is pga tour or 2k23 better

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EA Sports PGA Tour vs PGA Tour 2K23 Compared: Which Is Better and Which Should You Buy?

Golfers have long clamored for an authentic and exhaustive golf video game to let them explore their sport virtually. With EA Sports PGA Tour and PGA Tour 2K23 both on the market, which is the best and which you should you buy?

EA Sports PGA Tour vs PGA Tour 2K23

We’re kicking off our comparison with what we consider the most important aspect: the gameplay. Put simply, which plays better, feels better and resembles golf better? In our opinion, the point here goes to EA Sports PGA Tour .

It’s not that PGA Tour 2K23’s gameplay is poor; in fact, it’s good. We find it smooth and comprehensive as well as intuitive and easy to learn. However, it can feel a little too easy to learn. Within hours of picking up 2K23 I was able to sink chips frequently, whip my tee shots around obstructive trees to find the middle of the fairway and easily get within inches of the pin regardless of the hole, conditions and clubs. It’s a slightly truncated version of golf, simple and quick (which does have its bonuses) but not exhaustive and granular.

That’s why EA Sports PGA Tour takes the point here. There’s countless shot types to piece together, a wealth of information to take into account on every shot and ball physics that feel realistic. PureStrike technology makes nearly every shot (see our criticism of pitches and chips) feel rewarding or punishing depending on how you played the shot. Anyone who’s played real golf knows that’s how the sport goes: within seconds of playing your shot you’ll know whether it’s on the right tracks or headed for disaster. That can lead to EA Sports PGA Tour feeling difficult and even merciless – but that is golf.

Golfers, Licenses, Courses & Modes

This round comes out as a tie for us. EA Sports PGA Tour, proudly ‘The Home of the Majors’, brings 28 brilliantly realized golfing environments to life and will bring more in the future. It also lets players try their hand in countless tournaments, from the rookie to the top level. These have official licenses and branding, adding to the ultra-realistic gameplay to emulate various tournaments excellently.

2K23 can offer the same in terms of the presence of the PGA Tour and over 20 officially licensed courses, but its courses aren’t quite as refined as EA’s. However, its community-built courses are certainly a counter. Players can create environments based on whatever they like — just the other day I enjoyed a full 18 holes set at Hogwarts. Another personal favorite is a post-apocalyptic Seattle course that’s straight out of The Last of Us.

Away from courses and licenses, there’s a plethora of ways to play in each title. From Career Mode to Quick Play and competitive matches online, both ensure you can play the way you want to. EA Sports does feel like a deeper dive, especially in Career Mode. I felt more like myself – with better character design options and swing customization – when I entered into tournaments. Hence, if you’re wanting to build your dynasty and cement yourself as the best golfer of all time, it probably edges 2K here — but that’s not to say you can’t do the same with their title.

In terms of golfers, it’s a mixed bag for both. There’s exclusive big names in each, but there’s also noticeable absences. 2K is the only one that has Tiger Woods. It also brings eclectic and enjoyable presences like Michael Jordan and Steph Curry, but EA Sports holds it own with the presence of stars like Jordan Spieth and Nelly Korda. Both games are clearly designed for players to use their own creations as much as possible.

Finally, a word on in-game stores and microtransactions are pertinent. We’re disappointed with both in this regard. Unsurprisingly given their track record with FIFA and Madden, the EA Sports PGA Tour store is thrust on players so egregiously it’s actually difficult to avoid in the average session. There’s real-life brands – TaylorMade, Ping, etc – front and center and there’s no denying that being willing to throw real-life money at the game will benefit you significantly.

This is when we’d love to be able to say 2K is the exact opposite; a utopia free of microtransactions. Unfortunately, 2K’s foray into golf also takes a leaf out of its NBA 2K book and incorporates large numbers of microtransactions, encouraging players to plough more money into the game. It feels cynical (as it does in EA’s title) so, with both disappointing in this regard, we’re chalking this entire round up as a draw.

Here, there’s a clear winner, and it’s PGA Tour 2K23. It’s certainly not a surprise given the newness of EA Sports’ PGA Tour, which only released in April of 2023. As a result, it’s down from its launch price ($79.99 / £69.99) and available for around $59.99 / £49.99 depending on the platform, version and retailer.

In contrast, PGA Tour 2K23 is available for as little as $19.99 / £14.99 depending on the platform and chosen retailer. We know this round is probably unfair on EA Sports’ game. 2K23’s release back in fall 2022 guaranteed it’d be cheaper at this point, and will probably stay that way for a while. Regardless, cost is undoubtedly a major factor for most players when buying a game, so it’s only natural to rank it on this basis. Point to 2K.

Each game has one round in the bag and the other’s a tie, so we might be at a crossroads. However, we do have advice for you. The game you choose should be dictated by how you intend to play and what you want out of your golf video game.

If you’re searching for a realistic and immersive golf game that is difficult, rewarding and exceptionally detailed, then it’s EA Sports PGA Tour that you want. It’s as faithful a golf game as there’s ever been, giving you a wealth of customization tools, truly remarkable commentary and beautiful courses.

If you’re after a simpler, quicker and downright easier golfing experience, then it’s PGA Tour 2K23 you’ll want to purchase. It’s the ideal title to play with friends as a social event, being able to get in a quick eighteen and see who comes out on top in what feels like arcade golf. You can even use the money you’ve saved to purchase Michael Jordan and play as basketball’s GOAT in the golfing world.

Hopefully, this guide on EA Sports PGA Tour and PGA Tour 2K23 has helped you decide where to invest and what you can get out of them. We can summarise it simply: EA Sports is better if you’re a golfer who wants to game, 2K is probably better if you’re a gamer who wants to golf.

EA Sports PGA Tour vs. PGA Tour 2K23: A Detailed Comparison for Golf Enthusiasts

EA Sports PGA Tour vs PGA Tour 2K23: The Ultimate Golf Game Showdown

Golf simulation games have always been popular among fans of the sport, and two titles currently dominate the market: EA Sports PGA Tour and PGA Tour 2K23 . Both games strive to deliver an authentic golfing experience, but each has its unique strengths and weaknesses. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dive into the details of graphics, gameplay mechanics, character customization, and more to help you decide which golf game best suits your preferences.

Graphics and Visuals: EA Sports PGA Tour’s Stunning Graphics vs PGA Tour 2K23’s Realistic Visuals

The graphics and visual presentation are a critical aspect of any golf simulation game. EA Sports PGA Tour sets the bar high with its breathtaking visuals, meticulously detailed courses, and dynamic weather conditions that contribute to a truly immersive experience. However, the crowd animations leave something to be desired.

In contrast, PGA Tour 2K23 offers realistic visuals, but they don’t quite match the level of detail found in EA Sports PGA Tour. Nevertheless, the game’s course environments and character models are well-designed and visually appealing.

Gameplay Mechanics: EA Sports PGA Tour’s Accessible Gameplay vs PGA Tour 2K23’s Intricate Simulation

When it comes to gameplay mechanics, EA Sports PGA Tour delivers a satisfying and challenging experience, balancing simulation and accessibility. Precision-based swing mechanics and various visual cues help players improve their skills, although the absence of a proper tutorial can be a hurdle for newcomers.

PGA Tour 2K23, on the other hand, leans more towards simulation, with advanced swing mechanics and intricate ball physics that cater to hardcore golf enthusiasts. The game offers three control schemes, giving players the flexibility to choose the one that best suits their play style.

Character Customization and Career Mode: EA Sports PGA Tour’s Limited Options vs PGA Tour 2K23’s Robust MyPLAYER Mode

Character customization is an essential feature for many gamers, and in this area, PGA Tour 2K23 has the upper hand. Its MyPLAYER mode offers a wide range of options for physical appearance, clothing, and equipment, allowing players to create a unique golfer. The skill tree system in the game’s Career Mode adds depth and progression to the experience.

EA Sports PGA Tour, unfortunately, falls short in character customization, providing limited options for players to create their golfer. The Career Mode does offer long-term progression and a sense of achievement, but starting characters are significantly weaker than the pros available in Quick Play mode.

Additional Features and Community Engagement: EA Sports PGA Tour’s Challenge Modes vs PGA Tour 2K23’s Comprehensive Course Designer and Top Golf Feature

EA Sports PGA Tour offers engaging challenge modes that test players’ abilities and encourage them to experiment with different strategies and techniques. These modes add replay value and keep players invested in the game.

PGA Tour 2K23, however, outshines its competitor with its versatile and comprehensive Course Designer mode, which allows players to create and download community-designed courses. This feature significantly enhances the game’s replayability and keeps the community engaged. PGA Tour 2K23, unlike its competitor, includes a free play mode and a driving range, allowing players to practice their skills and improve their gameplay without the pressure of participating in full events.

Moreover, PGA Tour 2K23 introduces the exciting Top Golf feature, an innovative game mode that combines the challenge of hitting targets on a driving range with the fun of earning points based on accuracy and distance. This unique addition sets PGA Tour 2K23 apart from EA Sports PGA Tour and appeals to a broader audience, including casual gamers and those looking for a more social golf experience.

The Verdict: Which Golf Game Comes Out on Top?

Ultimately, the choice between EA Sports PGA Tour and PGA Tour 2K23 depends on your preferences. If you prioritize stunning graphics and a more accessible gameplay experience, EA Sports PGA Tour might be the game for you. On the other hand, if you prefer intricate gameplay mechanics, robust customization options, and engaging community features, PGA Tour 2K23 is likely the better choice.

Overall, PGA Tour 2K23 appears to have a slight edge over EA Sports PGA Tour due to its well-rounded offerings and versatility. The inclusion of a free play mode and driving range, along with its robust Course Designer feature, allows players to practice and refine their skills in a more relaxed environment. Additionally, the online multiplayer component and variety of control schemes cater to a wider range of player preferences and skill levels. The MyPLAYER mode in PGA Tour 2K23 also offers more customization options than its counterpart, enabling players to create a unique golfer that truly represents their desired persona.

Both titles have their strengths and weaknesses, but they deliver enjoyable experiences for golf fans. Whichever game you choose, you can look forward to countless hours of virtual golfing fun on some of the world’s most iconic courses.

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Brad April 27, 2023, 5:57 am

There definitely ain’t no competition here EA Sports are the clear winners in this battle. Well let’s face it their competitor is a JOKE. the only thing 2k have got that is good is tiger woods. Hopefully he will see sense and go back to EA. 2k and HB studios know NOTHING about golf, there gameplay is embarrassing, not enough REAL pga tour courses, too many fake rubbish ones, what is the point of being in partnership with the pga tour if your only concern is that awful course creator. They might as well just make a golf game WITHOUT any deal with the pga tour. Just call golf 2k. so do us all a favour 2k and STOP making golf games! stick to Nba and Wwe.

GamingLyfe.com April 27, 2023, 9:54 am

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EA Sports PGA Tour vs. PGA Tour 2K23 Comparison

Now that we have two developers creating golf games again, we can compare the two: Between EA Sports and 2K, who made the better PGA Tour?

Franz Christian Irorita

Now that we have two developers creating golf games again, it's time to compare the two: Between EA Sports and 2K , who makes the better PGA Tour golf game?

