WGT Golf News : US Open

Merion Hole 9 Preview on WGT

WGTwildcat — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is one of America's top ranked and historical golf courses, and now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 9 at Merion is a challenging par-3 played downhill to a kidney-shaped green. Club selection is key here, with the water hazard in front and bunker to the left. Expect to see more bogeys than birdies from the field on this one.

You can play Merion Hole 9 yourself on WGT, try it free here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 8 Preview

Merion Hole 8 Preview on WGT

WGTwildcat — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is the host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Played correctly, Hole 8 at Merion is a good birdie opportunity, but miss the green and bogey is more likely. Choose to use anything from a fairway metal to a long iron to reach the S-shaped drive zone, but be sure to play the shorter approach shot carefully to avoid deep rough and bunkers that surround the small green. Finish strong by reading the contoured putting surface that slopes from back left to front right.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 8 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 7 Preview

Grand Prize Trip to Next Year's U.S. Open

WGTwildcat — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:09:00 GMT

Don't miss your chance at a grand prize dream trip to next year's U.S. Open.

Just play the free 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier on WGT at Merion for your chance. Both the Virtual U.S. Open champion and one lucky sweepstakes winner will each get a grand prize, a trip for two people to the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. In addition, everyone who plays will automatically receive a free Lexus virtual avatar and a Lexus virtual golf ball as special gifts from Lexus.

Play Virtual U.S. Open

*The 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier tournament is free to enter, runs thru 6/30/13, and is open to WGT players in all countries. See tournament rules for prize eligibility.

Merion Hole 7 Preview on WGT

WGTwildcat — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is hosting the U.S. Open Championship for the fifth time this year, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 7 at Merion offers a birdie opportunity as it's a 360-yard par-4. Most players will use long irons from the tee to reach the semi-blind, angled drive zone, setting themselves up for a short approach shot. Control your tee shot or you'll face overhanging trees and out-of-bounds on the right side. The large green gives you plenty of space to land, but the three distinct levels and sharp drop-off on the left force you to keep your approach accurate.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 7 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 6 Preview

Merion Hole 6 Preview on WGT

WGTwildcat — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is one of America's top ranked and historical golf courses, and now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

The par-4 Hole 6 at Merion challenges you with a semi-blind tee shot to a bowl-shaped fairway. Most players will face a slightly uphill approach shot to the green with a false front, with the option to go "old school" and run their shot up onto the green. Another hole where par is a great success.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 6 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 5 Preview

Merion Hole 5 Preview on WGT

WGTwildcat — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:22:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is the host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 5 at Merion could be the best driving hole on the course. This par-4 doglegs from right to left, with the fairway also sloping from right to left toward a stream that borders the left side spanning the entire length of the hole. Don't leave your approach right of the hole, or you'll face incredibly fast putts on the most severely sloped green on the course. Par this one and you're likely to pick up a full stroke (or close to) on your competition.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 5 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 4 Preview

Mystery of the Merion Baskets

WGTwildcat — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Merion Golf Club is the site of the 2013 U.S. Open and the course just launched on World Golf Tour as part of the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open.

One of Merion's most memorable features is their flagstick baskets, which are wicker baskets that are used instead of traditional flags.

But what are the baskets for? And why were they first used? It's a golf mystery with a variety of possible explanations...

Snack Packs – Stories say that the baskets were introduced so that caddies could store fruits and other snacks while walking the golf course, and keep them out of greedy little critters' paws.

Wind-less Challenge – Some say the purpose of the baskets is to avoid giving players clues about the direction of the wind. And others say the baskets make it easier to see where the hole is, in case the wind was blowing and making the flags hard to see.

Something Borrowed – Did Hugh Wilson, Merion's course designer, get this idea from his visit to the Sunningdale Golf Club in England on a trip in 1910? Or maybe the Stoke Poges Club or Prestwick in Scotland?

Whatever the real reason, there are a few things we definitely know about the baskets on Merion East...

Credit for the baskets is given to Hugh Wilson, course designer for both Merion's golf courses
The baskets and flagsticks are re-painted regularly to maintain their distinctive appearance
The baskets are collected every night to keep them safe and avoid theft

We love Merion's wicker basket flagsticks, and it makes you wonder what other unique flagstick designs are out there.

