Golfer to showcase contactless payments jacket at Royal Troon

Graeme McDowell
TEE TIME: Golfer Graeme McDowell will be able to pay while he plays at Royal Troon 

Professional golfer Graeme McDowell has been equipped with a payment-enabled jacket by MasterCard for The 145th Open at Royal Troon this week that will let him pay while he plays by tapping his sleeve on a contactless reader.

The jacket is from McDowell’s G-Mac by Kartel clothing range and is the latest addition to MasterCard’s Commerce for Every Device programme that turns clothing, rings, fitness and smart bands into payment devices.

The payment network has also enabled the whole championship for contactless payments so that spectators can use their contactless cards or NFC devices to pay anywhere at the event.

“Golf fans at The 145th Open at Royal Troon this week can go without cash as MasterCard has enabled the whole Championship to accept contactless payments,” MasterCard says. “Spectators can spend more time watching the action, rather than queuing to pay for anything from refreshments to merchandise.”

Surprises

“New payment technology on and off the course is just the beginning of how MasterCard is delivering a better experience to golf fans,” the company adds. “Cardholders who use their MasterCard onsite during The Open or take part in a social media campaign may also get a Priceless Surprise.

“Fans at The Open this week will [also] be the first in the UK to experience a Priceless Golf virtual reality experience. The virtual tour with Graeme McDowell will take fans to the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course in the US.”

“It’s exciting to see new innovations brought to golf — whether that’s new equipment to improve your game or technology to make paying or watching a round more enjoyable,” says Graeme McDowell. “I love the idea of making purchases on and off the course seamless and easy. With this clothing, you can just tap your sleeve and pay, whether that’s for balls before the round or a pint at the 19th.”

“We would love to one day see this kind of technology rolled out as an option throughout all our clothing to make golfers’ lives easier from car to course to clubhouse,” adds G-Mac by Kartel’s Jaime Baird.

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