PGA TOUR Fan Forward
Broadcast Presentation
PGA TOUR’s Live Drone AR wins George Wensel Technical Achievement Award at 46th Sports Emmy Awards
The PGA TOUR’s Live Drone AR was awarded The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award, as announced Tuesday evening at the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony. A TOUR owned patent-pending technology, Drone AR was developed through a collaborative effort between six partners — the PGA TOUR, Bolt6, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Virtual Eye, and Kaze Aerial Production — that came together in early 2024 with a shared vision to successfully track ball-in-motion data from a live moving drone on the PGA TOUR. Highlighting the skill of TOUR players and the challenge of iconic golf courses, the cutting-edge innovation allows fans to watch towering drives like never before, as the augmented reality experience combines live aerial video with real-time analytics.
Fans expect more from the broadcast presentation. The PGA TOUR is working in close collaboration with our media partners to deliver more golf shots of consequence, more insights into decision making and more drama, with fewer interruptions.
Deliver More Golf Per Minute - Initiatives
- Highlight the skill of PGA TOUR players and the challenge of iconic golf courses
- Reimagine broadcast coverage of the first and second rounds of competition
- Create broadcast streams that provide fans new ways of engaging with PGA TOUR tournaments
- Provide fans more insight into strategy by delivering more player-caddie conversations
McIlroy’s drive on No. 9 at AT&T Pebble Beach
Highlight the skill of PGA TOUR players and the challenge of iconic golf courses through innovations such as Live Drone AR. Fans can watch towering drives like never before, as the augmented reality experience combines live aerial video with real-time analytics, a result of collaboration between the PGA TOUR, NBC, CBS and key broadcast vendors.
Clark’s drive on No. 18 at THE PLAYERS
Matsuyama’s drive on No. 18 at The Sentry
Reimagine broadcast coverage of the first and second rounds of competition and include a wider variety of players, more walk-and-talk interviews and focus on the Friday cutline. Collaborate with GOLF Channel and NBC to implement and test these concepts during the 2024 FedExCup Fall and continue to evolve based on fan feedback.
Inside the Cut By Wave - Mexico Open at VidantaWorld
Clanton hits 314-yd drive on No. 11 at WM Phoenix Open
Create broadcast streams that provide fans new ways of engaging with PGA TOUR tournaments. In 2025, the PGA TOUR launched a live betting stream on PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, providing live golf coverage in the two hours leading up to the linear broadcast window. The feed will stream on ESPN+ during six events and give fans an early look at key storylines from a betting perspective.
Xander Schauffele discusses approach on No. 6 in Round 1 of Arnold Palmer Invitational
Provide fans more insight into strategy by delivering more player-caddie conversations. During the GOLF Channel and NBC broadcast of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, more of the competitive story was delivered through graphics, the player and caddie. Pivotal shots in the tournament were complemented with statistical graphics, allowing players and caddies to command the moment and give fans a more intimate perspective from the field of play.
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