Augusta National - one of the most exclusive clubs in the world - is opening its gates to the great unwashed for the first time... in a new video game.
On the eve of the 2021 Masters, the hosts have announced details of EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters.
Augusta chiefs have always been reluctant about allowing the famous course to be playable in games, while it is six years since the last EA Sports golf game.
The new game will be released in time for the 2022 Masters.
The Masters - as a playable entity - only made its first appearance in 2011, but has been missing from gamers' screens since 2015.
Announcing the venture on Wednesday, Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley said, "I want to share our reentry into the video game space, as we have again partnered with EA Sports in their return to the golf world with Road to the Masters.
Augusta National and the Masters will feature exclusively in the upcoming edition of EA SPORTS PGA TOUR.
The partnership will also support the Masters Tournament Foundation in its work to grow the game of golf.#themasters pic.twitter.com/f2BlVKNNRa— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2021
"We believe the attention to detail surrounding the course and our traditions will be world class and will provide new and current fans around the globe with a fun and interactive look at Augusta National.
"All proceeds to Augusta National will be contributed to the Masters Tournament Foundation and our work to grow the game, both here in the U.S. and around the world."
In creating the game, EA Sports employed first of its kind aerial scanning to collect millions of data points, previously inaccessible in golf games, to recreate
Augusta officials said, "In the latest version, even more meticulous attention to detail has been developed, with 10 times the polygons that were used in the previous EA Sports Masters title.
"The latest lighting system allows EA to create more authentic lighting, the wind will be driven by a natural physics system and there is an opportunity to authentically simulate cloth for use in the flags and player clothing."
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