Well, if you're just basing it on our review scores for both games, then you'd think that EA Sports PGA Tour is better than PGA Tour 2K23. While EA Sports PGA Tour objectively offers the higher quality package, there are a few distinctions between the two, and a couple of aspects that would make you pick one game over the other. There are a lot of pros and cons in picking one game, and they're different enough that you can have the best of both worlds and actually play both games. In this article, we take a look at what would be the reasons why you'd pick one game over the other.

Tale of the Tape: EA Sports PGA Tour vs. PGA Tour 2K23

Here are some statistics between the two that are relevant to this discussion:

Why Pick EA Sports PGA Tour?

EA Sports PGA Tour simply is made of better quality material. Although that doesn't make it perfect, it does have a better presentation and deeper, more strategic gameplay features. It also has a more exciting Career Mode, and has undoubtedly more famous courses as it has exclusive rights to the Masters courses, including the Augusta Masters course. It also boasts a more technologically-advanced backend system for its golf ball physics with the Shotlink Trackman, which, although not in your face, definitely is felt throughout the game. Here are the pros of picking EA Sports' golf game:

• Better Career Mode
• Deeper Gameplay
• A lot of Quickplay Game Modes
• Better Ball Physics
• More Licensed Courses at launch
• More Pros at launch
• Better Graphics and Presentation
• Has all four Majors

Why Pick PGA Tour 2K23?

Michael Corvo · 3 days ago

Michael Corvo · 5 days ago

Michael Corvo · 6 days ago

PGA Tour 2K23 also has good features that could make people consider it over EA's version. For starters, its controls are much more intuitive, and it has a more fun progression system with its unique skill tree. It also has way better player customization, better online features, and has crossovers with the other 2K games. It's also more intuitive and has many ways to help out newbies to get better at the game. Also, it has Topgolf and Course Designer! Here are the pros of picking PGA Tour 2K23:

• Closer likeness for its pro player character models
• Deeper player customization and more customization options
• Has crossover guest pros like John Cena (WWE 2K23), Michael Jordan (NBA 2K23), and Stephen Curry (NBA 2K23)
• More online gameplay features and game modes
• Has Topgolf
• Easier to get into
• More interesting design in character skills and club customizations
• More brand apparels
• Better UI and Menus
• Course Designer

And that's it for our comparison between the two games. Again, while EA Sports PGA Tour is technically the better game between the two, there are still good reasons why you'd like PGA Tour 2K23 more. For more on gaming, stick with ClutchPoints Gaming .

About the Author

EA Sports Vs. 2K: Which PGA Tour Game Is Better?

W ith the release of EA Sports PGA Tour back in early April , it meant that there was finally serious competition among golf simulation video games. While PGA Tour 2K23 and its predecessors had been dominating the space since all the way back to when the series was known as The Golf Club and 2K wasn’t even involved, the release of the EA game suddenly gave golf fans a choice again. Since both games were released in partnership with the PGA Tour, the two came complete with the kind of credentials to make it clear that realism would be a top priority. The companies involved in EA and 2K left little doubt that this was a heavyweight gaming bout too, the kind of head-to-head battle the companies haven’t had to wage with their other sports games since the days of NBA Live and NFL 2K .

EA Sports Vs 2K: Which PGA Tour Game Is Better?

The inevitable question then when considering the two current golf titles has to be: which game is better? As is so often the case though when considering the world’s biggest questions, the answer is complicated and not nearly as black and white as you’d hope. EA Sports PGA Tour is a newer and shinier toy, complete with better graphics than 2K’s golf game and a gorgeous rendering of the difficult Augusta course. The gameplay is also easier and therefore more accessible, but because of this comes with less of a skill gap that makes hitting the best of shots so rewarding in PGA Tour 2K23 . The courses may look prettier in EA Sports PGA Tour , but there’s a limited number of them thanks to the lack of the kind of course creator boasted by PGA Tour 2K23 , which continues to see stellar tracks regularly churned out by the course design community.

Now that we’ve looked at the overhead view of the two games, let’s go ahead and zoom in closer to get a better perspective of what each of the two games do well and where one might be lagging behind the other. If we aren’t able to fully declare one game to be the better of the two at the end of the comparison, then we should at least be able to help you to decide which golf game might be the best for your own personal preferences.

Player Creation And Customization

The creation suite for your golfer is a little more extensive and detailed in PGA Tour 2K23 than EA Sports PGA Tour , as you’re able to mold a few more specifics on the face to make it as unique as possible instead of choosing from a variety of presets. It’s disappointing though that when it comes to body type, neither game allows you to make someone in the mold of a John Daly with an impressive gut. Both games offer a nice selection of clothes, accessories, and equipment to make sure your golfer is looking good when you hit the course.

Player Progression

As for your golfer’s skills, the 2K title leans heavily on having you choose an archetype , each of which comes with its own particular strengths and weaknesses. As you play more and more rounds, you’ll be be able to unlock skills for your various club-sets that will provide boosts when you meet certain criteria on the course. This component is a little too arcade for my tastes, but it doesn’t tend to influence a round as much as your abilities with your controller. You can also customize your clubs from a cosmetic standpoint as well as use fittings that you unlock from playing rounds to improve the attributes of your clubs.

EA Sports PGA Tour has you upgrading your abilities on the course by using points that you gain by playing rounds to spend on whatever areas of your game you feel are most in need of attention. As you improve in these areas, you’ll also be able to unlock new types of shots that can make your life easier in situations, such as using a pick shot to stop the ball on a dime coming out of the bunker. Unfortunately, there’s an aspect of improving your clubs that relies somewhat on microtransactions, as you can purchase specs from the store to add power or precision.

It probably has to be declared a dead heat between the games with regards to player progression, as they both take slightly different approaches and are mostly successful albeit with a questionable decision or two that are vulnerable to criticism.

Graphics And Presentation

When it comes to a comparison of the graphics and presentation between the two games, it’s pretty easy to declare that EA Sports PGA Tour performs better in almost every way. That starts with your golfer, who appears larger and moves more fluidly than any of the rigid swing animations you’ll find in PGA Tour 2K23 . The courses in the EA game are more vibrant as well, popping off the screen with the location’s atmosphere in a way that won’t be seen in 2K’s title. The visuals to set the scene during rounds are just a notch better from EA throughout rounds, including fly-overs prior to each hole that not only showcase the game’s graphic capabilities with every blade of grass but also provide insight into the best way to play the hole. Perhaps the only aspect of PGA Tour 2K23 that is superior is the sound and that’s mostly just because the smack of the club hitting the ball in the EA game sounds so far off from the real thing.

Perhaps the most important aspect of both games, the question of which of the two options plays better when you’re out on the course is also likely to be the most divisive. Although they each have difficulty settings to make hitting the ball where you want it to go as challenging as you like, the EA title is the more accessible option. While dialing in the proper distance for your shots can be a tad tricky, finding the right tempo to keep the ball traveling straight doesn’t require all that much effort. This makes it incredibly rare to see shots, especially those off the tee, that veer extremely off-target in any one direction. Even with an amount of RNG involved on your shots, there won’t be a lot of deviation from your target if the attributes of your player are decent. You’d also expect to see more punishment on shots from the rough or the sand, but these surprisingly won’t cost you much in the way of either distance or accuracy.

PGA Tour 2K23 requires more precision on the sticks (or buttons if you prefer 3-click) if you want to avoid the rough and those pesky bogeys, especially on higher difficulties like master. It’s increasingly rare on those higher difficulties that you’ll be able to achieve perfect tempo, and you’ll often be content to have slightly slow or fast feedback so your ball ends up at least close to where you were aiming. If you’re not careful and consistent though, it’s likely that you’ll have shots where your tempo is very slow or very fast. These will invariably lead to errant strikes that are short or long on distance and head wildly in a direction that you were not planning. Because you’ll suffer so severely for the slightest of issues in your swing (and be severely hampered on any shots from the rough and sand), it makes it feel more like real golf than the EA game and is more satisfying when you’re able to pull off amazing shot.

Career Mode

The career modes in the two games are relatively similar in that they both see you climbing the ranks by competing in events to win prize money and points on the leaderboard. Some vital differences exist within the customization offered in 2K’s game that won’t be found, at least at the time of this writing, in the EA title. Perhaps the most significant one of these is the ability change the number of rounds for events in the 2K game all the way down to a single round if you like while events in the EA game can’t be reduced down from the full 4 that real pros play. To be fair, you are able to play quick rounds during events in the EA game that will have you making shots on key holes only during rounds, but this is a poor substitute for putting you in control of every shot in fewer rounds altogether. To allow even more flexibility, you can also swap out the courses for certain events in the 2K game, helping to keep things fresh every season.

The most succinct way to summarize a comparison between the available courses in the two golf games is to say that PGA Tour 2K23 has more courses, however the courses in EA Sports PGA Tour are better. The fact that both games boast some of the same courses makes it a little easier to look at a famous locale like Pebble Beach in the two titles and draw the conclusion that EA’s recreation has a level of detail that 2K can’t match. The area where EA’s game comes up lacking though is with the absence of a course creator. The course creator in 2K’s game has allowed the community to both recreate real courses in remote towns from across the world and invent some wildly imaginative ones that would be nearly impossible to build in real life.

Online Modes

If you’re wanting to play rounds with friends, then the 2K game is probably going to be a better bet, at least until a patch adds the kind of turn-based functionality to the EA game that’s being offered by 2K. As it stands now, you’re able to play a round alongside a friend but with no opportunity to stand and watch your friend play his shots like you would in real life (and in PGA Tour 2K23 ). The 2K game has a more elaborate ranked system when stacking your skills up against others too, plus it has the casual option of playing different types of matches like skins, alt shot, and scramble.

The EA game does have some neat ideas with challenges and online tournaments, the former of which has you trying to recreate the feats of real golfers in recent events while the latter has you posting scores against the community to earn rewards based on where you finish among the fierce competition. PGA Tour 2K23 has a similar good thing going with online societies that allows the community to create seasons of events that can be customized to your own specifications in terms of rounds, courses, and difficulty level.

Bottom Line

The real truth is that both EA and 2K have created uniquely solid golf games, and if you’re trying to decide on only one of them to purchase, the choice will come down to what you personally want from a golf game. If you need the game to look as good as possible, then you’ll likely prefer the EA game. If you’re after more challenging and rewarding gameplay, you’ll probably want to opt for the 2K game. 2K’s course creator allows for its game to have an unlimited number of layouts to play, but the limited number (32) of recreations simply look and feel better in the EA game. The online realm is significantly better in 2K’s game at the moment, but there have been indications from EA that turn-based play (and more) is coming and that would go a long way towards improving their online offerings. If you’re a die-hard fan of golf though and you want the best of both worlds, there’s nothing wrong at all with picking up both games and enjoying the fact that competition between these companies has caused both EA and 2K to up their game.

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EA Sports PGA Tour vs PGA Tour 2K23

Can EA Sports PGA Tour de-throne PGA Tour 2K23?

