World Golf Tour is announcing today it has struck a deal with the United States Golf Association to host the first Virtual U.S. Open Championship on the golf association’s web site.
The virtual golf tournament will take advantage of World Golf Tour’s realistic simulation technology and let players hit the Black Course at Bethpage in Farmingdale, N.Y., home of the real tournament. With the simulation, golf fans can feel like they’re playing at a championship course — from their computers at no cost.
Visitors to the U.S. Open site can play qualifying rounds to get into the virtual tournament, which runs May 25 through June 21. The top 156 qualifiers will square off for the title on June 22. The winner will get a trip to the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Calif.
WGT built its own simulation of the course from nearly 100,000 high-definition photos, taken from both the ground and helicopters. YuChiang Cheng, CEO of World Golf Tour, said the deal shows the company’s ability to integrate live events with an online experience.
We’ve previously covered World Golf Tour’s funding and launch.