WGT Golf News

Putting is a challenging part of golf to master, and virtual putting on World Golf Tour is no different.

We've put together some putting tips from top players to help you read the green and improve your virtual putting game.

PUTTING TUTORIAL - For a good general overview, check out the WGT Putting Tutorial video in the game or on YouTube here. 

GRID COLOR - Pay attention to the colors of the putting grid. The brighter the color is, the more significant the change in elevation.

• Black areas are flat
• Blue areas slope uphill 
• Red areas slope downhill

MOVING DOTS ON THE GRID - The moving white dots along the lines on your putting grid tell you the direction of the slopes on the green. 

• The faster the dots are moving, the bigger the break is, so the ball will roll faster over those areas.

POINTER MEASUREMENTS - The pointer also tells you how much uphill or downhill slope the putt has, so you can adjust your power.

GRID SQUARES - Each square on the grid represents 2 feet x 2 feet. 

PUTTER PAL - Many WGT players swear by the Putter Pal that displays below the swing meter with 10%, 25%, 50% and 75% marks to help you select the precise power on every putt. 

TAKE NOTES - Just like when you're playing the real golf course, if the green, breaks, putt, etc. didn't do what you expected, take notes for what to do differently and improve next time.

Here are some good WGT Forum posts by WGT players for additional tips:

• Putting Tip: Distance Control for beginners to cover the basics by nivlac
• StoneCold's Putting Clinic for more intermediate/advanced players by StoneColdKiller, 2012 Virtual U.S. Open Champion

For more putting and game tips from the WGT community, be sure to visit the Forum.

WGT NATION, get one FREE green vapor virtual golf ball just for playing World Golf Tour today, St. Patrick's Day.

We want to thank you for being a NATION member, so enjoy this free gift that we hope brings the extra distance, and spin brings you a little luck of the Irish.

Play Today

WGT NATION is a free program for top WGT players. Learn more and see if you're eligible here, and contact us anytime with questions on our Contact Page.

*Special offer available to WGT NATION members who log in on 3/17/13, receive one free WGT Tour GI-SD Vapor Ball.

The hottest driver on the PGA Tour, the TaylorMade R1, is now available to play on World Golf Tour.

The R1 is a great all-around driver with more distance and forgiveness from the new clubhead and the specially-tuned shaft.

These virtual drivers will outperform other drivers available to more advanced WGT players and are available for players at all levels...

• TaylorMade R1 10 degree Driver (Level 11+) with Aldila 55-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 9 degree TP Driver (Level 48+) with Aldila 65-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 8 degree Super TP Driver (Level 98+) with OBAN Kiyoshi White 65-gram shaft

You can also play in the new WGT R1 Challenge golf tournament on WGT for your chance to win a free R1 Virtual Driver.

Post your best score in this unlimited-play closest-to-the-hole tournament on Wolf Creek and the best score in each tier will get a free virtual driver. See rules for details.

Play one of the most famous golf courses in the world, free on World Golf Tour in this month's Pebble Beach Challenge featured tournament.

This closest-to-the-hole tournament has beautiful ocean views to keep you company while you challenge your virtual golf skills. The course is one of the latest on WGT, and features iconic shots including the par-3 7th hole.

Play Free Tournament

There's a new featured WGT course every month, so be sure to check back for new challenges.

And for advanced players, play Pebble Beach in paid Ready-Go tournaments. Ready-Go's are quick, fun tournaments on WGT limited to 50 players each, with the top 30 scores winning WGT Credits, and there's always one available.

Play Paid Ready-Go Tournament

*The free, monthly tournament runs now thru 3/31/13, see rules for details and eligibility.

Pebble Beach is America's top-ranked and most famous golf course. The famed Pebble Beach Golf Links golf course is the most recent addition to World Golf Tour, now available as a free closest-to-the-hole online game.

The closing hole at Pebble Beach is a golfer's dream. It literally leaves you breathless, then you're faced with a daunting drive over the Pacific coast. Aim for the lone tree and don't hook it. The second shot at this par five is no easier with ocean and bunker down the left. You can bail out right or just go for it.

At age 60 and in his last U.S. Open, Jack Nicklaus went for it with an amazing 263-yard, 3-wood second shot that found the green. His difficult three-putt spoiled a magical ending, but still an inspiring shot from one of golf's greats.

You can try a similar approach shot on Pebble's 18th closing hole, free on World Golf Tour.

WGT Hole 18 Tip - Aim and adjusting for wind are the keys to threading this shot between the bunkers.

