BBC coverage of The Open," he said.

"The decision also is going to have a big impact on British golf in general.

"But then the BBC used to cover a lot of golf however it's a sign of the times what with the Formula One now on SKY, and you can see the time coming when the BBC will lose Wimbledon."