AI on the Fairway: How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Golf – and the Ryder Cup
- Chris Howell
- Sep 20
- 7 min read
The Ryder Cup tees off next week at Bethpage Black (September 25–28), and while the drama of Europe vs USA never fails to grip, this year there’s a new player on the course: artificial intelligence. The stakes have always been high at the Ryder Cup, but AI is adding an entirely new layer of insight, precision, and spectacle to the event. It is no longer just about players and captains making calls based on instinct and experience – it is also about real-time data, predictive models, and generative AI shaping the narrative of every hole.
This shift represents something bigger than a single tournament. Golf has always balanced tradition with innovation, from the first metal drivers to advanced launch monitors. AI is simply the latest, and perhaps most transformative, chapter in that story. It is shaping how tournaments are run, how players prepare, and how fans engage with the sport.
Ryder Cup 2025 – Powered by AI
Two major technology partners, Capgemini and HPE, are bringing AI deeper into the Ryder Cup than ever before. Their innovations are not gimmicks but tools that are already influencing how the competition is played, managed, and experienced by millions.
Capgemini’s Outcome IQ platform is delivering real-time generative AI insights, analysing decades of Ryder Cup history, live match data, and course conditions. It can calculate probabilities for every shot and run “What If” scenarios that reveal how matches might swing depending on a single putt or drive. By processing hundreds of potential outcomes simultaneously, the system helps commentators, fans, and even analysts understand the full range of possibilities in a way that would be impossible manually. Imagine knowing not just that a player faces a tough 15-foot putt, but also that sinking it could raise their team’s win probability by 20% – and seeing those numbers live on screen.
HPE’s Connected Intelligence Center is the behind-the-scenes hub, processing streams of information from 67 AI-enabled cameras, ticket scans, weather reports, and even merchandise sales. It’s not just about sport – it’s crowd management, sustainability, and fan engagement all rolled into one. The system can predict crowd bottlenecks, recommend staff allocation in real time, and even optimise energy consumption across the venue. For tournament organisers, this is AI as a full operational partner, ensuring the Ryder Cup is as smooth logistically as it is exciting on the fairways.
Together, these systems make the competition richer for fans and smoother for organisers – without losing the human heart that makes the Ryder Cup special. For those watching from home or on the course, AI turns what could have been just another contest into a living laboratory for sports technology. It adds to the drama rather than replacing it, giving fans a deeper sense of why each shot matters.
AI in Golf Beyond the Ryder Cup
What we’re seeing at Bethpage Black is part of a bigger shift. Across the golfing world, AI is becoming a quiet caddie, a digital coach, and even a course designer. Here’s how:
Swing and Performance Analysis – Apps like TrackMan, Sportsbox AI, and GolfFix break down a player’s swing using computer vision and motion capture. They provide instant feedback, drills, and progress tracking for amateurs and pros alike. These platforms democratise coaching that was once reserved for elite players, helping weekend golfers fix flaws and professionals fine-tune already world-class games. Coaches can now access biomechanical data in seconds, while beginners can get personalised tips on their smartphones for a fraction of the price of a private lesson.
Equipment Design and Club Fitting – Brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade run millions of AI-powered simulations to craft optimised clubfaces and recommend custom fits. Rather than trial and error, players now benefit from precision-engineered clubs tailored to their exact swing profile. This has led to an explosion in data-driven equipment that maximises distance, spin, and control. AI has effectively turned the once-intimidating process of club fitting into a data-backed, efficient experience accessible to everyday golfers.
Virtual Caddies and Game Strategy – Platforms like Arccos Caddie analyse ball flight data, historical performance, and course layouts to suggest optimal shot selection. Instead of guessing at a club choice, golfers can lean on AI-driven guidance that considers dozens of variables in real time. Professional golfers use it to refine strategy, while casual players use it to save strokes and enjoy their rounds more.
Course Management – Clubs use AI to predict turf needs, manage irrigation, and schedule maintenance with sustainability in mind. By forecasting weather patterns and player flow, golf courses can save water, reduce chemical usage, and improve conditions for everyone. In an era of climate pressure, this side of AI might prove as vital as anything happening on the leaderboard.
Training and Player Development
AI is not only changing tournaments and fan experiences – it is transforming how players train and develop their skills. What was once the preserve of elite coaches and expensive technology is now available to golfers of all levels through AI-powered apps and devices.
