Artificial Intelligence is stepping onto the greens at TPC Sawgrass for the Players Championship 2025, making history as the PGA Tour introduces the AI Course Setup Tool for the first time. This innovative tool is set to change the game by predicting how course changes might affect scoring, drawing insights from over two decades of data.
AI is already a big player in many tech fields, and now it’s making its mark on professional golf. As the Players Championship kicks off in Ponte Vedra Beach, AI will be guiding the 72-hole event throughout the weekend, with Morgan Stanley as the proud sponsor.
Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, the AI Course Setup Tool uses data from the PGA Tour’s ShotLink system. “We’ve had a lot of folks from different departments, including broadcast and digital properties, working on this,” shared Billy Schroder, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president of competition and special projects. “It’s been a fun and challenging project.”
The AI tool, which has already been tested during the West Coast Swing earlier this year, is making its public debut. It fits right in with the sports analytics trend, enhancing how golf courses are managed.
“Fans want to see aggressive lines and risk-reward holes,” Schroder explained. “This tool is another asset for us.”
AI Course Setup: How It Works
Course officials are always on the lookout for ways to optimize play. Whether it’s tweaking a pin placement or adjusting the rough height, AI helps evaluate these factors, influencing stats like driving distance and scores.
Officials can analyze thousands of rounds to predict likely outcomes based on conditions that can be changed, like rough length, and those that can’t, like wind. “They can pull up where all the tee shots landed on No. 18 in the 2024 Players,” Schroder noted. “It supports their decision-making process.”
While the tool has its limitations, like predicting how individual golfers might adapt, it offers a glimpse into future possibilities. Imagine simulations for different strategies and how they might affect the pace of play.
As you watch the Players this week, you’ll see the exciting blend of golf and technology in action. “Players have been playing Moneyball for a long time,” Schroder said. “Now, referees have this tool for setting up the course too.”
