When golf’s Ryder Cup tees off Friday, Michael Cole could be as crucial to the event’s success as any member of Team USA and Team Europe.

“My goodness, it is everywhere,” Michael Cole, chief technology officer of golf’s European Tour and Ryder Cup, said in an interview. “The challenge is getter more understanding of compiling and making the best use of data.”

Every aspect of the biennial competition between the best golfers of Europe and the U.S. this weekend in New York will be touched and influenced to some degree by AI — whether in assessing shot approach, weather forecasts, merchandise inventory management, and organizational efficiency. Both teams and organizers of the event are leaning on generative AI and the expertise of technical partners such as Capgemini, SAP (business operations), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Motorola Inc. (AI video security), and T-Mobile Inc.

The injection of AI and cloud technology isn’t new to sports-viewing fans, who typically get their fill of AWS data analysis during NFL games, Google Cloud use during MLB broadcasts, and stunning drone views from seemingly every stadium. But it is essential in enriching the viewing experience and offering athletes and coaches a potential edge.

“There are no defined rules on AI; it is up to the teams to decide how to parse the data and take advantage of the information,” said Cole, who pointed out there are (so far) 15 data points for each shot. Though golfers are prohibited access to smartphones during a tournament, their coaches could conceivably use AI to gain a competitive edge this weekend on Long Island.

He laughed when asked if AI agents might one day serve as caddies to assess club selection, based on wind conditions and distance to the hole. But he did not dismiss the concept in the near future.

For now, technology consulting firm Capgemini has announced significant upgrades to its Outcome IQ platform ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, introducing real-time generative artificial intelligence capabilities to the prestigious golf tournament’s digital coverage.

The enhanced system builds upon the original Outcome IQ platform that debuted during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. This year’s version incorporates Capgemini’s proprietary agentic AI technology, designed to deliver contextual insights that will enhance fan engagement across broadcast, digital, and social media platforms.

The platform analyzes live shot-by-shot data in conjunction with historical player statistics, course characteristics, and pairing dynamics to generate real-time probability assessments as each shot concludes. The system continuously evaluates individual shots, holes, and matches, providing viewers with enhanced understanding of momentum changes, strategic choices, and performance under tournament pressure.

Media analysts can access and distribute the most relevant insights to their specific audiences through various delivery methods, including push notifications, digital widgets, and live commentary integration.

The 2025 iteration introduces two key features: comprehensive generative AI-driven insights delivered across all digital channels, and “What If” scenario modeling that simulates potential outcomes based on current tournament conditions.

The upgraded technology aims to provide golf fans with deeper analytical context during one of the sport’s most closely watched international competitions.

“Outcome IQ exemplifies how AI can elevate the fan experience in sport. By combining generative AI with our deep expertise in data, tech and customer experience, we’re enabling fans to enjoy the game with new dimensions – where every shot is contextualized, and every moment matters,” said Pascal Brier, chief innovation officer at Capgemini. “Putting a match play scorecard together involves over 170 million possibilities – so it’s a massive probability set! The AI system crunches the data every time a ball stops rolling, adapting dynamically to the unfolding match to generate real-time probabilities and ‘What If’ scenarios that help fans understand not just what’s happening, but what could happen next. It is then presented in a user-friendly format to enhance their connection to the game.”

More Context for Each Shot, Consumer Experience

The technology advancements in golf coverage underscore Capgemini’s recent global report on technology in sport, which revealed that more than half of sports fans are turning to AI or GenAI for more personalized content experiences.

The prestigious golf tournament has implemented a comprehensive hybrid cloud networking system powered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s Aruba Networking technology, marking a departure from the competitor’s infrastructure used in previous competitions.

The new network foundation encompasses 170 HPE Aruba Networking CX switches and 650 Wi-Fi 6E access points strategically positioned across the expansive 1,500-acre venue. Additionally, 25 HPE Aruba Networking UXI sensors monitor network performance throughout the facility.

All network components operate under the oversight of HPE Aruba Networking Central, the company’s artificial intelligence-driven management platform. The system is designed to deliver enhanced visibility, robust security protocols, and real-time network optimization capabilities.

Tournament organizers expect the upgraded infrastructure to provide uninterrupted connectivity for both spectators and staff as they navigate the sprawling championship grounds, ensuring smooth digital experiences during the competition.

HPE Advisory and Professional Services has built a Connected Intelligence Center to act as the central hub for Ryder Cup operations. At the core is an Operational Intelligence Dashboard, giving tournament staff access to real-time data visualizations to guide decision-making.

When it last worked with the Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023, HPE was responsible for bringing 5G capabilities. But this go-around, how do we step it up with AI? We built a smart city on the course. Operational intelligence dashboard behind the scenes.

“This will be a quantum leap, so to speak, for operations and fan experience,” James Robertson, chief technology officer of media, entertainment, hospitality and sports at HPE, said in an email. “Intelligence dashboard of what the network’s doing. Drive a true connected experience.

“Last time it was just, ‘Let’s connect the fans.’ That was table stakes. Now, with AI, it’s all about good quality data around analysis of weather, operations, scores, merchandise, food, crowd gathering,” Roberston said. “Make it as frictionless as possible.”

“This is a living lab,” Robertson said of the 2025 experience. “We’ll then analyze data, post-event, for 2027 in Ireland.”

The system runs on HPE’s Private Cloud AI, co-developed with NVIDIA as part of the companies’ joint AI computing portfolio, and integrates HPE networking technology. It pulls in a wide range of live data sources, from ticket scans and weather reports to merchandise and concession sales, GPS tracking of golf carts, crowd queues, and video feeds from 67 AI-enabled cameras monitoring key areas of the course, as well as network performance metrics.

The technology advancements in golf coverage underscore Capgemini’s recent global report on technology in sport, which revealed that more than half of sports fans are turning to AI or Generative AI for more personalized content experiences.

AI and Cloud Technology Transform Golf Broadcasting

The golf broadcasting landscape is undergoing a technological revolution as artificial intelligence and cloud computing reshape how fans experience the sport. LIV Golf’s partnership with Google Cloud and PMY Group has introduced AI-driven features that fundamentally change traditional golf coverage, representing a significant departure from conventional broadcasting approaches.

At the heart of this innovation is LIV Golf’s “Any Shot, Any Time” feature, launched in summer 2024. Built on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, the system lets viewers select exactly which golfers they want to watch during live broadcasts and create customizable highlight reels from any tournament round, moving away from director-controlled coverage that has dominated golf broadcasting for decades.

LIV’s Golf Companion App, powered by Google Cloud’s AI technologies, offers 3D aerial venue overviews, real-time statistics, virtual caddy views, and personalized competition recaps. This digital ecosystem represents what LIV calls a “first-to-market Generative AI digital solution” supported by a Unified Data Platform hosted on Google Cloud.

The technological advancement extends beyond LIV Golf, with the 2025 PGA Championship featuring “CHAMPCast,” a new technology showcasing every shot from every player in 3D. These developments signal a shift from traditional linear broadcasting toward interactive, data-driven experiences that allow fans to customize their golf consumption, potentially setting new standards for sports broadcasting.