Play the new Front 9 Challenge at Merion on World Golf Tour

Rory McIlroy’s Major Plans for 2013

WGTwildcat — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:17:00 GMT

By Dermot Gilleece for GlobalGolfPost

Wise guidance from respected old hands and the love of a good woman inspired Rory McIlroy – Global Golf Post’s 2012 Player of the Year – to heights this year unimagined even by his lofty standards.

And without giving hostages to fortune, he has reason to be confident of a similar outcome in 2013.

Predictably, the majors will be his prime targets once more, having tucked away the significant bonus of the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic.

“This year, I was out of it for three of them,” he admitted, regarding finishes of tied 40, T95 and T60 in The Masters, US Open and Open Championship. “I’d like to think that I can be in contention for all four next year, while maintaining my position as world number one. They’re the goals I want to set myself.”

In the meantime, his life is held perfectly in balance by a deepening relationship with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, with whom he traveled to Aspen, Colorado and Sao Paulo, Brazil in the wake of his Dubai World Tour Championship triumph, to watch her in exhibition tennis matches on the run up to Christmas.

“This is my time off; my time away (from golf),” he said. “And I need it. If I have time, I’ll travel wherever in the world Caroline is, just to see her. That’s what I want to do. That’s what makes me happy.”

Then he added pointedly: “Obviously, it’s very satisfying to win majors and important golf tournaments, but deep down, what makes me really happy is my life outside of golf and how that is at the moment. It enables me to play great golf because everything is sort of in balance.”

To my gentle suggestion that most of us have known what it’s like to be in love, he laughed almost apologetically, adding, “I know, I know” by way of acknowledging that his relationship with Caroline, while obviously special to him, is not unique.

From West Palm Beach, where he enjoys the amenities of The Bear’s Club, the 23-year-old seems happy to travel the world, on and off planes and living out of suitcases.

“That’s just the way my life has become, but I don’t plan for it to remain this way,” he said. “I’d love in a few years’ time to find a base and settle down. That would be ideal. I don’t think someone can do this for a prolonged period like 10 years, say.”

Would marriage create that situation?

“For sure. But I still feel I’d do it anyway.” Meanwhile, Jack Nicklaus, Dave Stockton and Tiger Woods have become serious influences in his tournament career, though boyhood tutor, Michael Bannon, remains his trusted coach.

A finish of five successive birdies in Dubai prompted comparisons with Woods at his peak, and while not necessarily at odds with the notion, McIlroy insists that they are very different people.

“For sure,” he emphasised. “I can’t bring the intensity Tiger brings every week. He can sort of turn it on, which is impressive. It’s something that I struggle to do sometimes. Though I can generally bring it to the big events where I really want to do well, I would find it very difficult to do it every week. That’s why I’ll be cutting my schedule to a maximum of 22 or 23 tournaments next year, starting in Abu Dhabi in January.”

He went on: “Too much competitive golf simply isn’t good for you. That’s where Tiger is very smart, bringing the same level of intensity to 20 tournaments a year. It’s an emotional thing, of course. I had a great end to the summer with the PGA win and two FedEx Cup wins and the Ryder Cup, but you reach such a high that you’ve got to allow yourself get all the way back down again. Then, having got down, I had to build myself up again for a last push towards winning the European money list.”

A closeness to his father Gerry, to Nicklaus and putting coach Stockton, suggests a respect for older heads.

“Of course I have,” he confirmed. “I can still be pretty stubborn, wanting to do things my way, but they’ve obviously seen a lot more of the world than I have. It’s great just to see Jack around and have a casual lunch with him and not even talk about golf. Just talk about normal stuff; what’s going on in the world. And Dave has been a great influence on me and a great addition to my team.”

In late February 2009, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson marked McIlroy’s professional debut in the US, a few weeks after his first win in Dubai. Ranked 17th in the world, he reacted with remarkable composure to the prediction from Ernie Els that he was set to become the game’s number one.

With a self-assured smile, he remarked: “You’ve got to believe you’re the best; that no one can beat you.”

Fascinated observers sensed instantly that this 19-year-old was different.

And those of us familiar with him, prepared ourselves for what we knew would be a wonderful journey.

PHOTO: GlobalGolfPost

Virtual U.S. Open Flashback - Round 2

WGTwildcat — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:18:00 GMT

Round 2 of the Virtual U.S. Open Flashback tournament has started for all the players who posted a score in Round 1 that closed yesterday, 11/25.

The current cut line is 154, requiring players to shoot an average of 77 in each of the first 2 unlimited-play rounds, in order to qualify for the final 2 single-play rounds.

