Remember when we’d watch sports with just a few camera angles and basic graphics? Those days are long gone, folks! Sports viewing has transformed completely. NFL’s Next Gen Stats track player movements. The NBA offers virtual reality courtside seats. MLB’s StatCast measures every swing detail. But golf? Well, golf just took things to another level.

Have you heard what Augusta National just dropped? Talk about a bombshell announcement with just 10 days remaining for golf’s first major! This isn’t just another minor tech upgrade; we’re talking about something that could completely change how we experience golf’s most prestigious tournament forever.

The Masters officials quietly slipped the mind-blowing tech feature announcement into the ninth paragraph of their coverage release. Every single shot hit on the driving range will now be tracked and available to fans. Yes, you read that correctly. Every. Single. Shot.

Beginning April 7th, fans can access live and recorded data from each player’s range sessions throughout the tournament week. The tracking will capture distance, carry, speed, hang time, height, curve, and even wind conditions. Each shot will deliver a 3D tracing for viewers to analyze and enjoy.

The Masters Tournament will deliver additional coverage through multiple content offerings. This includes the debut of a daily, episodic series hosted by Kira K. Dixon titled Under the Umbrellas featuring guests from a variety of backgrounds. All episodes will be published to Masters YouTube. Patrons can stay informed of news and featured content by following the social pages of the event and  by signing up for the Masters’ Newsletter.

Augusta National has consistently pushed technological boundaries in golf broadcasting. Their “Track” feature already lets fans follow shots during actual tournament play. But now they’ve extended this technology to the practice area. This unprecedented move gives fans a behind-the-scenes look previously reserved for coaches and players.

Think about the possibilities this creates for golf enthusiasts. Is Rory McIlroy working on his swing late Saturday evening? You can watch every detail. Curious about Scottie Scheffler‘s warm-up routine? It’s all there for you to see. With fans’ viewership experience not being good for a past few months, this got all of them excited. 

Fans love this innovative approach to the Masters coverage

The golf community has erupted with excitement over this tech enhancement. Social media quickly filled with praise for Augusta’s forward-thinking approach to fan engagement.

One user on X compared the transformation perfectly: “In a fairly short amount of time, @TheMasters has gone from Audrey Hepburn to Kim Kardashian when it comes to access…” This clever comparison highlights Augusta’s rapid evolution from tradition-bound exclusivity to modern transparency.

Another fan praised the platform itself, calling it “the gold standard for how golf should be covered by offering an exceptional viewing experience and tremendous access.” The Masters app has consistently led golf broadcasting innovation since its major overhaul and redesign in 2019. Data enthusiasts particularly celebrated the development. “This is really cool especially for swing + ball speed nerds like me haha,” wrote one excited fan. This excitement aligns with broader trends in sports viewership, where technical data has become increasingly important to the modern fan experience across all major sports broadcasts.

The sentiment “This is HUGE” appeared repeatedly across social platforms. Even those concerned about potential overanalysis welcomed the innovation. One fan joked, “I really can’t imagine this will result in overanalysis on Golf X,” acknowledging how deeply fans will dive into this new data treasure trove.

Augusta National continues setting a high bar for sports broadcasting technology. Their latest innovation gives unprecedented access to practice sessions previously hidden from view. As the 2025 Masters approaches, fans now have another reason to celebrate golf’s premier event.

Which aspect of this new tracking feature excites you most? The swing data? The 3D tracing? Or simply watching your favorite player’s complete practice routine? Let us know in the comments section below!