The event was the first since European Tour, in partnership with esports specialists DreamHack and Topgolf Entertainment Group, launched golf’s first esports series.

More than 45,000 players from 169 countries tried to qualify for the first of the six events in the series, before the 128 leading players played in a knockout competition to try to secure one of eight places for the live tournament.

Eight players from five different countries came to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club to compete in a place specifically built in the public village, all broadcast live on the European Tour social media channels.

All players used the same set of virtual golf clubs to level the playing field for the tournament.

The 21-year-old Gordley went through the group stage to advance to the semi-finals and then to the final, where he defeated compatriot Joshua Smith to secure the trophy and the first prize of $10,000 (£7,700/€9,000). 

Gordley, who plays with the username Golfx3, is a computer science student from New Mexico and plays golf off a handicap of four.

"I feel surprised and relieved - a lot of mixed emotions," said Gordley. 

"I almost gave the match away and I’m just grateful that I ended up coming through and winning at the end.

"I was jokingly saying that I was going to use the prize money to buy the gold putter on the game, but realistically I’ll probably use it for my college tuition."

Four other European eTour events are due to take place in the coming months, with the five winners and three jokers competing for $50,000 (£38,000/€45,000) at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from November 19 and 22.