In March, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and World Golf Tour (WGT) had announced that they had formed an agreement to host the first Virtual U.S. Open Championship on www.USOPEN.com.
The Virtual U.S. Open will take place on a state-of-the-art simulation of the Black Course at Bethpage, allowing golf enthusiasts everywhere to play an online golf championship from their computers at no cost, at the same time and on virtually the same course as the actual U.S. Open competitors in June.
Qualifying rounds for the Virtual U.S. Open are playable May 25 through June 21. The top 156 qualifiers plus ties will then square off for the Virtual U.S. Open title on June 22. The winner will be crowned the USGA Virtual U.S. Open Champion and will be a guest of the USGA at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.
A closest-to-the-hole challenge on WGT’s virtual Bethpage Black is already be available on http://usga.usopen.com/2009/virtualopen/ for players to test their skills, before the Virtual U.S. Open qualifying rounds begin.