Published: 05 Apr 2023 8:12 AM +00:00 Updated: 05 Apr 2023 9:31 AM +00:00

A new player has entered the golf gaming space with EA Sports PGA Tour now available to fans. 2K's PGA Tour title has had a clear run at being the best golf game for many years, but now some competition has emerged.

It is still early days for EA Sports PGA Tour , but the early signs are promising with incredible graphics and exclusive access to The Majors, not to mention some of the world's most iconic courses.

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However, PGA Tour 2K23 is still a brilliant game and has certainly set the benchmark high. With Tiger Woods on their side, 2K will be confident of retaining the top spot among golf games.

The gameplay in both 2K and EA's games is definitely realistic enough for die-hard golf fans to enjoy. PGA Tour 2K23 currently offers two swing mechanics (Analog and three-click ), while the latter is coming later in EA Sports PGA Tour, with both games set to offer players the choice of how they want to play.

2K's gameplay feedback is much more intuitive and appears less cluttered on the screen, allowing you to easily see feedback on your input and rectify weak areas in your game. After playing EA Sports PGA Tour, you will get used to the different feedback it offers, but it doesn't appear to affect your game in such an obvious way.

However, that is where 2K's advantage ends in this department, as EA's title brings course characteristics to life. Different courses will play in a unique fashion, with firmer greens, harder fairways, and longer rough areas! This requires you to alter how you approach shots, thus no round feels the same on EA Sports PGA Tour.

PGA Tour 2K23's gameplay remains fairly consistent regardless of the settings you choose, but EA's game offers a bit of variety to allow gamers to enjoy golf the way they want to.

The option to add spin/roll to the ball by pressing buttons in the flight, or the animation that accompanies a perfect drive may feel gimmicky to those searching for a realistic experience, but these features can be switched off. The choice in EA's game allows players to tailor their experience to their needs.

One downside we have seen during our first impressions of EA's title is the swing meter can be obscured by the background. The optimal swing bar can be very difficult to spot if there are trees or darker colours in the background, making it difficult to nail your swing!

Aesthetically speaking, EA Sports PGA Tour is stunning. The technology used in recreating the courses has done a sensational job of bringing them to life, it really is excellent.

The crashing waves at Pebble Beach and blossoming trees at Augusta National have been highlights of ours so far. The graphics in PGA Tour 2K23 are by no means bad, but the level of detail in the various courses does not match that of EA's title.

Player likenesses are fairly well-matched in the games with no obvious advantage either way. Golf's top stars have been brought to life, although EA does seem to have a better handle on each player's unique swing.

While there may not be much in it, the level of detail in EA Sports PGA Tour elevates the graphics to a level not seen before in golf games.

EA Sports PGA Tour has The Majors , PGA Tour 2K23 has Tiger Woods. The draw of Tiger Woods alone is overwhelming, just look at the crowd for his practice rounds at Augusta before this year's Masters event!

2K also has an array of top golfers available to use in the game, along with other sporting superstars like Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, and John Cena ! The list of courses available in PGA Tour 2K23 is extensive too, so there are plenty of options.

EA's biggest draw this year is The Majors, specifically The Masters, and the inclusion of Augusta National. As previously mentioned, Augusta has been brought to life in the game and will be the destination for plenty of fans upon playing the game for the first time, as will the Home of Golf, St. Andrews.

As licenses go, it is difficult to look past The Majors in EA Sports PGA Tour, although the allure of Tiger Woods does make it a close-run thing. One player who is yet to feature in either game is Rory McIlroy, and the Northern Irishman may be something of a golden goose for either franchise.

EA Sports PGA Tour is still in its infancy, but as shown above, it does appear to have the edge over its rival game PGA Tour 2K23 in several key areas. Career Mode is one area of the game we are yet to truly test, and 2K's MyCareer sets the bar high for the game mode.

Read our first impressions EA Sports PGA Tour Review

Read our full PGA Tour 2K23 Review

The Ryder Cup is also set to be added to EA Sports PGA Tour, offering players the chance of glory in golf's most coveted team event. EA looks to have made the most of their year-long delay for the game, but so far, it has been worth the wait!

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PGA Tour 2K23 is Elden Ring for golf, somehow

Thrilling golf marred by frustrating swinging mechanics and career progression

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I don’t spend much time playing video games whose difficulty is a selling point; if it’s anything like a Soulslike, I’m likely to avoid it. So it’s been a long time since a game has made me swear as much as PGA Tour 2K23 has. I’m not proud that one of those instances occurred when my wife came downstairs to see how things were going, just as I shanked a tee shot — for perhaps the 50th time? I’ve lost count at this point — into a thicket of trees on the left side of the fairway.

From wayward drives that end up in the drink to gimme putts that somehow don’t drop, the analog stick swing mechanic is my greatest frustration in PGA Tour 2K23 . After all, swinging is the main thing you do in this game; it takes 60 to 80 shots, on average, to complete a full 18-hole round.

But after taking thousands of swings across hundreds of holes of golf, I still don’t feel like I have a great handle on my virtual clubs in PGA Tour 2K23 . In other words, I don’t feel like I’m improving — an issue that is compounded because I’m also not getting a meaningful sense of progression for my created golfer in the game’s MyCareer mode.

PGA Tour 2K23 defaults to a control scheme that’s common in golf video games: To swing, you pull down on the right stick and then flick it upward. Here, though, the timing of the second motion (the downswing) is crucial — you’ll pull the shot to the left if you flick too quickly, and push it to the right if you’re too slow.

Downswing timing is the bane of my existence. I’ve enabled many of the assists available in the game’s settings, and have been hoping I’d eventually be able to wrap my head around the swing system. But even on the second-easiest difficulty setting, swinging feels like something of a crapshoot. No matter how many practice cuts I take, I’m liable to hook a shot when I swing for real.

There’s another option now: Fulfilling a long-standing request, developer HB Studios has added a traditional three-click system in PGA Tour 2K23 . It’s much less analogous to a real-life golf swing than, well, the analog stick scheme, but it’s good that an alternative is available.

This is HB Studios’ second effort under 2K Sports, a mass-market publisher. As such, I’m surprised that PGA Tour 2K23 doesn’t feel substantively more accessible than its predecessor, 2020’s PGA Tour 2K21 . Even the three-click swinging is implemented in a way that feels like it’s different for the sake of being different. Rather than simply pressing the button three times, you first hold it down to determine power, and then tap it twice to fine-tune the accuracy. I tried this system and quickly reverted to analog controls, despite my issues with them.

PGA Tour 2K23 ’s MyCareer mode also ends up feeling overcomplicated, although its foundation is solid. When creating your MyPlayer character, you choose one of five archetypes. For instance, Powerhouse players can drive the ball farther than anyone else, but they struggle with accuracy and putting. I’ve stuck with Woodsman because, frankly, I miss so many fairways and greens that I need all the help I can get when recovering from a bad lie in the rough. It’s nice that I can change my archetype if I ever want to, at no cost.

Here, HB Studios’ design works beautifully: The archetypes are meant to offer packages of strengths and weaknesses to support and complement your personal play style. My shots may often land on pine straw or in a fairway bunker, but thanks to the Woodsman archetype and its shot-shaping benefits, I don’t feel like all is lost when they do — and in fact, I’ve managed to save par in many of those cases.

The same customization-based design philosophy applies throughout MyCareer, but it’s less successful outside the realm of archetypes. The experience points you earn by playing tournaments aren’t used to directly upgrade your player’s attributes, like in a typical role-playing game (or in, say, a standard career mode in a sports game). Instead, you get a single skill point every time you level up, and you use the points to unlock and upgrade skills.

To avoid getting too far into the weeds (or woods) here, I’ll just say that almost all of the skills take effect only on a situational basis: They’ll either activate when you’re struggling and deactivate once you regain your form, or activate when you’re doing well and deactivate if you don’t keep it up. And as you level up a skill, it activates more easily and stays active for longer.

While the concept is sound, this setup makes the entire skill system feel inert. The first skill for hybrid clubs, Gusto, seems eminently valuable: When you’re mired in heavy rough, your shots will fly farther. But at level 1 of the skill, it only takes effect if you happen to be hitting into a headwind of at least 15 mph — an exceedingly rare combination of circumstances, in my experience. Because it takes a while to earn skill points, I’m not inclined to waste my precious few points on a skill that I don’t expect to get much use out of, even if there are more desirable ones locked farther along that branch of the tree.

Personalization is also the driving force behind club fittings, the most significant (and concrete) method of improving your performance in PGA Tour 2K23 . Fittings are parts of a golf club — head, shaft, or grip — that you can equip to magnify its attributes. Each one has a level of rarity attached to it, as with loot in a game like Destiny 2 ; the more rare it is, the stronger its effects. Attaching an “uncommon” head to a wedge might boost its power rating by 6 points while also dropping its timing attribute by 2.

Unlike in PGA Tour 2K23 ’s basketball sibling, NBA 2K, you can’t spend real-world money to power up your athlete, thankfully — at least not by buying fittings, since you receive them only as random drops. Virtual Currency, 2K Sports’ real-money currency (called “coins” here), is used primarily to purchase items like licensed clothes and gear from companies such as Adidas and Mizuno, none of which affect gameplay.

However, a pay-to-win element does creep into the game with respect to fittings: It costs coins to equip them to each club. The charge for attaching a legendary shaft to an iron is 150 coins, so I had to spend 900 coins to outfit all six of the irons in my bag. Considering the slow rate at which you earn coins through play — something like 250 coins if you can manage to finish in one of the top spots of a tournament — you may end up staring longingly at a collection of fittings that you’ve unlocked but can’t afford to equip.

The real bummer here is that I’ve had to spend so many words analyzing all that ancillary stuff, because once I’m playing a hole in PGA Tour 2K23 , most of those nuisances fade away. This is a true-playing golf game — I had a devil of a time with the steep greens at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club, and I’ve found it tremendously satisfying to craft and execute shots . The unforgiving difficulty of the swing mechanics, coupled with the game’s complicated system of fittings and skills, can lead to more frustration than fun. But when it all comes together, and I manage to pull out a birdie just when I need one to hold off a challenger on the leaderboard, it makes for thrilling moments of fist-pumping glory.

Perhaps I’m just too much of a casual gamer for the PGA Tour 2K series. To wit: I played many hours of PGA Tour 2K21 and didn’t remember having trouble with its swing mechanics — but when I booted up that game to check the options, I realized that I had disabled the downswing timing setting. At some point, I must’ve gotten frustrated enough to give up on the challenge (and the associated boost to the rate at which you earn XP). I’d also love to be able to save-scum, but that’s not an option: Due to the integration of VC, this is an always-online game by default, so it saves your progress with each stroke, with no allowances for mulligans.

It seems like my best bet — if I want to more fully enjoy my time with PGA Tour 2K23 — would be to turn off downswing timing. Either that, or it might be time to put this franchise on my personal “I don’t need this stress in my life” list, right next to Elden Ring .

PGA Tour 2K23 was released Oct. 14 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed using on PS5 using a pre-release download code provided by 2K Sports. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here .

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PGA Tour 2K23 Review - Links To The Future

• First Released Oct 11, 2022 released

PGA 2K23 vastly improves on an already great foundation with refined golf gameplay, customization, and an expansive suite of modes.