Remember, you need to post your Round 2 score by Sun, 12/2. Good luck!

Tournament Schedule:

Round 1 - Oakmont: site of 2007 U.S. Open, play Mon 11/12 thru Sun 11/25, unlimited stroke play
Round 2 - Bethpage: site of 2009 U.S. Open, play Mon 11/26 thru Sun 12/2, unlimited stroke play
- Cut - Top 50% combined scores advance to Round 3
Round 3 - Congressional: site of 2011 U.S. Open, play Mon 12/3 thru Sun 12/9, single-play stroke play
Round 4 - Olympic: site of 2012 U.S. Open, play Mon 12/10 thru Sun 12/16, single-play stroke play

The overall leaderboard champion, plus one lucky sweepstakes player will each win a $500 USGA Shop gift card to use online for real golf equipment and USGA gear. See tournament rules for eligibility.

See Tournament Leaderboard

Play Virtual U.S. Open Flashback Tournament

WGTwildcat — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Compete in the first ever Virtual U.S. Open Flashback tournament on World Golf Tour for your chance to win USGA Shop prizes.

We're taking you back to recent U.S. Open championship courses in a special four-round stroke play tournament. It's free to enter, and you must play Round 1 by 11/25 in order to qualify for Round 2 and the prizes.

Tournament Schedule:

Round 1 - Oakmont: site of 2007 U.S. Open, play Mon 11/12 thru Sun 11/25, unlimited stroke play
Round 2 - Bethpage: site of 2009 U.S. Open, play Mon 11/26 thru Sun 12/2, unlimited stroke play
- Cut - Top 50% combined scores advance to Round 3
Round 3 - Congressional: site of 2011 U.S. Open, play Mon 12/3 thru Sun 12/9, single-play stroke play
Round 4 - Olympic: site of 2012 U.S. Open, play Mon 12/10 thru Sun 12/16, single-play stroke play

The overall leaderboard champion, plus one lucky sweepstakes player will each win $500 USGA Shop gift cards to use online for real golf equipment and USGA gear. See tournament rules for eligibility.

Play Free Tournament

Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier Winner Announced, and more...

WGTwildcat — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:55:00 GMT

We have some more WGT tournament winners to announce, including this year's Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier lucky sweepstakes winner who will be going to the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club!

Last year's VUSO winner, mrenn29, enjoyed his grand prize trip to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club and wrote this blog post to share his experience.

VUSO Qualifier Sweepstakes
Winner: sportster
Prize: sportster was the lucky sweepstakes winner, chosen at random, for a Grand Prize golf trip for two to attend the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, as the special guests of the USGA. WGT player, StoneColdKiller, also won a Grand Prize trip to next year's U.S. Open at Merion for posting the top score in the golf tournament. Congrats to both of our Virtual U.S. Open Grand Prize winners!

WGT Kiawah Championship Sweepstakes
Winner: worthel
Prize: worthel was the lucky sweepstakes winner, selected at random from the qualifier, to win a $500 Amazon gift card.

September NKF Cadillac Golf Classic
Winners:

Prize: The top 10 eligible leaderboard finishers won 500 WGT Credits. Use those WGT Credits to get some new virtual golf equipment in the WGT Pro Shop, or enter some more online golf tournaments!
Honorable Mentions: We'd like to congratulate the following WGT players on placing in the top 10, but weren't eligible to win prizes... rikirulz, GoodyChamp, genorb and mssommer.

October NKF Cadillac Golf Classic
Winners:

chrisironsbones
davidh29
dansamcam
Spammage
Ffudd
genorb
PRIESTESS
Cygnus3000
xfipro
KyRock75

Prize: The top 10 eligible leaderboard finishers won 500 WGT Credits that they can use to get some new virtual golf equipment in the WGT Pro Shop, or enter more online golf tournaments!

There is also an ongoing tournament, NKF Cadillac Golf Classic - Pebble Beach Challenge, with a 500 credit entry fee and all proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation. A winner chosen at random will win a dream golf trip for two to the Pebble Beach Resorts, including flights, a three night stay and two rounds of golf. Play now thru the end of the year for your chance to win!

Congratulations to all of our winners, we'll continue to keep announcing them as we verify and confirm them. And sportster, we'd love for you to share your U.S. Open experience with us after your trip!

For your chance to win, visit the WGT Tournaments page!