Personalised Coaching – Tools like Sportsbox AI 3D, GolfFix, and Accel Golf Coach provide instant swing analysis, detecting flaws and offering tailored drills. Golfers can receive biomechanical feedback, compare their movements to professional benchmarks, and track progress over time.
Accessibility for Amateurs – AI-powered training apps turn smartphones into high-tech coaches, offering detailed insights into swing tempo, rhythm, and sequencing. This makes elite-level feedback affordable and accessible for recreational players who might never set foot on a training academy.
Consistency and Motivation – Unlike human coaches who may have limited availability, AI platforms provide round-the-clock support, consistent feedback, and data-driven progress tracking. Monthly improvement reports, swing scores, and personalised training plans help players stay motivated and measure results.
Neurofeedback and Wearables – Devices such as deWiz Golf use wearable sensors and AI to deliver real-time correction cues, retraining bad habits quickly. By combining motion capture with immediate feedback, players can accelerate improvement and develop more consistent swings.
AI in training is levelling the playing field – giving beginners a chance to build solid fundamentals and allowing professionals to find tiny performance gains that matter under tournament pressure. It is becoming the invisible coach on every driving range and putting green.
AI and the Fan Experience
One of the most dramatic changes AI is bringing to golf is how fans experience the game – whether at home or on the course. Once limited to leaderboards and highlight packages, spectators now enjoy a fully immersive, data-rich view of the sport.
Live Commentary at Scale – Systems like the PGA TOUR’s TOURCAST can generate AI-powered commentary for every shot by every player. This addresses one of golf’s long-standing broadcast challenges: covering up to 156 players spread across 18 holes. With AI, fans can follow any golfer and understand not just the shot, but its strategic significance.
Augmented Reality On-Site – At tournaments, spectators can use AR apps to see ball trajectories, green slopes, and 3D course maps in real time. The Masters, U.S. Open, and now the Ryder Cup all offer AR features that help fans visualise the game in ways once limited to television graphics.
Personalised Feeds – AI systems curate highlight clips and match summaries tailored to individual fans. Whether you follow a specific player, want betting insights, or prefer beginner-friendly explanations, AI delivers a feed shaped to your interests.
Crowd Navigation – AI-powered “Fan Caddy” tools help spectators move around large venues more efficiently. They suggest the best places to watch based on crowd density and player positions, creating a more enjoyable on-course experience.
Enhanced Broadcasts – For those at home, AI drives advanced shot visualisations, predictive analytics, and stat overlays. It also assists broadcasters with real-time insights and talking points, making commentary more engaging and informative.
The result is a fan experience that is more personalised, interactive, and informed than ever before. AI doesn’t just show you what happened; it tells you why it matters and what could happen next. This shift has made golf broadcasts and live attendance more dynamic, appealing to traditional fans and new audiences alike.
A Sport in Transition
Golf has always been about precision, patience, and strategy. AI doesn’t change that – but it adds new layers of insight, accessibility, and sustainability. Whether you’re a Ryder Cup fan watching probabilities shift in real time, or a weekend golfer getting feedback from your phone, AI is making the game smarter and more connected.
As the technology matures, it will continue to blur the lines between the professional and amateur experience. Players will gain tools once limited to top coaches, courses will become more efficient and environmentally friendly, and fans will enjoy richer, more interactive viewing. The 2025 Ryder Cup is a showcase, but the long-term trend is clear: AI is now part of golf’s DNA, and its impact will only grow with every swing, shot, and tournament that follows.
If history tells us anything, it is that golf adapts. Wooden clubs gave way to titanium. Yardage books gave way to GPS devices. And now instinct and experience are being complemented by algorithms and analytics. The heart of the game – the pressure of a putt, the roar of a crowd – remains unchanged, but AI is ensuring that every aspect around it is more informed, efficient, and engaging. That is why this Ryder Cup feels like more than a clash between Europe and the USA. It is also a glimpse into the future of sport itself.
Where Mercia AI Fits In
What golf is experiencing with AI mirrors what businesses everywhere are beginning to see: data-driven insights, personalised guidance, and new ways to engage audiences. If you’re curious about applying these ideas beyond the fairway:
Explore your own numbers with a Starter Data Insight session.
Assess how prepared your business is with our AI Readiness Consultation.
Build skills and culture through our AI Innovation & Growth Workshops.
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Like the Ryder Cup, your decisions are about more than one moment – they’re about strategy, preparation, and seizing opportunity. Let’s make AI work for you.