By Steven Petite on October 13, 2022 at 4:10PM PDT

From a pure golfing perspective, PGA Tour 2K23 is the best simulation golf game ever made. With realistic ball physics, precise shot-shaping, and an emphasis on rhythm and swing path, 2K23 delivers on the many idiosyncrasies of the beautiful game that is golf. Combine the refined golfing mechanics with deeper levels of customization, and I can safely say that PGA Tour 2K23 is a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor. And hey, it also marks the return of Tiger Woods to the virtual links, which is a big deal for those who grew up playing Tiger Woods golf games.

PGA Tour 2K23 is the first new entry in the series in two years. That's unusual for sports games, as most have annual entries. After spending more than a dozen hours with 2K23, I'm starting to feel like this release model--where developers have more time to make improvements--would go a long way toward fixing many of the issues that plague long-running sports series. It doesn't offer minor, iterative changes. Instead, PGA 2K23 is a marked improvement on its predecessor–a rarity in the sports sim genre.

The PGA 2K series--previously called The Golf Club before 2K acquired HB Studios--has always done a remarkable job with swing mechanics. Emphasizing timing and rhythm more than popular golf games of yesteryear, the series makes each swing feel critical--just like the real sport. PGA Tour 2K23 follows that tradition and improves on it with a couple of new core features: a revamped swing meter and a three-click swing system.

The swing meter for analog controls has moved from below to next to your golfer. It's shaped like an arc that mimics the swing plane. Though largely a presentational difference at first glance, it's actually pretty clever. By redesigning the meter, it's far easier to observe the path of the club during your backswing and stop it in the sweet spot. In turn, this helped create a smoother swing and allowed me to really get to know the swing path of my created golfer as well as the playable pros in the game. It's also slyly teaching you how to achieve perfect timing without the meter. For dedicated players, the best results come from "feel." Some competitive online tournaments in previous entries have banned the meter altogether, so now it's easier to make that transition to playing from muscle memory instead of the swing aide.

Though the analog stick controls are still the way to go for an authentic experience, HB Studios added an innovative three-click system. This type of shot mechanic has been featured in many golf games, including old EA Sports Tiger Woods titles, Mario Golf, and Everybody's Golf (Hot Shots). Typically seen as more of an "arcade" mechanic, the system here is unconventional but works exceedingly well.

The three-click system utilizes the circle in the bottom-right corner that typically shows shot feedback. You press and hold the action button and watch the fill to determine distance. After releasing the button and (hopefully) stopping it in the white ring, a line spins counter-clockwise toward the top of the circle. There, you have to once again press the button to stop it in the white area. Finally, another line goes down counter-clockwise toward the bottom of the circle, where you have to stop it in the white one more time. These three actions--just two for putts--create the distance, accuracy, and rhythm of each shot.

Many three-click swing systems really only have two meaningful button presses (top and bottom), so the design here is more nuanced, which is fitting considering the analog stick swing system is more complex than your average golf sim.

What's really great about both systems is that they are adaptable to your skill level. Both swing styles have six different difficulty levels to choose from, so beginners can hit awesome shots and turn in low scorecards with either method. The three-click system can get intense on higher difficulty levels, so it can certainly still be used by "serious" players.

The fine-tuned swing system is what makes PGA Tour 2K23 really hum, but it's bolstered by many other smaller features that elevate the overall golfing to a realistic level, including ball alignment for altering trajectory, shot-shaping, and numerous shot styles. You're given full control over your pre-shot setup, which is just about as important as the swing itself. But again, if you just want to play casually and don't want to worry about any of this stuff, the many customization options allow you to tailor the experience to be as straightforward as you like.

The smaller issues I had with 2K21's on-the-course gameplay are gone in 2K23. Putts with proper speed seemed to drop into the hole more often, which is great because there were too many lip-outs that didn't really make sense in the last entry. Hitting out of the rough also feels more realistic this time around. Previously, the penalty for an off-line teeshot was often immense, with short rough and especially "heavy rough" making the ball react like you were hitting it out of weeds up to your knees. Wayward shots can--and will--hurt you at times, but I found that it's more possible to pull off a great recovery shot that has the higher ball flight you'd expect.

MyCareer has a slew of improvements. Here, you work your way up from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA, earning points toward your season-long ranking as well as in-game cash, other items, and the attention of sponsors. Up until now, the only way to customize your stats was to purchase and add new clubs to your bag from major brands like TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, and Mizuno. Now there are multiple meaningful progression systems, including an overarching Archetype choice, further club customization via Fittings, and skill points.

Archetype drastically alters your strengths and weaknesses. You can choose to be adept at putting, bombing teeshots, shot-shaping, recovery shots, or swing rhythm. You can change your Archetype at any time, and it's beneficial to choose an area to boost that you're weak at. You can even be clever and adjust your Archetype based on the course you're playing.

When you buy new clubs in real life, you often get a club "fitting," to see what works for you. In 2K23, fittings are essentially modifications to specific clubs to alter your stats--they can make a big difference. You earn these by defeating your "rivals" in tournaments, but you can also buy them in the in-game marketplace. Yes, this has the potential to mimic NBA 2K's MyPlayer system in which you can pay to get a better player. That said, I've earned plenty of fittings through the solo career mode and feel as if my golfer is gradually getting better. Paying to have the best stats right away doesn't appeal to me, but it could make playing online somewhat annoying down the line. Overall, I see the Fittings as a way to incentivize playing through multiple seasons of MyCareer.

There are also skill trees for each club type. You earn skill points through play that add bonuses to your attributes throughout the round based on performance. These activate/deactivate based on set conditions and offer minor boosts to aspects like timing, lie conditions, flight, and swing path. They can be reset and tinkered with at any time. I didn't notice any big differences from these skill trees, but it combines with Archetypes and Fittings to give you more control over your created golfer outside of just picking their clubs and outfits.

I'm not as sold on the new golf ball features, as they generally feel like something that are designed to get you to spend money. Your golf ball has the name and look of popular real-world golf balls like Titleist Pro V1 or Bridgestone B XS TW, but the stats are tied to consumables. Golf balls have four stats: spin, flight, bounce, and roll. "Ball Types" alter these stats, and these consumables even come with rarities ranging from common to legendary. Sounds like most sports games these days, right? Yes, sadly it is.

Bought in packs of 3, 6, or 12, they aren't yours to keep. You use one up every round. Thankfully, you can purchase these with virtual currency earned simply by playing (even solo mode). You can, however, buy currency with real money to pick up these consumables. I would never do this, but it's worth noting that the stat changes are immense with some of the pricier and "rarer" options. You can alter a stat up to 60 points over the free, no stats-boost ball type.

I could envision this becoming an issue for someone who plays a lot of rounds online. Courses can have firm greens, rainy conditions, lengthy layouts, or any number of quirks that set up better for longer carry distances, more spin, more roll, etc. You could theoretically use up all of your stat boosts and consider spending real money if it helps you enough. Unlike fittings, this new feature doesn't feel aligned to gradually making your golfer better--it's just one of the annoyances that plagues modern sports games with online communities. It's still too early to say if these consumables will contribute to a pay-to-win model, but they feel at odds with PGA Tour 2K23's dedication to realism. After all, your golf ball attributes should be connected to the brand and model of ball.

Though PGA 2K21 technically had real pro golfers, they were only your competition; you couldn't play as them, which felt weird. PGA 2K23 remedies that. Led by cover star Tiger Woods, 2K23 has a bunch of well-known PGA golfers, including Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, and Will Zalatoris. It also has LPGA stars like Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko. And hey, it even has golfers who defected to the controversial LIV Golf League like Open champ Cameron Smith. 2K has already stated that it won't remove any LIV golfers from the game, but it's still a bit funny since they are banned from PGA Tour events. At least those guys can still compete at The Players Championship and in the FedEx Cup… just not in real life.

The addition of playable pros is particularly great for casual rounds of golf. Sometimes you don't want to play as a created golfer; you'd rather step into the shoes of Tiger Woods and swing the club just like him. It's nice to see swings that look ripped from real life from these pros, too.

PGA 2K23's official course list has expanded as well, but not by a whole lot. There are three new courses at launch: Wilmington Country Club (South Course), The Renaissance Club, and St. George's Golf. The latter pair are particularly cool, as they are the first in the series outside of the United States. The Renaissance Club is a links-style course, which offers a welcome change of pace. Several iconic courses will be added at a later date, including Pebble Beach and two Torrey Pines tracks. The returning courses and the new ones don't look much different than 2K21. The graphics in general are quite similar to PGA 2K21. Swing animations are more fluid, but the actual scenery didn't receive a big bump despite the two-year gap between releases. Courses are still rendered in more than enough detail, though, so this isn't really a concern to me. If you were expecting a huge makeover on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, however, you're not going to find that here. If you own a new-gen console, you will appreciate the faster load times, though.

The lack of a more robust course list means that the career mode still utilizes user-created courses for a bunch of the tournaments during the season. Many of the courses made within the in-game course creator are wonderful, though. There are even faithful recreations of other real courses. The only time throughout the season where I wished there were more courses was when I played the Major Championships. PGA 2K23 has the season-long FedEx Cup, the playoffs, and the "fifth major" that is The Players Championship, but it doesn't have the four most important tournaments of the year: The Masters, US Open, PGA Championship, The Open. This may have bothered me more this time around because we now know that EA Sports is bringing back its golf series next year--without Tiger Woods, who is with 2K now, of course--and already showed off a glimpse of Augusta National, the hallowed site of The Masters.

But at the end of the day, the easy-to-use course creator and growing library of user-created courses gives PGA 2K23 a seriously vast library of layouts that outweighs its lack of iconic real-world courses. After spending two years with 2K21, I still regularly found new courses I loved, and I'm sure that will be the case with 2K23 as well.

PGA 2K23 is great for solo mode against the CPU pros in MyCareer, but Online Societies is what will likely keep golfers on the course. It's hard to say much about Online Societies in 2K23 since the game is in its infancy, but 2K already has its official society up and running with active tournaments. You can create your own societies–basically clubs–to play alongside your friends, or join one of the many other societies that cater to all skill levels. Online Societies offers an easy way to compete on the course against other golfers without having to actually go head-to-head at the same time. Playing in tournaments is a good way to earn virtual currency from purse prizes.

Everyone should try the Online Societies mode, but you can also play head-to-head against friends online or with local multiplayer. In addition to playing 18 holes, you can also face off in Topgolf. The party game asks you to aim at targets to rack up the most points across ten shots. Topgolf is a lot more fun in real life, unsurprisingly, but it's still a nice little bonus for when you want to play against friends but don't have time for a full round.

It's worth noting that there's also a Clubhouse Pass--the golf equivalent of a battle pass--that'll be available at launch for $8. Owning this pass lets you work toward unlocking premium cosmetics--purely cosmetics. It wasn't live yet so I can't add any insight here, but it's good that it's tied to cosmetics and not stat-changing items. There is a free tier as well, so you'll earn cosmetics with the pass regardless if you pay for the premium version or not.

