WGT is an HD-quality online golf experience, which allows golf enthusiasts to play authentically reproduced courses such as The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort and Bali Hai Golf Club, with many more world class courses to follow. WGT utilizes helicopters equipped with cameras to capture HD images of courses. The company’s patented technology then transforms these images into graphics making it appear as if players are virtually playing “atop” photos of the course.

Dubbed as “the voice of golf” and a golf industry icon, Peter Kessler, current XM Radio personality and former Golf Channel host, is excited to be playing a myriad of roles for World Golf Tour as its ambassador to Professional Golf. Kessler will produce video content for WGT players, and share his thoughts on golf's glorious history, tours and personalities through a blog on WGT.

The R&A, organizer of The Open Championship and golf’s governing body outside of the U.S. and Mexico, today announced an exclusive long-term partnership with online HD, 3D golf destination World Golf Tour (WGT). The R&A views this partnership, which will enable a Virtual Open Championship to run online in conjunction with The Open, as an opportunity to introduce the game to new audiences and increase participation in golf.

“The R&A is dedicated to developing the game of golf, and The Open Championship plays a huge part in our efforts,” said Adam Lynch, Head of Digital Media for The R&A. “This partnership with World Golf Tour enables us to reach more fans than ever before and give them a taste of competitive golf at the home of the game. We are delighted to offer this to our fans on the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship.”

Through this partnership, World Golf Tour is recognized as the exclusive creator, platform-provider and co-host of the Virtual Open Championship. As the world’s best golfers compete for the Claret Jug at this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews Links, fans will have a chance to do the same on an HD, realistic, virtual version of the Old Course at St Andrews Links, bringing them closer to the action than ever before and giving them an appreciation for what it’s like to compete on this famous golf course under championship conditions.

This year marks the first of ESPN’s broadcasting deal with The R&A. To help celebrate the 150th Open, the media network is collaborating with The R&A and WGT on the inaugural Virtual Open Championship, and will broaden access to the Championship to golf fans worldwide by making it available for play on ESPN Arcade, ESPN.com’s destination for casual games online. The Virtual Open Championship’s first event is a closest-to-the-hole version on the Front 9 holes of the Old Course at St Andrews Links, which will be available on www.opengolf.com, www.wgt.com and www.espnarcade.com starting April 15. This is the opportunity for players to hone their skills in preparation for the Stroke Play events which begin on June 1st. After competing in a qualifying round of 18 holes and a 36-hole championship round, one winner will emerge as the champion and will receive a trip for two to St Andrews with a round of golf on the Old Course.

“We look forward to welcoming The Open Championship back to the Home of Golf as it celebrates its 150th Anniversary,” said Izzy Cameron, Brand Development Manager at St Andrews Links Trust, the organization which manages and maintains the Old Course and the other six courses at St Andrews Links. “We are pleased to be working with The R&A and WGT on creating the Virtual Open Championship and believe this will help even more people become familiar with the Old Course and its iconic golfing landscape.”

Using its patented technology, which replicates courses within 1 ½ inches of accuracy, World Golf Tour was able to faithfully recreate the Old Course at St Andrews Links. More than 100,000 HD images were captured, geo-referenced and placed into a patented physics simulator, along with other measurements, to render a course that allows fans to truly experience every shot.

“To be partnered with The Open Championship and St Andrews Links Trust, is testament to the incredible product we’ve developed and the vast fan base we’ve established,” said YuChiang Cheng, CEO of World Golf Tour. “We’re humbled and truly honored to be working with these prestigious organizations to grow the game of golf.”