How it works: TOURCAST on Korn Ferry Tour

For two decades, PGA TOUR fans have followed their favorite players through shot-tracking products, powered by ShotLink, with the latest and most innovative version being TOURCAST.

TOURCAST has arrived on the Korn Ferry Tour. It’s just a bit lighter.

Korn Ferry Tour TOURCAST, powered by ShotLink Select, went live in spring 2024 as a user feature on PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app. Fans can track their favorite players shot-by-shot as they chase PGA TOUR cards across the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-long points race.

Here’s what to know about ShotLink Select, introduced on the Korn Ferry Tour at the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic.

What is ShotLink Select?

ShotLink is the golf scoring solution that provides detailed shot-related data in virtually real-time. This solution requires an extensive buildout of hardware, network and power services across a golf course over the span of approximately a week prior to the event, with many staff and volunteers also needed to operate ShotLink during each event. These parameters, as well as the cost of operation, can often be barriers for some events and Tours to be able to provide additional relevant, detailed, and more meaningful data to players and fans.

Because of this, the PGA TOUR has developed a more cost-effective solution, ShotLink Select, which provides the ability to capture additional coordinate data by shot at a fraction of the cost to deploy. This solution utilizes an enhanced mapping system with a small GPS tracking device worn by players to transmit coordinate data, which is utilized by ShotLink scoring systems to calculate and produce detailed data and stats, such as Strokes Gained data and stroke trails, to players and fans.

How does it work?

With ShotLink Select, players opt-in to wear a small GPS device that transmits location data to ShotLink throughout their round. This data is used in conjunction with other software, such as the Walking Scorer, to identify the player location at specific points in time, such as when a player hits their shot. That coordinate is recorded as the starting point for a stroke. Upon completion of their next stroke, the system gains the endpoint of the previous stroke and starting point of the current stroke, then calculates data for the previous stroke, such as shot distance and distance to pin. This data can then be used to display player location, detailed shot information and stroke trails for the TOURCAST presentation.

While ShotLink Pro (PGA TOUR) provides shot-level data in virtually real-time with automated software deployed across advanced tracking sensors, ShotLink Select provides this data approximately one shot behind in order to calculate the starting and ending point of a particular shot hit.

FAQs

What happens if coordinate data is not transmitting?

If coordinate data is not transmitting for a period of time, ShotLink continues to collect strokes and scores via the Walking Scorer application, so a player’s score remains up to date in virtual real-time, even if their coordinate data may not be transmitting as timely.

ShotLink Select GPS devices rely on public cell service to transmit coordinate data to the ShotLink system. Because cell service availability can be inconsistent, there may be delays in the transmission of data. The devices will continue to collect and store data as the player progresses through their round. When service is restored to the device, the device will transmit the saved data and the system and downstream presentations are updated, which may be as late as the end of the round.

What are the differences between ShotLink Pro (PGA TOUR) and ShotLink Select (Korn Ferry Tour)?

Data collection devices: ShotLink Select uses a small GPS device worn by a player, who has opted to wear the device for their round. ShotLink Pro uses a combination of data collection devices such as radar and camera tracking software.

Data availability: ShotLink Select relies on players to opt-in to wear the GPS devices for their round. If a player chooses not to wear a device, detailed shot-level data and stroke trail presentations will not be available for TOURCAST presentations or be included in any additional stat calculations or rankings. ShotLink Pro tracks the ball itself for every shot, so data is available for all players in a round.

Location data accuracy: ShotLink Select GPS devices have been proven to be accurate within 1 inch of its transmitted location. Because the devices are worn on the player person and each player’s stance for a shot may differ, the device is transmitted the location of the player, so accuracy of the ball location is expected to be within one club length (approximately 4 feet) of the device worn on the player. ShotLink Pro data collection devices use ball-tracking technology to track the ball itself for more precise ball location.

Network availability: ShotLink Select relies on public cell service to transmit data to ShotLink systems. ShotLink Pro devices and systems operate on a closed, private network deployed specifically for each event.