• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 15, 2010

Augusta National Golf Club, hidebound to tradition in many ways, has struck a deal with Comcast to offer the Masters golf tournament in 3D. The broadcast marks the first sports event available in the home on the new 3D-capable TV sets.

The tournament will be available on a dedicated channel for Comcast customers with the new sets. There will be about two hours of coverage a day in the third dimension.

Sony, which is manufacturing 3D sets, will sponsor the broadcast along with providing camera equipment for the shots. Coverage in 3D will stretch from the Par 3 tournament April 7 through the 18th hole on championship day, April 11.

The Augusta club has hosted the tournament since 1934 and places restrictions on much of the broadcast, including commercial load.

Comcast 3D customers will be able to watch the Masters in traditional form, high-def and 3D. A Comcast research center has built the tech backbone for broadcast delivery.

There will also be a feed available via broadband on the Masters Web site to 3D-enabled PCs.

The Masters was the first golf tournament broadcast in HD. "Innovation has always been part of Masters tradition," stated Augusta chief Billy Payne.

ESPN had made a push to be the first to offer 3D sports in the home through a 3D channel this summer, but the Masters will beat it.