View Masters: Historic golf tournament can now been seen in VR - CNET

One of the oldest events in professional golf is leaing a new trick.

The Masters Touament, which starts Thursday, will be broadcast in virtual reality for people using Samsung's Gear VR headset and a compatible smartphone. VR content developer NextVR has installed 360-degree cameras on tee-boxes and greens at popular holes 6 and 16, where spectators historically gather.

"We'll be right in the thick of it," said NextVR co-founder David Cole. NextVR aired last year's US Open golf touament.

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Bringing VR to The Masters marks a sea change for a sporting event that's bound in tradition, including the wier's doing of the green jacket, one of the most prized awards in sports. Hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club, the Masters, which started in 1934, has been reluctant to change. The mostly male club in Georgia just began admitting female members in 2012, among them former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

This year, the organizers realized the event needs even more change if it's going to remain relevant with a broader and younger audience. The sport's most popular players -- Jordan Spieth, the defending Masters champion; Jason Day, the world's number one ranked player; and Rory McIlroy -- are all under the age of 30.