Feel like you can take on Rory McIlroy and outscore him down the demanding closing stretch of the Earth Course while sitting in the comfort of your home in London? If you are armed with 14 clubs and VR glasses, you can do just that.
The DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour before the Dubai-based DP World became its title sponsor, is known for introducing innovations to the royal and ancient game. In the past, it has introduced format innovations like Golf Sixes and Mixed events, and technology innovations like the Shot Clock.
It will now take golf into the metaverse when the season-ending DP World Tour Championship is played in Dubai.
The tour has partnered with Golf5 eClub, a leading virtual reality golf game, to launch a new tournament in the metaverse that will coincide with the $10 million championship, which will be played at the Earth Course of Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 17-20.
Called the ‘DP World Tour Championship Metaverse Challenge’, it will be open to all GOLF5 eClub members and is available to play from 10-25 November.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour Group, said: “Golf lends itself perfectly to virtual reality gaming and we are determined to lead the way in bringing top-level professional golf to the metaverse.
“The team at AAA Game Studios has done an amazing job in recreating the final three holes of the Earth Course in what is a truly immersive and realistic experience that will enable fans to engage with golf and the DP World Tour Championship in new ways.”
Players will compete against each other in a new virtual reality simulation of the final three holes of the Greg Norman-designed golf course, including the much talked about par-5 18th hole with the falaj (stream) dividing the fairway, and the course’s iconic par-3 17th hole with the island green.
This is the same course where the world’s leading players, such as McIlroy, Jon Rahm and reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, will be showcasing their skills in the real world.
The virtual reality game has been developed by AAA Game Studios and can be downloaded via the Oculus app. Spectators attending the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai will also get the chance to enter the competition at a dedicated gaming area in the spectator village.
Daniel van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer at DP World, added: “At DP World we are exploring how the metaverse can help tackle real-world supply chain challenges, so it’s great to also see virtual reality technology being integrated into golf and the DP World Tour Championship. We want to be at the forefront of world-class technology and innovation, so to see this challenge being launched by the DP World Tour during one of the biggest weeks of the golf calendar, is extremely exciting.”
Antonio Marin, Founder and CEO, AAA Games Studios, said: “Our vision is to build out this partnership with the DP World Tour over the coming years and ensure fans can play some of the biggest events on the golfing calendar. We at GOLF5 pride ourselves on being the home of authentic golf in the metaverse and we are excited for the fans to be able to play the course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.”
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