The United States Golf Association and World Golf Tour (WGT) have formed an agreement to host the first Virtual U.S. Open Championship on www.USOPEN.com.

Developed in partnership with Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., 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.

Visitors to www.USOPEN.com can play qualifying rounds for the Virtual U.S. Open, beginning May 25th through June 21st. The top 156 qualifiers plus ties will then square off for the Virtual U.S. Open title on June 22nd. 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.

WGT has utilized its patented technology to bring Bethpage Black to life online. First, nearly 100,000 high-definition images were taken of the course from the ground and with helicopters using precisely mapped GPS coordinates. These images and additional data collected from the course were then translated through WGT’s proprietary physics engine to enable players to virtually experience Bethpage Black within a photo landscape. Championship tees and hole locations, U.S. Open-quality rough and accurate green contours and speeds all combine to make this the most realistic championship golf experience ever offered online.

Related posts:

1. NBCSports.com, AirPlay to deliver live interactive game for U.S. Open
2. First Pac-man World Champion crowned, Pac-Man Championship Edition now on Xbox 360
3. Millions of Us enters $1.5 billion virtual goods market with Virtual Greats
4. Warner Brothers to launch animated virtual world T-Works
5. China to unleash virtual cops