US technology company Intel has expanded its partnership with golf’s PGA Tour to provide virtual reality coverage of a range of events in 2017 and 2018.
Intel will produce and globally distribute live VR and 360 video coverage of six PGA Tour events, starting with this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
The agreement also covers the Presidents Cup team event, which runs from September 28 to October 1 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. Other PGA Tour events that are covered by the partnership include next year’s Phoenix Open and Players Championship, with the remaining tournaments to be announced at a later date.
Intel will use its Intel True VR technology to produce the coverage, with panoramic, stereoscopic camera pods to provide fans with more natural and realistic views of the action.
The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets around the world through the PGA Tour VR Live app, which is available for free on the Oculus store. The full VR experience will also be available on demand through the app following the conclusion of each event.
The 360 video stream will also be viewable on social media platforms Twitter and Periscope.
Coverage of the Tour Championship will showcase holes No.1, 15 and 18. Coverage of the Presidents Cup will include the driving range and the opening holes of the match-play event. The app will be renamed Presidents Cup VR Live for that week, with 360 video streams to be available via PGA Tour, Presidents Cup and Golf Channel Twitter and Periscope platforms.
The PGA Tour’s chief media officer, Rick Anderson, said: “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.”