Reflections from 2011 Virtual U.S. Open Champion: mrenn29

WGTwildcat — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:01:00 GMT

As last year's Virtual U.S. Open Champion, WGT golfer mrenn29 got to enjoy his Grand Prize trip a few weeks ago up to San Francisco to experience the 2012 U.S. Open Championship at The Olympic Club. His week included a round of golf with some WGT employees, a happy hour to meet a few more, and then attending the U.S. Open as a special guest of the USGA – to see all the professional action first-hand.

After returning home and getting some time to reflect on this awesome trip, mrenn29 had this to say...

First off, let me say thanks to WGT and the USGA for the opportunity to attend the U.S. Open at Olympic club this year. Definitely was a memory that will last a lifetime. The trip started off with a very nice gesture on WGT's part by taking us out for a round of golf at Claremont Country Club. Even though I didn't really play all that well (got a few meter glitches lol) it was a great time playing with a few of the guys at WGT on a very nice, private country club. Pete, Rich, thanks again, you guys went above and beyond for me and I thank you! After the round of golf we all went to an Irish Pub in San Francisco for some happy hour fun. Getting to meet the folks behind the scenes of WGT and discuss the game over a few beers was priceless. Everyone at WGT was very welcoming and I had a great time.

On to the Golf. First day we got to the course, we went straight to the grandstand and sat on hole 9. The amazing part of seeing the course live is that after playing WGT, you can really relate to how the course plays. Being from California, I know San Francisco can get pretty cold, however we were very fortunate to have perfect weather throughout the tourney until Sunday at about 2pm. After we watched some action on 9, we went up to the USGA hospitality tent. This was awesome due to the fact they had food and drinks with about 20 tv's covering the tournament while you were there. So I grabbed some food and headed outside the tent where there was a nice patio looking out to the practice facility. So it was great to be able to watch the pro's practice and have lunch without the crowd. Day 2 I wanted to go over to one of the more action packed holes so I decided to sit at 17. Sure enough Ernie Els goes right of the green about 20 yrds. He took his time on the chip up onto the green and drained the chip for eagle and the crowd including myself went crazy! After hole 17 we did a little walking around to various holes and see how the whole course.

I really couldn't take many photos because technically you were not supposed to have a phone or camera at all inside. Well, I snuck my phone in to take a couple photos of the course and where I was seated. The final day I wanted to watch everyone play the long par 3 #3 which played 247 on the final day. I watched 23 groups come though and only 3 players made a birdie. It was also hard to follow the ball due to the fog that had rolled in. Adam Scott hit the closest shot out of all the players there. Tiger ended up making a double bogey. The course seemed to play fair and rewarding to the right shots. I have included a picture of hole 18 from where I was seated. Overall this was a trip to remember!

Thanks again WGT and the USGA for putting this all together, the hospitality was outstanding!!

Hole 18 at The Olympic Club. Photo by: mrenn29

(Please visit the site to view this media)

mrenn29 making an eagle putt at Claremont Hole 18 (Editor's Note: he shot an 81 at a very tough course...he's very modest!)

Red Storm Rising

WGTwildcat — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:42:00 GMT

By Leonard Shapiro for GlobalGolfPost

What if they held a PGA Tour event and nobody showed up to watch?

That’s about what happened Saturday at the AT&T National at Congressional, when high winds Friday night blew down more than 40 trees and left a trail of broken limbs and piles of debris all over the course. Tournament officials, concerned about safety issues, decided to keep spectators and most volunteers away from the course on a day when Tiger Woods quietly made his move toward the top of the leaderboard, accompanied by the sound of silence most of the way around.

Woods finished off that ascent on Sunday, when the fans were back in massive numbers, engaging in a thrilling duel down the back nine against first-round leader Bo Van Pelt. When Van Pelt bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes, Woods pounced on those mistakes and eventually claimed a two-shot victory when he made par on his final two holes.

“I remember there was a time when people were saying I could never win again,” Woods said Sunday evening. “That was six months ago. Here we are.... A lot of media people didn’t think I could win again. I could see the pieces coming together. It’s just a matter of time. Just stay the course. Give me a little bit of time, and I feel like this is what I can do.”

Van Pelt’s 50-foot birdie chip to tie at the final hole missed the cup by inches and he also missed the six-foot comebacker for one last bogey. He finished with a round of 71 and 6-under 278 that left him in solo second, a shot ahead of third place finisher Adam Scott (67-279).

