MasterCard Brings Wearable Payment Tech to PGA Golf

MasterCard has a few tricks up its sleeve, or rather, its glove.

As sponsor of the PGA golf event, MasterCard is using the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament as its stage to show off a payment chip-enabled golf glove through presentations with Callaway Golf Company.

MasterCard has recently emphasized its expanding technology capabilities in wearables, including in fashion design.

A golf glove may not make a fashion statement, but it is definitely a staple on any nation's golf courses. As such, MasterCard is betting that cardholders linking their payment cards to the chip in a high-tech golf glove will find it useful to use the golf course's tap-and-pay mobile terminals at beverage carts or in snack shops.

The technology seeks to speed up the game as well, as stopping for drinks or food and exchanging cash or swiping a card at a beverage cart or snack shop takes players off the course, MasterCard said in a March 16 press release.

“MasterCard is leading the industry in new payment technology that will enhance the consumer commerce experience,” Brian Oliver, PGA Tour senior vice president of corporate partnerships, said in the release. “By introducing this technology at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, they are showing golf fans and the world that this technology is ready and that it will improve daily life through improved experience, convenience and security.”

MasterCard will also offer Qkr! with MasterPass technology to allow fans to order and pay for concessions and merchandise from their Android or iOS devices at the Arnold Palmer event.

Last year, MasterCard offered Qkr! with MasterPass at the Barclays PGA event in New Jersey. Barclays launched its own version of a MasterCard is also pushing its "priceless experience" brand in encouraging attendees of the Orlando, Fla. tournament to visit a virtual reality golf tour that will take participants to the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass’s Stadium Course in partnership with PGA pro Graham McDowell.

While on that virtual trip of one the nation's finest golf holes, participants will use a virtual reality headset from MasterCard partner Wearality. While wearing the headset, a user can purchase McDowell-branded golf equipment or apparel they identify without leaving the tour.

“Giving consumers the opportunity to immerse themselves virtually into experiences you can only get with MasterCard is a great way to showcase the exclusive offerings and access we’re delivering through our Priceless platforms,” Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing officer for MasterCard, stated in the release. “What better place to highlight these new technologies than one of the pre-eminent PGA tour events?"