With retooled swing mechanics, including an inventive three-click system, PGA Tour 2K23's on-the-course golfing is the best yet, not just in the series, but in the history of the simulation golf genre. Mostly smart improvements to MyCareer mode make you feel more in control of your created golfer's trajectory–even if the new consumables have the slight potential to become pay-to-win. Finally being able to play as real pros again is a joy, but the minimal real-life course additions put a slight damper on the fun. Nevertheless, it's not lacking in content in the slightest thanks to the engaging Online Societies mode and the endless possibilities provided by user-created courses, many of which could be mistaken for layouts designed by well-known course architects. PGA Tour 2K23 continues the series tradition of being welcoming to new players while offering an authentic, challenging golfing experience for those who desire it.

• Leave Blank
• New swing meter feels more natural
• Three-click swing system innovates on the standard formula
• You can finally play as Tiger Woods in a new golf game again
• More customization options for your created golfer
• The official course list is very similar to 2K21
• Golf ball "consumables" don't gel with other progression systems
• Not much of a visual upgrade on new consoles

About the Author

Steven Petite

• @steven_petite

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PGA 2K23 Review: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy It?

Nothing beats being out on the course, but I was pleasantly surprised when I played PGA 2K23. The game builds on the success and addicting gameplay of its predecessor PGA 2K21, released in 2020.

Is the PGA 2K23 worth it? PGA 2K23 is a fun golf simulation game with a realistic, immersive experience. It features 20 courses, new PGA stars and Career mode, and more custom options, making it a good choice for casual and hardcore golf fans. However, it’s not the best choice for gamers looking for an easy-to-learn or arcade-style experience.

In this PGA 2K23 review, I will look at how this game differs from the past version and competitors like EA Sports PGA Tour.

You’ll learn:

• Pros and cons
• Our verdict
• How does the 3-click system work
• Which new PGA stars are added?
• How does it compare to PGA 2K21?
• How does it compare to EA Sports PGA Tour?

Innovative Three-Click System

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• Realistic swing mechanics: In PGA Tour 2K23, the game exclusively uses swing-stick mechanics. HB Studios chose this to make the game more realistic by simulating real-life golf swing mechanics. Ultimately, this recreates your full motion during a golf swing.
• Career Mode is Way More Fun Now: I found the detailed customization options an incredible upgrade since the last game. Create a new character and work your way through the ranks as you compete against the best on the circuit. Different starting points offer you different challenge levels, which is good for seasoned players and beginners.
• New PGA Stars Added to the Game: This includes the likes of Tiger Woods, Steph Curry, Matt Fitzpatrick, John Cena, and Michael Jordan. You can only play those players in the side modes or versus play—the casual modes.
• Redesigned Swing Meter: The swing meter sits next to your golfer instead of sitting below the golfer like in past games. The developers shaped it to mimic the arc on a swing plane. Due to this change, you can better observe the path of your golf club and stop for the strike right at the sweet spot for the maximum distance.
• The Presentation Needs Work: HB Studios attempted to recreate the atmosphere you’d see at a televised golf event. You wouldn’t call it outright bad, but it was horribly done at points. Commentators regularly make the wrong calls and fail to identify when the ball was on or off the green. The graphics, also for a new-generation console game, leave much to be desired.
• Microtransactions: Over the years, 2k games have earned a reputation for its intrusive microtransactions. They especially did that in NBA 2k, but it’s not quite as bad in PGA 2K23. With that said, many gamers will dislike the microtransactions, which don’t add much to the game. They just become another greedy cash grab.
• Limited Courses, Pros, and Tournaments: Unfortunately, Career Mode loses some appeals due to licensing restrictions. They managed to get 20 licensed courses. They focus more on the FedEx Cup in Career Mode because they don’t have the licensing for the US Open or the Masters.

PGA 2K23: Features & Benefits

When you look at the PGA Tour 2K23 reviews, most of them highlighted the innovative three-click system. I don’t want to oversell this as original because other popular golf games like Hot Shots, Mario Golf, and old Tiger Woods games used them. Typically, gamers thought of it as more of an arcade gameplay style.

The three-click system differs because it uses the bottom-right corner for feedback on golf shots.

• Press the action button and hold it to determine distance.
• After you let go of the button, you want to release it in the white part for the optimal shot.
• Next, you will see another line going counterclockwise toward the bottom of the circle.

That highlights the three-click system and how it works for shots. Important to note you only need to take two clicks for putts on the green. The featured stick-swing mechanics add more nuance to the game than other golf simulators.

Understand how you can choose 6 difficulty levels from casual to hardcore players.  The system adds extra realism, but if you play tournaments on the highest difficulty, you may need to reduce the target ones slightly. The extra difficulty requires even better timing. You can play the game either with the three-click system, or you can play it with the analog swing stick mechanics. You can adapt both systems to fit your skill.

In 2K23 golf, the developers at HB Studios added more PGA Tour golfers than ever before.

In total, golf 2K23 licensed 19 male and female PGA Tour pro golfers for the game. This includes Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods. Many gamers disliked in the past how the game left out Tiger Woods , but they added him to the new game. You just need to buy the right edition.

You can buy the game in 4 versions that include:

• PGA Tour 2K23 Tiger Woods Edition
• PGA Tour 2K23 NBA 2K23 Bundle
• PGA Tour 2K23 Standard Edition
• PGA Tour 2K23 Deluxe Edition

For gamers with an older console, I would recommend the PGA Tour 2K23 Deluxe Edition  because how it gives you a free upgrade from the PS4 to the PS5 or from the Xbox One to the Xbox Series X/S.

Related article: The Best Online Golf Lessons: Improve Your Swing !

PGA Tour 2K23 vs PGA Tour 2K21

For this PGA 2K23 review, I found how many of the minor issues that I experienced in PGA Tour 2K21 were ironed out in PGA Tour 2K23.

For example, the issues with the on-course gameplay they had in 2K21 vanished in the latest version. Putts made at the right speed dropped into the hole more frequently. That makes sense because in the past version, they had too many lip-outs that were exasperating to say the least.

In the last game, when you made an offline teeshot, the penalty was immense. The short and heavy rough were a struggle to hit it out of, and it often felt like you were struggling to hit it out of the weeds.

I loved the improvements that HB Studios made to My Career. You start with the Korn Ferry Tour and battle your way through to the PGA Tour. Along the way, you earn points to go toward your season-long rankings. Before PGA Tour 2K23, the progression system was limited. You had to buy to customize your stats and add from popular golf brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, and Titleist.

Now, you can progress in multiple ways. For example, they have the overarching Archetype choice. This allows you to add through skill points and fittings. Let’s say that you choose Archetype. This lets you dramatically change your strengths and weaknesses. For example, you can choose skillfulness at bombing teeshots, swing rhythm, recovery shots, or shot-shaping. Some golfers adjust this based on the course that they play.

In PGA Tour 2K21, you could play that game for a solid 20 hours, and for the time being, it was one of the most enjoyable golf games. In PGA Tour 2K23, it will take you about 22 hours and 4 minutes to get through all the play styles, so they didn’t differ much in overall play time.

For this 2K23 golf review, I would say that while they did improve the Career Mode in PGA 23, they could still broaden out further improvements to the overall gameplay.

Most gamers will spend the most time on Career Mode because that offers the most value. You only get one goal with this with the FedEx Cup. You can’t do much outside of the exhibitions if you play solo. You can do a bit more online.

Related article: Best Xbox One Golf Games

PGA 2K23 vs EA Sports PGA Tour?

PGA 2K23 and EA Sports PGA Tour are two of the most popular golf simulation games on the market. Both games offer realistic gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a variety of courses and game modes. However, there are some key differences between the two games.

PGA 2K23 is known for its more arcade-style gameplay with the 3-button click controls.  The controls are more forgiving, and the game is more forgiving of mistakes. This makes it a good choice for more casual golfers who are looking for a more accessible experience.

EA Sports PGA Tour, on the other hand, is known for its more realistic gameplay.  The controls are more challenging, and the game is less forgiving of mistakes. This makes it a good choice for serious golfers who are looking for a more immersive experience.

In terms of courses, PGA 2K23 has a wider variety of courses, including some that are not licensed by EA Sports. However, EA Sports PGA Tour has the exclusive rights to the Augusta National course, which is one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

In terms of game modes, both games offer a variety of modes, including career mode, multiplayer mode, and a practice mode. However, PGA 2K23 has a more robust career mode, which allows players to create their own golfer and progress through the ranks of the PGA Tour.

Overall, both PGA 2K23 and EA Sports PGA Tour are great golf simulation games. The best game for you will depend on your individual preferences. If you are looking for a more arcade-style experience, then PGA 2K23 is a good choice. If you are looking for a more realistic experience, then EA Sports PGA Tour is a good choice.

Here are some additional thoughts on the comparison of PGA 2K23 and EA Sports PGA Tour:

• PGA 2K23 has better graphics and sound than EA Sports PGA Tour.
• PGA 2K23 has a more robust career mode than EA Sports PGA Tour.
• EA Sports PGA Tour has the exclusive rights to the Augusta National course.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which game is right for you is to try both of them out. Both games are available on various platforms, so you should be able to find one you can play.

Like most games nowadays, online multiplayer matters as much as solo play, which remains true in PGA Golf 2K23. The PGA Tour 2K21 had disappointing multiplayer, but they appear to have fixed that in PGA Tour 2K23. The multiplayer includes the Divot Derby  where up to 20 players compete in a fun and chaotic gameplay. You compete in a race to finish. Everyone competes simultaneously, and you play as different colored lines on the map. The winner reaches the 9th hole before anyone else.

You can also join or create an online society where you can play in events and competitions over the season. This gives you about as close to what you’ll get with a leaderboard. Remember, not all online societies will play the same way. They run some better than others. Some may require you to interact daily, but they did design others for more casual gamers.

The online multiplayer for the 2K23 PGA Tour has a good system overall. You can do Match Play and Stroke Play, which they had in the 2K21 PGA Tour.

PGA 2K23 undoubtedly made a much more realistic simulation than PGA 2K21, but both games were great titles that received an overall positive response. You can’t go wrong with either title, but PGA 2K23 is the newer version, which builds upon what PGA 2k21 lacked.

Especially if you compared it to PGA Tour 2K21, the gameplay on PGA 2K23 offers a much greater challenge. The swing mechanics, especially on the Xbox, can be a bit laggy, which makes the gaming experience a bit harder for the wrong reasons. To make it easier, start with amateur mode rather than playing it on pro.

This game is one of the most realistic golf games that you will play, and they made plenty of improvements to it since the last game. PGA 2K23 consistently received good scores; when you look at a 2K23 PGA review, they usually scored well.

PGA 2K23, released in 2022, uses plenty of real golfers from the PGA Tour, such as Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, and others. They included over 19 male and female real PGA Tour players in the game.

Rory McIlroy doesn’t appear in PGA 2k23 for all the same reasons that Tiger Woods didn’t make an appearance in the past. To do this, they must get a license, and since they never got licensing, he wasn’t featured in the game.

Because they didn’t get the right licensing to feature the Masters in PGA Tour 2K23, they only featured the FedEx Cup. They did not feature the Masters, the US Open, or other major golf tournaments.