A shot off the lead after 54 holes, Woods had a final-round 69 and 72-hole total of 8-under 276 to become the PGA Tour’s only three-time winner this season. He also won his own invitational event for the second time (he prevailed here in 2009), adding that to the 2012 trophies from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando and Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

More significantly, this was Woods’ 74th Tour triumph, one more than Nicklaus, his childhood idol who won his 73rd and last event at the 1986 Masters at age 46. Only Sam Snead, with 82 career wins, has more victories than Woods, now 36.

Woods didn’t budge in the world rankings, where he remained No. 4. Van Pelt disagreed.

“No offense to those other guys, but I think he’s the only guy to win three tournaments on Tour this year,” he said. “On three different golf courses and he was leading the U.S. Open after two days. So I’d say he’s playing the best golf in the world right now.”

StoneColdKiller is 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Champion

WGTwildcat — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:03:00 GMT

In the largest and most competitive Virtual U.S. Open ever, with over 2 million rounds played, it was StoneColdKiller who came from behind to post the low round 55 on Sunday evening to win by 2 shots over TheLighterDark.

As the 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Champion, StoneColdKiller and a friend will be going to Merion next year to experience the 2013 U.S. Open as a special guest of the USGA. Congratulations!

StoneColdKiller outlasted a strong field of 199 top WGT players, just beating TheLighterDark and RUNWME who shot 57 and 56 in the final round to edge-out first-round leader tinybo, tallAcePaul and defending champ mrenn29. Here are the top finishers...

1 StoneColdKiller 57-55=112
2 TheLighterDark 57-57=114
3 RUNWME 59-56=115
4 TallAcePaul 58-58=116
4 tinybo 56-60=116
6 mrenn29 60-57=117
6 LuisCraveiro 59-58=117
6 Aahna 58-59=117
9 poolmaniac6 61-57=118

See Full 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Leaderboard

StoneColdKiller has been a WGT player since 2010. He's a Level 95 Legend with an average score of 58.77 and career earnings of $7,500. He's a member of the Deviations Country Club and also won the 2011 Virtual British Open, making him the first back-to-back winner of a WGT major championship.

While the Deviations took top honors with places #1-3 and #6 with mrenn29, the other top spots are all from different WGT country clubs which are giving the Deviations a serious run for their money in these championships.

However, it wasn't just the elite players who won this year, as WGT and the USGA awarded both Leaderboard and Sweepstakes prizes, giving everyone a chance to win. Here are all the prize winners...

Championship - Trip to 2013 U.S. Open

Leaderboard: StoneColdKiller

Qualifier - Trip to 2013 U.S. Open

Sweepstakes: PENDING
Qualifiers: 199 qualifiers won a USGA hat and membership packet

Back 9 Challenge - USGA $500 Gift Cards

Leaderboard: PENDING
Sweepstakes: PENDING

Front 9 Challenge - USGA $500 Gift Cards

Leaderboard: Win1Soon
Sweepstakes: rofdoc

Also, over $3,000 in Amazon Gift Cards were awarded to 15 WGT players who competed in special tiered tournaments for WGT NATION members for Pro thru Legend players.

Thanks to everyone who played in this year's tournament, and don't miss the WGT Summer Tournament Series, featuring special tournaments on championship golf courses. Stay tuned on the WGT Tournaments page!

2012 Virtual U.S. Open Championship Update: Round 2

WGTwildcat — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:37:00 GMT

We're now into Round 2 of the 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Championship on World Golf Tour, and the action is heating up!

tinybo has maintained the top spot on the Leaderboard shooting 56-60 for a final 116 – just one shot ahead of the 2011 Champion, mrenn29, who shot 60-57 for 117.
tinybo represents the Carolina Sandhills Country Club and has a chance to bring home the cup, but there are still two very strong Deviations members, StoneColdKiller and TheLighterDark, at 57 who haven't posted their second rounds yet, and a 58 by either player could take the lead.

Will 116 hold up? Watch the live WGT Leaderboard.

Round 2 of this Championship Round is open through Sunday 6/24 for remaining players to post their final scores, for their chance to win a Grand Prize golf trip to next year's U.S. Open at Merion. Additionally we'll be announcing soon the winner of the second Grand Prize trip, to a lucky sweepstakes winner from the Qualifier Round. See prize details and country eligibility.

Make sure to post those Round 2 scores and, as always, good luck!