“On certain holes, the blimp does a really good job of that, and Toptracer is a new and improved way of doing that. “I think, as the technology has evolved, all the networks have creatively tried to figure out how it can improve the understanding of the way the shots are being hit and how they’re playing out,” says McManus. SwingVision will also return this year, and a blimp will be flown during selected events to provide an additional aerial view. Reporter Amanda Balionis will use SmartCart to analyse and telestrate data like golf swings and shots, hole difficulty, and scorecards, as well as to show compelling content from the event. SmartCart will be deployed for analysing and telestrating golf swings and shots, hole difficulty, and moreĪfter debuting SmartCart in 2016, CBS Sports plans to deploy the technology on 20 events this year. We can also use Toptracer on second shots from the fairway, which is a good innovation.” Says McManus, “This is a significant breakthrough for us. Virtual Eye will provide tracking graphics and statistics within a 3D model of each hole while also showing the tee shots. The technology also enables second and third shots to be traced wirelessly. This year, CBS Sports will use Toptracer by Topgolf ball-tracking technology on 10 holes - up from four in 2017 - for every PGA TOUR event. “We had a great NFL season and a great SEC Football season, and now we’re transitioning to both golf and college basketball.” “We’re all still coming off that incredible high we had with the Patriots-Jacksonville game,” says CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus.
In total, golf fans can expect more than 155 hours of coverage this year, including the Masters Tournament and the 100th PGA Championship, and plenty of technical enhancements. Fresh off a down-to-the-wire AFC Championship Game in New England on Sunday January 21, the team embarked on the first of 23 golf tournaments - 21 of them PGA TOUR events - last weekend in San Diego. There’s no rest for the weary at CBS Sports, and that’s just the way the team likes it.