Whenever you play or win events, you earn coins. They base this on your performance, the difficulty setting and finishing the course challenges. To maximize your experience points, you need to play on the hardest difficulty.

Related article: The 7 Best PS4 Golf Games

Overall, in this PGA 2K23 review, I would say it is a game worth checking out because it has improved since its predecessor PGA 2K21. It’s good for all ages, and the game requires 12 GB of space. Anyone who loves the game of golf would do well to try this one. This is one of the most realistic simulation golf games, and being able to play as the pros makes it even more fun. It does have its downsides, but overall, it’s an improvement since the last game.

Matt Gallus

• Favorite club : Cobra Fly XL Set
• Favorite ball : Callaway Warbird Ball
• Favorite food at the turn : Nachos
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PGA Tour 2K23 Review - Staying the Course Despite Some Hazards

It’s been over 2 years since the release of PGA Tour 2K21 and, freed from the inherent limitations of the annual release cycle, the expectations for the series are understandably high. The partnership between 2K Sports and HB Studios — who first established a formidable golf simulation brand on their own with The Golf Club series — resulted in a fine debut under the new banner with PGA Tour 2K21 . That game no doubt benefited though by being the only real golf simulation game on the block and that won’t be the case this time around with the release of EA Sports PGA Tour right around the corner . Without the kind of exclusivity it enjoyed last time around, it’s a little more important now for PGA Tour 2K23 to impress people at its release and ensure that few will be enticed to check out the what EA is teeing up. With that in mind, let’s dive into my PGA Tour 2K23 review.

PGA Tour 2K23 Review

In many ways, PGA Tour 2K23 provides a satisfying upgrade to the last game by introducing a new mode, innovating on its swing mechanics, and refining aspects that were lacking in PGA Tour 2K21 . With Topgolf coming to the series, the game now has a fun and quick mode that can be played locally or online to help scratch an itch that the returning Divot Derby could never quite reach. The 3-click swing input that many wanted but was missing previously has now been added and integrated in a way that’s better than expected. Still, the game’s biggest draw may be the ability to now play rounds using not only real professional golfers like cover star Tiger Woods but also athletes from other sports like Michael Jordan and Steph Curry.

So why does it feel like maybe the developers could have still done a little more to solidify the game being a leap rather than just a step forward? A couple of new systems that will have you upgrading your MyPlayer with skills and fittings will leave you worrying the game is perhaps pointing more towards a future as an an arcade experience instead of a simulation. Online Societies, a popular competitive mode that allows you to pit your skills against strangers in events over the course of seasons, returns largely untouched from PGA Tour 2K21 . Even something as basic as watching a replay of a good shot is presented in the same limited manner as before.

That said, let’s go ahead and tee off on what parts of the game are keeping it on the ideal paths of the fairway and where it’s occasionally veering off its desired trajectory and finding a hazard.

What I Like

I wrote a little already about Topgolf in an early preview of PGA Tour 2K23 . To reiterate those thoughts, bringing the entertainment company into the fold leads to a welcome crossover in a quick and fun new mode. Competing either locally or online with up to 4 players, you attempt to accrue the most points by hitting 10 balls from platforms into targets at various distances on the driving range below within an allotted amount of time. Naturally, you’ll get more points for hitting targets that are further away and for landing your ball closer to the center of each target. You can also double or triple your points for each ball by aiming for whichever target happens to be illuminated on that particular shot.

Either on a couch with buddies or online against strangers, the mode is an addictive alternative to playing a few holes.

For the first time in the series dating back to the Golf Club days, players are no longer created completely equal and now have strengths and weaknesses that are determined by the archetype of your MyPlayer. With five different archetypes to choose from, you’re able to decide whether you want to perhaps emphasize power or precision within the various facets of your game. The baseline attributes that come with each archetype can always be altered a tad with club fittings and skills but not enough to transform the core style of play you choose. This means you’re likely to find more variety now in the kinds of players you’ll compete against both online and within your MyCareer.

Though it would be appreciated if there were a few more options than just the five archetypes available now — or if you could slightly tweak some of your attributes to further help differentiate yourself from others — this represents a nice start at balancing the various skills of golfers. However, it does seem a little strange that your MyPlayer is able to so easily swap one archetype for another as if the golfer were changing bodies prior to an event depending on the course.

Controlling Real Golfers

Up until now, the only way you were able to get a glimpse of real professional golfers in the series was when you would compete against them in events while using your MyPlayer. That’s no longer the case in PGA Tour 2K23 as you now can to take control of some of your favorite golfers and play rounds with them in casual modes (just don’t expect to use any of them in MyCareer). Alongside the game’s biggest draw in Tiger Woods are a handful of other pro players like Justin Thomas and Lydia Ko who are at your disposal to shoot a round solo or go up against others online.

The inclusion of athletes from other sports that you can use too like Michael Jordan and Steph Curry is fun and perhaps is only just the tip of the iceberg before other notable names are added throughout the game’s cycle. Here’s hoping we’re eventually also able to play as Charles Barkley or Bill Murray when hitting a course.

Swing Mechanics

The people have long demanded it and now PGA Tour 2K23 has finally delivered on providing a 3-click option to hit shots. Thankfully, any concerns that these controls would turn the game into another Tiger Woods where you’re capable of striking the ball with pinpoint accuracy every time have mostly been alleviated by the balancing of the mechanic’s difficulty. After playing quite a few rounds with the 3-click system now (which will influence power, swing path, and club face angle in that order), I’ve found that it can be more challenging than you’d expect to shoot consistently good scores.

Those three clicks (including a hold of a button rather than a push at the outset) need to happen fairly closely together, and the specific rhythm that’s required is not exactly a cinch to repeat on a reliable basis. The margin for error, particularly on higher difficulties, can lead to errant shots if you’re off by even just a small margin on any of the clicks. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising to find that some players are able master the 3-click mechanic before too long and it becomes the default for online players rather than the analog stick.

There have also been some nice adjustments to using the analog stick, starting with a slight visual upgrade that makes it easier to gauge your swing power. It’s no longer quite as easy now to be perfect with your timing either when bringing the swing stick backwards and then forwards, leading to more shots that are slightly wide of the target if not completely off from your desired trajectory. This added difficulty might just be one more reason why people will gravitate instead to the new 3-click system. But for my money, using the swing stick will always be more satisfying when done right simply because of how it better reflects the movement of an actual club.

In all honesty, the MyCareer mode in PGA Tour 2K23 isn’t hugely different from the one in PGA Tour 2K21 , but as I noted in my preview , there are a couple of key updates that go a long way towards improving upon the existing framework. The basics of MyCareer remain largely intact: You’ll enter events during the course of a season to accrue points towards the FedEx Cup based on where you finish in each event, develop rivalries with fellow golfers on the tour, and build relationships with sponsors to earn apparel awards from them.

The aforementioned vital changes that have been made to improve the mode are that you can now swap out courses in certain events to keep each season fresh and are able to play tiebreakers now at the end of events to determine a clear-cut winner rather than just being handed the victory as in PGA Tour 2K21 . These are enough to make the mode serviceable if not spectacular and keep you satisfied until they can add more immersion during and between events (the cutaways to other golfers do help but can be more annoying than anything else at times) and perhaps include an actual narrative to hold it all together.

Courses & Atmosphere

The courses in PGA Tour 2K23 both look and play better than the ones in its predecessor, offering enhanced renderings of its environments and better physics from the ball bouncing on its surfaces. The lush greens of the grass and trees pop in a way they didn’t before while bunkers and water hazards possess such detail and texture that you’ll almost want to get a closer view of them if only they weren’t so detrimental to your game. Balls will react more naturally now based on where they end up landing, with the longer grass of the deep rough proving capable of slowing momentum in a hurry whereas fairways and greens will lead to bigger bounces and longer rollouts.

Course creators (admittedly not something I’ve spent much time doing) should be happy to have further resources on hand to aid in building their tracks and better tools to help lay it all out. Even the sounds of the courses have been refined and amplified to give reactions to shots both good and bad some added authenticity, though there’s still nary a “Bababooey” to be heard after a drive.

What I Don’t Like

Fittings & Skills

In the past you could choose between different brands of clubs that were balanced in such a way that any advantage in one area would come with an accompanying disadvantage in another. Now, all clubs in PGA Tour 2K23 are purely cosmetic. It’s instead in the fittings that you collect through playing rounds where you can trick out your equipment by applying them to your clubs. The trouble is that some fittings, especially rarer ones like the legendary type, don’t come with any negative trade-offs and will only give you boosts to your clubs.

Because separate fittings can be applied to the head, shaft, and grips of clubs (for a small price per club, as you might expect) and impact the effectiveness of each of those in a handful of different ways, it becomes easy to envision how someone who’s unlocked a bunch of the best fittings will be at a significant competitive advantage over someone who hasn’t. While you aren’t able to purchase these fittings in the pro shop, you will have access to sleeves of overpowered golf balls that can cause your shots to fly farther and stop better on surfaces. This sort of shift to an arcade recreation of golf certainly flies in the face of the way the series has always leaned on being the kind of simulation in the past where you felt like everyone was on a level playing field.

That unfortunate direction continues with the addition of a skill tree for your MyPlayer. With the skill tree, you can spend points that you also earn through playing rounds to develop your proficiency with the various types of clubs in your golf bag. As you progress through levels with those clubs, you’ll be able to activate certain bonuses on the course by meeting designated objectives. It’s a silly concept both in design and execution without much basis in reality, leaving me feeling as if I’m some kind of golf superhero who can gain powers provided I find myself in super specific situations.

Casual Online Play

It’s not that there isn’t some enjoyment to be found in PGA Tour 2K23 by pitting your skills against others online. It’s just that the entire realm is in need of some better organization and an overarching purpose. The various online playlists at launch do an admirable job of at least of giving you plenty of different ways to compete against others. These ways include 1-vs-1 match play over nine holes, skins for those willing to risk some virtual currency, and 2-vs-2 alternate shot in teams. But other than receiving XP at the end of an online match — and perhaps a small bonus for claiming a victory (assuming the game doesn’t crash when someone quits) — there is no sort of points system or ranking ladder to climb to incentivize returning to those online playlists.

With so little on display in the way of innovation, we’re left with the vague hope that perhaps there will be something else added in the coming days to the game’s competitive header besides the lone existing option of Online Societies (let’s see some events or tournaments please!).

Online Societies

Online Societies where you can pit your scores against others in organized events are back in PGA Tour 2K23 but not a whole lot has changed about them. The thrill of being able to plan seasons around themes while playing on courses from different parts of the world is tempered by a disappointing lack of customization and optimization. While back in The Golf Club 19 you were once able to use any funds your society collected to build bigger and better clubhouses, you’re still stuck with nothing to do with all your a society’s money but add it to event purses as with PGA Tour 2K21 .

For any societies with a lot of members, like the one I have run in the past (insert shameless plug to join Legacy Leagues Golf), there’s also a need for search functionality that would allow you to find any toxic members or rule breakers so you can give them the boot without scrolling through page after page of everyone who has joined. There also appears to be a legacy bug that is still around where your actual leaderboard placement is not lining up with what’s being presented in-game. For example, I could be in 20th on the actual leaderboard, but with the in-game leaderboard and presentation/commentary I may be told I’m in 4th place.

