The Augusta National, home course of The Masters, is arguably the world’s most beautiful golfing location and, for DirecTV viewers, it will look better than ever during next month’s event.
The US satellite giant has announced that this year’s tournament will be broadcast in 4K, making it the first live UltraHD broadcast in the United States.
In order to see every blade of grass on every fairway, or the petals of every azalea on the 13th hole, DirecTV subscribers will need a 4K Genie DVR box and a subscription to either of the new Ultimate or Premier TV packages.
Oh, and they’ll probably need a 4K TV too.
A final requirement, AT&T jokes is: “Understanding that once you view it in 4K UHD, it’s going to be hard to view it any other way.”
Related: What is 4K and UltraHD TV
All four rounds will be shot in 4K covering the beloved 11th, 12th and 13th holes – known as Amen Corner – at the iconic course.
“The detail is so rich that you might even see the spin of the ball and the divots in the turf as if you’re right there on the green,” DirecTV owner AT&T wrote in a press release.
The tournament begins on 7 April and runs through the weekend until the final round on Sunday 10 April.
The arrival of live sports at the next-gen resolution may begin to drive sales of 4K televisions. It was certainly a huge factor in the adoption of high-definition sets a decade ago.
In the UK, The Masters will be broadcast on Sky for the first time – but the broadcaster has taken an untypically cautious approach to 4K following the failed 3D investment.
Back in January, BT Sport delivered the first live NBA game in 4K to UK audiences.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.