Blake Rowe, from Intel True VR, jumps in to the water at the 17th hole at the Sawgrass Open to check on the Intel True VR camera. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
The PGA Tour has formed a partnership with Intel to produce live virtual reality and 360 degree video at six PGA Tour competitions in 2017 and 2018.
The live VR and 360 video will begin with the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta from Sept. 21-24, as well as the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., from Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
Intel True VR uses panoramic, stereoscopic camera pods to provide fans with natural and realistic views of areas on the course that would otherwise be inaccessible to them otherwise.
PGA and Intel worked together earlier in the year, with Intel providing fans the technology to experience the iconic 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Championship.
“After two years of experimenting with virtual reality on the PGA TOUR, we are very excited by the viewer experience that Intel produces,” PGA Tour Chief Media Officer Rick Anderson said in a statement. “From the TOUR’s perspective, our goal with VR is to create an experience that is completely different than what you can get as a fan at our events or by viewers of our traditional media platforms. We are confident that Intel’s True VR technology allows us to achieve this goal. The exclusive partnership with Intel furthers our mission of creating a total fan experience that showcases our product on a global stage.”
The live VR experience can be viewed with Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the “PGA TOUR Live” app, which is available for free on the Oculus store.
For those who don’t have access to the headsets, the 360 degree video will be available on Twitter and Periscope. Live and on-demand VR and 360 video content will show holes No. 1, 15 and 18, beginning on Sept. 21.
Other confirmed events include the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the 2018 THE PLAYERS. The remaining events will be announced later.