One aspect of PGA Tour 2K21 that seemed downright archaic was its replay presentation and how little control you had over taking a second look at a great shot that just happened. That’s why it’s shocking to find that not much has changed in how you view replays in PGA Tour 2K23 aside from the ability to cycle through a few angles that can be inopportune. Even this feature somehow isn’t outlined in the replay options though and needs to be discovered on its own.

A sports game like this really must have the kind of replay functionality where you can take control of the camera yourself to find the best perspective of a stellar approach or long putt. Take notes, EA!

Lack Of Animation Customization

PGA Tour 2K23 may have improved the swings of its golfers by doing a lot of motion capture, but the ability to choose or even build your own swing from a number of options remains a glaring omission. This fundamental movement that you see from your player on every shot would be another opportunity to set yourself apart from other golfers and show off your own personal style. While we’re on the topic, it would be appreciated if players could also equip signature emotes like in the NBA 2K series to help punctuate a great shot or let out some frustration when one goes astray and ends up in the drink.

Bottom Line

With PGA Tour 2K23 , the series appears to be at something of a crossroads. It is clinging to its simulation past and yet all too willing to adopt arcade elements that threaten its legitimacy. To its credit, the game is a vivid and challenging recreation of the sport that’s at its best when you’re out on a course shooting a round. The familiar swing stick controls require a higher level of precision than before, while the new 3-click option has been integrated with seamless panache. Archetypes that are now available for your MyPlayer give you some choice about what kind of golfer you would like to be, and in casual modes you can finally use real golfers like Tiger Woods or other prominent athletes like Michael Jordan. Topgolf provides a breezy alternative to hitting up a course if you’re short on time and want to practice your aim alone or with others by hitting some targets at the range.

On the more worrisome side of things, the way that you’re able to use skill points and club fittings to boost your abilities and give you a better chance of success calls into question the competitive balance that has typically been a calling card of the series. Online play hasn’t been given much attention, with the casual playlists continuing to need an overall focus and Online Societies returning largely untouched. The antiquated replays are frustrating in the lack of control they offer the viewer and in how terrible they can present a great shot that just happened. More customization would be appreciated when sculpting your MyPlayer, like the chance to design your own unique swing.

Is PGA 2K23 better than 2K21? A golf expert‘s in-depth comparison

As a veteran golf gamer and sim enthusiast who has extensively played both PGA Tour 2K21 and the new 2K23 release, I can confidently say that 2K23 is a better, more polished game overall. However, the upgrades are more iterative refinements rather than game-changing revolutions. If you already enjoy 2K21 and aren‘t dying for new rosters and features, waiting for a price drop is reasonable. But for those ready to tee off with the latest offering, 2K23 is absolutely worth paying full price to upgrade your virtual golf experience.

Let‘s dive deep into the key improvements 2K23 brings over its predecessor:

Visual Presentation – Remarkably Realistic

The most immediately noticeable upgrade in 2K23 is the visual presentation – it simply looks more like actual golf on TV than ever before. Player models are far more realistic with enhanced textures, lifelike skin tones and authentic gear/apparel physics that elegantly move and react. Emotive facial expressions and fluid celebrations also help bring the pros to life. Environments are richer too – foliage density is increased for thicker natural settings and on-course objects have finer detail. Most impressively, lighting generates true-to-life shadows and reflections across dawn, daytime and dusk settings. When you combine all these gains with buttery smooth 60fps gameplay, no golf video game has ever achieved this level of visual realism.

Comparatively, 2K21‘s visuals now look dull and dated even just 2 years later. Trust me, once you see your first replay in 2K23, you‘ll be blown away by how much better it looks. The visual jump is akin to the tech progression seen in sports games between generations of consoles.

Refined Core Gameplay – More Skill Rewarding

Veteran players will be happy to know that 2K23 retains the same intuitive and responsive swing and shot mechanics core to the series. However, subtle enhancements to ball physics, club dynamics and player skill boards make the on-course action more authentic and rewarding of proper play.

The ball reacts more like the real thing, checking and releasing on greens based on factors like backspin, temperature and elevation in nuanced ways. Club face angle and impact point also influence launch angle and curve shape in a more accurate simulation. Player attributes like power and putting ability now have greater influence on shot outcomes to reward honing skills. Overall, the refined gameplay enhances the skill gap by demanding proper swing tempo, smart shot shaping, and expert reading of lies and wind. Casual players may struggle with the added realism, but for golf purists 2K23‘s refinements offer a heightened simulation experience.

Two Fun New Modes – Topgolf & Course Designer

2K23 intelligently expands the variety of play options with two new modes that provide engaging new experiences:

The popular driving range/mini golf hybrid has been authentically recreated in 2K23, offering a fun arcade-style competitive mode supporting up to 4 local/online players. The rules play out just like real-world Topgolf, with points awarded for accurately aiming shots at different color-coded targets. This fast-paced and social game mode is a great way to take a break from traditional golf and enjoy the 2K23 physics and skills in a casual environment against friends. After sinking hours into career and sim rounds, Topgolf is a welcome addition.

Course Designer

For players who want to try their hand at crafting their own dream course layouts, the Course Designer tools provide impressive depth and freedom. From sculpting fairways to dotting greens, the terrain shaping and object placement options enable stunning custom creations. While the learning curve is steep, the ability to build and share courses adds infinite replay value. I‘ve already enjoyed fantastic user-made courses exceeding EA‘s old PGA Tour offerings.

Upgraded Career Mode – More Progression Depth

MyCareer mode is expanded in 2K23 with greater depth for building up your custom pro golfer. A branching sponsorship system allows signing with brands like Adidas, Callaway and TaylorMade for perks and cash. Rivalries also develop organically with pros who challenge your ascent. And new side activities like taking on generated scenarios, playing practice rounds with coaches, and participating in pro-am events with celebrities provide fun new ways to hone skills and earn rewards. Combine the boosted career progression with enhanced training mini-games and 2K23 does a much better job keeping MyCareer engaging.

Expanded Roster – 14 Playable Pros

In terms of name recognition, 2K23 has a clear edge over 2K21 thanks to its expanded roster of 14 playable pros:

• Tiger Woods
• Justin Thomas
• Rickie Fowler
• Brooke Henderson
• Will Zalatoris
• Collin Morikawa
• Lexi Thompson
• Justin Rose
• Xander Schauffele
• Matt Fitzgerald

Cover athlete Tiger Woods rightfully gets top billing, with fellow stars like former #1 golfer Justin Thomas and fan favorite Rickie Fowler also making the cut. Furthermore, women‘s golf gets better representation with the inclusion of top 10 ranked pros Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. While the 2K21 roster wasn‘t bad with 8 pros, 2K23 adds both quantity and star power that‘s appealing for any golf fan.

As fun novelties, NBA greats Michael Jordan and Steph Curry are now playable as bonus legends in 2K23. Unfortunately, their presence seems more like an attempt at crossover promotion with the NBA 2K series than meaningful additions. Neither basketball icon offers any unique skills or storyline purpose. Frankly I‘d rather have seen other real golfers like Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau or Dustin Johnson instead, but the core PGA roster is still quite strong.

Multiplayer Enhancements – Online Societies

Those wanting to take their skills online will appreciate 2K23‘s improved offerings. Private online societies allow groups of players to organize scheduled events, tournaments and full seasons while tracking stats. It‘s a great addition that enables playing consistent rounds with friends and rivals. Casual matchmaking is still available for quick pickup games too. As a big online player, I‘m thrilled by the added league and tournament options. The only thing missing now is a proper spectator viewing mode to watch other matches in progress.

In closing, I can wholeheartedly recommend PGA Tour 2K23 as a must buy for golf gaming fans, especially those who have been patiently waiting for a true next-gen experience. The combination of visual leap, added content and incremental improvements make 2K23 definitively superior to its already solid predecessor. While $70 is still steep, you get plenty of extra gameplay value over 2K21. Customization lovers can also purchase bonus DLC player packs and courses.

However, more casual players who still enjoy playing 2K21 with buddies or solo shouldn‘t feel compelled to immediately upgrade. 2K23 is undoubtedly better, but not radically different. Waiting for a discount down the road is reasonable if you aren‘t dying for the latest rosters and refinements. Regardless, with its exclusive licensing of the PGA Tour and its namesake stars, the 2K golf franchise remains the undisputed champion of virtual golf. 2K23 extends that dominance to current hardware and will satisfy both veterans and newcomers to the fairway.

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PGA Tour 2K23 vs EA SPORTS PGA TOUR: Which is the hole-in-one and which is out of bounds?

It would be fair to say that The Golf Club/PGA Tour 2K series picked up where EA SPORTS left their golf games. Prior to the release of EA SPORTS PGA TOUR, the last golf entry from EA was back in 2015 with Rory McIlroy PGA Tour , by which point The Golf Club had dipped their toe in and liked the sensation. Four games later from HB Studios and EA have come back swinging with their own golf game. 

But which is best? Is it PGA Tour 2K23 or EA SPORTS PGA TOUR? Well, luckily for you, we are here to answer that question. Running against the criteria of courses, roster, features, gameplay and presentation, we are going to pit the two together and give you the ultimate answer. Let’s hit the links and find out.

Unlike say, a FIFA or a Madden game where their green bits play identical amongst stadiums, the courses that appear in a golf game can make or break it. It is one of the most crucial features, allowing players to play the courses of their dreams that may not be otherwise possible.

At launch, PGA Tour 2K23 launched with twenty-four courses, compared to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR’s thirty. Courses such as Torrey Pines, TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Beach feature across both but EA SPORTS’ title has arguably the two most famous courses in the world up its sleeve: The Old Course at St Andrews and Augusta National. The latter being playable in a golf game for the first time since Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14.

Whilst Augusta National alone is enough to give this round to EA SPORTS, PGA Tour 2K23 does technically boast an unlimited number of courses thanks to the course creator feature. However, in this instance it is quality over quantity, and the winner is EA.

Winner: EA S PORTS PGA TOUR

For years, Tiger Woods graced the cover of the annual EA SPORTS golf game. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that when 2K got the rights for one of the greatest golfers of all-time that they would plaster him all over their front cover. But who else is included?

Once again there are crossovers with the likes of Xander Schuffele, Tony Finau and Lexi Thompson all appearing in both. EA SPORTS has a selection of golfers from both the PGA and LIV tours, whereas 2K has purely focused on the PGA roster. There are some big names on the LIV Tour, but it remains controversial, so think what you will of their inclusion.

EA SPORTS is also missing Jon Rahm who, after winning the latest Masters tournament and becoming world number one, is a big omission.

Both games feature a small handful of LPGA Tour golfers. The aforementioned Thompson plus Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko for 2K, and Nelly and Jessica Korda, Jin Young Ko, Danielle Kang for EA. It is a start, but not enough compared to the men’s list.

But, once again 2K has an ace up its sleeve with playable characters away from the world of golfing. From launch they have had Steph Curry and Michael Jordan as playable characters, and have more recently added John Cena and the guys over at Barstool Golf as well. The former personalities are all from 2K making use of their various licenses in NBA 2K23 and WWE 2K23 , and it’s this that has earned them the point here.