You can sign up for World Golf Tour here and play Pebble Beach, St Andrews and other famous golf courses free online.

See Pebble Beach Hole 17 Preview

For one day only, on TUESDAY 3/12, we're doubling the payouts for Hole-In-One Challenges on World Golf Tour.

Try your luck in closest-to-the-hole games to make a hole-in-one, or land the ball within 1 or 5 feet of the hole, and you'll earn twice as many WGT Credits as usual. Many of the holes now pay out over 100 to 1 for a hole-in-one.

Hole-In-One Challenges are available on the tee shots on any closest-to-the-hole WGT golf course, excluding Merion.

Play Now

Since we introduced Hole-In-One Challenges, WGTers have been winning and earning WGT Credits for their impressive shots. See winners and video replays here.

*Promotion runs Tuesday 3/12/13 PST. Hole-In-One Challenges are available on WGT closest-to-the-hole course tee shots only, excluding Merion. All countries are eligible except three U.S. States: Montana, Tennessee and Vermont.

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

Pebble Beach is America's top-ranked and most famous golf course. The famed Pebble Beach Golf Links golf course is the most recent addition to World Golf Tour, now available as a free closest-to-the-hole online game.

The famous par 3 hole 17 has a small green surrounded by bunkers, and typically shots are hit straight into the breeze coming off the ocean.

On this hole in the 1982 U.S. Open, Tom Watson brilliantly holed out of the greenside rough with a sand wedge for a birdie. He went on to beat Jack Nicklaus that year for his only career U.S. Open title.

The shot on World Golf Tour is from that same rough, see if you can create your own miracle shot.

WGT Hole 17 Tip - Consider switching to a lob shot and aiming left and short.

You can sign up for World Golf Tour here and play Pebble Beach, St Andrews and other famous golf courses free online.

See Pebble Beach Hole 16 Preview

More exciting updates to World Golf Tour, including the first stage of the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open on Merion Golf Club.

Merion for Virtual U.S. Open

We're less than 100 days away from the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in June, and World Golf Tour is the exclusive host of the Virtual U.S. Open.

We're excited to give WGT players an early preview of Merion Golf Club with the new Front 9 closest-to-the hole challenge now available. Play today and you could earn $500 USGAshop.com prizes.

Note, the Back 9 Challenge on Merion will be coming in April, and the Full 18 hole strokeplay at Merion will be available in May.

New TaylorMade R1 Virtual Driver

The hottest driver on the PGA Tour is now on WGT. The new R1 Driver from TaylorMade offers more distance and forgiveness to improve your virtual driving. These top-performing clubs are available for WGT players at all levels...

• TaylorMade R1 10 degree Driver (Level 11+) with Aldila 55-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 9 degree TP Driver (Level 48+) with Aldila 65-gram shaft
• TaylorMade R1 8 degree Super TP Driver (Level 98+) with OBAN Kiyoshi White 65-gram shaft

More ways to play Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach is this month's featured golf course, play the monthly featured tournament including the iconic par three 7th hole.

Pebble Beach will also soon be available in paid Ready-Go golf tournaments on WGT. The top 30 of 50 players earn WGT Credits every day in these exciting Ready-Go games.

Special WGT Offers

Don't miss "double payouts" day on Tuesday 3/12, when the WGT Credit payouts for Hole-In-One Challenges are doubled. This is for one day only in Hole-In-One Challenges in closest-to-the-hole games.

WGT NATION members, play WGT on Sunday 3/17 for St. Patrick's Day and get a free WGT green vapor virtual golf ball. (See what these green balls can do in this Hole-In-One Challenge winning replay)

Special offer for all WGT players, play WGT on Monday 4/1 for MLB Opening Day and get a free WGT Baseball: MLB virtual golf ball. And if you haven't tried our baseball game, WGT Baseball: MLB, play here!

Pebble Beach is America's top-ranked and most famous golf course. The famed Pebble Beach Golf Links golf course is the most recent addition to World Golf Tour, now available as a free closest-to-the-hole online game.

Hole 16 is a challenging par 4, as the small green is lower than the fairway, surrounded by bunkers and trees, and sloping sharply from right to left.

Try it for yourself on World Golf Tour, with a 177 yard approach shot from the fairway to the challenging green.

WGT Hole 16 Tip - Aim carefully and swing with less power due to the downhill green.

You can sign up for World Golf Tour here and play Pebble Beach, St Andrews and other famous golf courses free online.

See Pebble Beach Hole 13 Preview