WGT Golf News

What do top players think about Merion? We asked mrenn29, who is the 2011 Virtual U.S. Open Champion, and currently sits in second place in this year's Qualifier. Here’s what he had to say about Merion...

Well it's that time of year again where all of us get to enjoy and get familiar with a new U.S. Open course on WGT. Merion isn't the longest course, but it sure has its bite in certain areas.

It sort of reminds me of a cross between Oakmont and Congressional. The scenery is similar to Congressional while the greens are high in difficulty like Oakmont. The greens at Merion have a lot of slope and if you are not careful, double bogey with championship green speeds is definitely in the equation even for the top players.

The course offers a lot of birdie opportunities but also some holes where making par is a great score. I think this year it's going to come down to the hot putter and the right winds. Obviously being able to reach the #2 par 5 in two, and the #10 par 4 from the tee is gonna depend on the right wind direction, but being able to make those crucial putts around the greens is where I believe the tournament will be won.

Good luck qualifying everyone and "hit em straight!"

VUSO Highlight of the Week

See mrenn29 play (and ace!) Hole 13 on Merion in this VUSO video replay.

Remember, you can play the Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier as many times as you want to try and post your best score, so keep shooting!

Play Tournament

Merion Golf Club is the host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Played correctly, Hole 8 at Merion is a good birdie opportunity, but miss the green and bogey is more likely. Choose to use anything from a fairway metal to a long iron to reach the S-shaped drive zone, but be sure to play the shorter approach shot carefully to avoid deep rough and bunkers that surround the small green. Finish strong by reading the contoured putting surface that slopes from back left to front right.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 8 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 7 Preview

Don't miss your chance at a grand prize dream trip to next year's U.S. Open.

Just play the free 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier on WGT at Merion for your chance. Both the Virtual U.S. Open champion and one lucky sweepstakes winner will each get a grand prize, a trip for two people to the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. In addition, everyone who plays will automatically receive a free Lexus virtual avatar and a Lexus virtual golf ball as special gifts from Lexus.

Play Virtual U.S. Open

*The 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier tournament is free to enter, runs thru 6/30/13, and is open to WGT players in all countries. See tournament rules for prize eligibility.

Merion Golf Club is hosting the U.S. Open Championship for the fifth time this year, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 7 at Merion offers a birdie opportunity as it's a 360-yard par-4. Most players will use long irons from the tee to reach the semi-blind, angled drive zone, setting themselves up for a short approach shot. Control your tee shot or you'll face overhanging trees and out-of-bounds on the right side. The large green gives you plenty of space to land, but the three distinct levels and sharp drop-off on the left force you to keep your approach accurate.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 7 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 6 Preview

Merion Golf Club is one of America's top ranked and historical golf courses, and now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

The par-4 Hole 6 at Merion challenges you with a semi-blind tee shot to a bowl-shaped fairway. Most players will face a slightly uphill approach shot to the green with a false front, with the option to go "old school" and run their shot up onto the green. Another hole where par is a great success.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 6 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 5 Preview

We're two weeks into the 2013 Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier on World Golf Tour and are seeing some great virtual golf being played.

There are already more than 100,000 players entered and competing on Merion Golf Club, the host of this year's U.S. Open Championship.

The top 156 scores plus ties will make the cut to qualify for the Championship rounds, but everyone has a chance to not only play all 18 challenging holes at Merion, but also a chance to win the grand prize trip to next year's U.S. Open.

View Leaderboard

Remember, you can play the Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier as many times as you want to try and post your best score, so keep shooting!

Play Tournament

VUSO Highlight of the Week

Watch this video replay of WGT player, Cleworthy (Level 94 Legend) getting an amazing hole-in-one on the 256-yard Merion Hole #3 in the Qualifier. 

Be sure to save your best replays and you could be featured too!

Introducing the first virtual club from Callaway on WGT, the Callaway X Hot virtual driver, with explosive distance off the tee.

The X Hot is an exciting new driver from Callaway, with additional distance plus extra forgiveness, to improve your virtual game. It unlocks for top WGT players at Levels 31 and 67.

Shop Callaway Drivers

Merion Golf Club is the host of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 5 at Merion could be the best driving hole on the course. This par-4 doglegs from right to left, with the fairway also sloping from right to left toward a stream that borders the left side spanning the entire length of the hole. Don't leave your approach right of the hole, or you'll face incredibly fast putts on the most severely sloped green on the course. Par this one and you're likely to pick up a full stroke (or close to) on your competition.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 5 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 4 Preview

Merion Golf Club is hosting the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and is now available to play free online on World Golf Tour (WGT).

Hole 4 at Merion is the second par-5 on the golf course. Off the tee, players will face one of the more difficult drive zones to hit because of a significant right-to-left fairway slope. This is followed by an awkward, blind shot over the cross bunker. Most players will have to lay-up before the brook in front of the green, for a short approach shot to the green.

Try it yourself! You can play Merion Hole 4 free on WGT here.

And if you haven't played WGT yet, join the millions of golfers playing virtual golf free online at wgt.com.

See Merion Hole 3 Preview

First tournament on the Best of Par 3 course with extra WGT Credit prizes for NATION players only.

Compete against other NATION players in your tier, with the top 70 scores in each tier splitting a double purse of WGT Credits.

Plus, with every hole being a par-3, this virtual golf course features the most chances to earn additional WGT Credits from Hole-In-One Challenges.

Play Nation Tourney

The popular Best of Par 3 course is now available for ranked games, so you can play this course in regular and country club tournaments, but scores aren't counted toward your official average due to the lower total par.

*Special tiered tournament open to WGT Nation members only, now thru 5/31/13.