Winner: PGA Tour 2K23

Both games feature extensive single-player Career modes and for the majority of players, these will be the main focus. But what else is included to distract you from aiming for the FedEx Championship?

2K has the previously mentioned course creator which can easily take up a chunk of time for those who are of a creative persuasion. It also features Topgolf, playable in both local and online multiplayer. For those that don’t know, Topgolf is a social golf space set in various locations in the real world. Think of it as like a bowling alley but for golf; the emphasis is more on fun rather than skill.

EA hasn’t necessarily gone for ‘bloating the game with modes’ approach. There are challenges to undertake, along with live ones based on the current real-world major being played, but no exclusive modes. Instead, they have tried to make the most realistic looking golf game of all-time. And they really have: courses play drastically differently from one another and you can see how the shadows change as you progress on your round and the night draws in. EA have also painstakingly recreated these courses using custom Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology that is more realistic than public sources. For the layman out there, that basically means you can see the individual blades of grass.

Both games will feature post-release content as well, only increasing the amount on offer here, but for the sheer attention to detail, it has to go to EA on this round.

Winner: EA SPORTS PGA TOUR

PGA Tour 2K23 attempts to be much more of a simulation golf title, as opposed to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR simulation. The reason behind this is because EA’s offering is still rooted in the past with more arcade-inspired options, and I mean that in a good way. Being able to boost your shot power and adding spin after you have hit the ball are all present once again in EA PGA, but do somewhat dampen the simulation realism.

Also perhaps leaning towards the arcade style is 2K’s inclusion of a three-click system, reminiscent of some of the very early golf titles. The use of analog sticks is present in both, but the inclusion on 2K’s part at least attempts to bring newcomers in.

But once again, I am going to give this round to EA. It’s the sum of the parts; the huge variety of different shots, the pseudo-arcade/sim gameplay and the one feature that every single game needs, the Heartbeat Moments. Nothing beats the moment you hit a shot that is arrowed into the hole and the speed slows down, the camera focuses in and a beating heart comes out of the speakers. The first time you get a Heartbeat Moment, you know you’ve hit a special shot.

Presentation

Our final criteria is for presentation. Both games replicate golf well enough, but which one has those little extras? The touches that elevate the game from very good, to excellent?

First off, I will say that the fact that neither game has a licensed soundtrack feels like a trick missed. The intro to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 with Party Up by the late DMX blaring is iconic. And what music is present in these latest games isn’t the greatest.

The green and yellow of The Masters sets the tone for EA SPORTS PGA TOUR though. It is used in the main menus and also in the presentation when playing on Augusta. When not on that course, the UI is crisp and presents all the information you need. This is coupled with commentary that provides useful info for each hole and a wide variety of feedback based on performances in recent tournaments. 

How does 2K hold up?

Well, one of my biggest gripes for PGA Tour 2K23 was in relation to the pretty lifeless courses. This, and the very long delays between loading up a replay really do pull you out of the moment of hitting a good shot. As a result, I think you know which way this point is heading again.

So we get to the final score and are left with: PGA Tour 2K23 1 vs 4 EA SPORTS PGA TOUR

For 2K’s sake, it is a shame that this isn’t golf scoring where the lowest score wins. But the truth of the matter is that EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is night and day better than PGA Tour 2K23. In years gone by where there hasn’t been an EA offering, the 2K option has been the only real choice. And whilst it is a solid golf game in its own right, up against competition it is way behind. And sadly, not even Michael Jordan and John Cena can do much to improve it.

The winner, EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is out now for Xbox Series X|S from £69.99 . The runner-up, PGA Tour 2K23 is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S priced from £59.99 . I guess you could give another point to 2K for a cheaper game, but that £10 difference is worth it for the superior game.

Let us know how you feel about these golfing masterpieces by dropping into the comments. It feels like we may need to rewrite our best golfing games article …

• EA Sports PGA Tour
• PGA Tour 2K23
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I’ve just bought the 2K23 version for 22 quid. I’ve played a lot of PGA games, right back to Megadrive days, but not played any since Rory McIlroy on the Xbox. I wasn’t sure why there were two ‘new’ PGA games so I went for the cheap option without much research, I’ve barely scratched 2K23 but even the training got me frustrated. The timing of the stroke is something you must get right, yet there is no (that I’m aware of) method of knowing when to push the stick forward to get the sweet spot. I ended up hooking 90% of the training shots, slicing a few then without knowing how – hitting one in the right place to move on. I’ve downloaded the EA free trial now but will likely end up getting it as I miss the ‘spin’ and ‘power’ options. I don’t care if it’s real or not..it’s about fun for me.

I totally disagree. I stumped up 70 quid in a pre order for the EA game whilst playing 2K23. Couldn’t believe how bad it ended up compared to 2K23. I guess I just don’t like the arcade feeling. I think the perspective is too close to the player and there is no sense of space like on a real course. You can’t even see the ball a second or so after hitting so it switches to follow mode. 2K23 feels like you have loads of space and if you disable the automatic ball follow, you get a massive sense of satisfaction watching your ball from first person perspective. Smoking a perfect drive down the fairway still feels awesome after months of playing. If you play society games there are amazing course creators out there creating beautiful and interesting courses to play. I’ve ditched EA and gone back to 2K23. Yes there are problems with 2K23 but by far the most enjoyable game for me.

You might disagree but 2k23 has very poor swing mechanics compared to EA. it’s doesn’t play or look like an authentic golf swing and why are you praising that course creator? Every fake course I’ve come across looks and plays horrible! if I am playing a PGA tour golf game, I want to play REAL pga courses! Not these made up rubbish ones. what is the point in 2k being in partnership with the pga tour if there game has a course creator? I HATE that feature.

There definitely ain’t no competition here EA Sports are the clear winners in this battle. Well let’s face it their competitor is a JOKE. the only thing 2k have got that is good is tiger woods. Hopefully he will see sense and go back to EA. 2k and HB studios know NOTHING about golf, there gameplay is embarrassing, not enough REAL pga tour courses, too many fake rubbish ones, what is the point of being in partnership with the pga tour if your only concern is that awful course creator. They might as well just make a golf game WITHOUT any deal with the pga tour. Just call golf 2k. so do us all a favour 2k and STOP making golf games! stick to Nba and Wwe.

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PGA Tour 2K23

OpenCritic Rating

Top Critic Average

Critics Recommend

PGA Tour 2K23 Trailers

"A DOWNRIGHT BLAST!" | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official Accolades Trailer | 2K

The Invitation | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official Launch Trailer | 2K

Unleash Your Game | PGA TOUR 2K23 Official MyCAREER Trailer | 2K

PGA Tour 2K23 Screenshots

Critic reviews for pga tour 2k23.

There's not much to be excited about in PGA Tour 2K23, with poorly presented golfing on second-tier courses. It's fiercely accurate to the real sport but lacks personality and variety.

Read full review

Metro GameCentral

The basics of gameplay work tremendously well, but the game is bogged down by too many niggling faults and the sense that it'll take until at least next year to fulfil its potential.

GamesRadar+

PGA 2K23 is a fine golf game that builds on its predecessor in every way, with fabulous gameplay, shot craft, and depth.

PGA 2K23 vastly improves on an already great foundation with refined golf gameplay, customization, and an expansive suite of modes.

TheSixthAxis

PGA Tour 2K23 is a good improvement over its last iteration, making things more accessible with the 3-Click system and the Topgolf mode. There's still areas for improvement, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Thanks to a few, well done innovations, PGA Tour 2K23 confirms itself as the best golf simulation available nowadays.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Attack of the Fanboy

If you're willing to devote the time needed to this title, you'll find one of the most exciting sports games around. It's not going to hold your hand, but it's going to do what it needs to help shape you into the next face of the PGA Tour. The endless frustration of a barely missed putt, versus the excitement of a hole-in-one that you finally nailed is exhilarating.

God is a Geek

PGA Tour 2K23 features tight controls for those who want to master every swing, and does enough to bring players in from the last entry.

How to Improve Your Player Fast in PGA Tour 2K23

There are only a few ways you can improve your player in PGA Tour 2K23 because most of the gameplay relies on your mechanical skills and knowledge of the game.

You can have all the best skills, perks, clubs, shafts, and balls, but you still have to make the right decisions and hit all the perfect timings on the fairway.

For this post, we’ll show you how to improve your player fast in PGA Tour 2K23, whether it is through skills, clubs, technique, and everything in between.

Ways to Improve Your Player

Choosing the right archetype for your playstyle is one way of improving your player.

Greensman – strong putting skills, but weak with recovery shots

Powerhouse – strong driving distance, but weak with timing/accuracy

Rhythm – strong with timing or accuracy, but weak with driving distance

Sculptor – strong with shot shaping, but weak with distance control

Woodsman – strong on recovery shots, but weak with putting skills

Every archetype gives a different playstyle for your player. The only noticeably weak archetype here would be the Woodsman.

You don’t need to be strong on recovery shots if you always find the green or the fairway. Since it also puts a damper on your putting skills, the archetype is horrible.

In the main menu screen, you can go to “MyPlayer” and press the “Locker” icon. From here, you can see four different tabs – Golf Bag, Collection, Fittings, and Apparel.

Under Golf Bag, Collection, or Fittings, you can equip a head, shaft, and grip on your clubs. Each club can be fit with one head, shaft, and grip. All of these fittings have different rarities and stats.

The higher the rarity, the better the boost. However, you would want to choose stats that can be beneficial to you.

For example, if you are using a Powerhouse archetype, you would have some slight problems with swing difficulties. You can compensate for that specific weakness by adding swing path and timing bonuses.

In a way, it would pretty much be the same if you are using a Rhythm archetype and you are adding fittings that increase your power.

However, it is important that you can increase your drive distance, as finishing 5-par holes will always give you a chance for an eagle. If you can carry upwards of 310 yards on your driver, you can make the green with two strokes and go for the eagle.

You can have custom clubs with fittings that are built specifically for accuracy and timing, while other clubs are built to carry more power.

For example, you can add more timing and swing path to your 6-iron while adding more power to your 5-iron. You can have better recoveries on the rough with the 5-iron, and you can use the 6-iron for more accuracy.

You can even opt for using a bigger club if that club has more timing and swing path fittings. You can just reduce the power on the swing.

It is also worth noting that equipping fittings on your clubs will have a fit fee. The higher the rarity, the higher the cost.

You can replace the fitting any time you want, but it will cost you coins every time you switch. The fittings do not disappear if you change them.

Skills add a lot of bonuses to your player. These skills are categorized by clubs. Each club has its own skill tree, and they will all have separate bonuses.

It is best to focus your skill points on clubs that are used the most. These are the putter, irons, driver, and wedge.

Most of the good skills take a while to unlock because you need to allocate skill points before unlocking the next tiers. On the bright side, you can unlock the best skills for a club even if you allocate some of your early skill points to the other clubs.

How to Unlock Fittings

To unlock fittings, you can get them through leveling reward bonuses, rivalry challenges, winning events, and sponsorships.

All of them are tied to just playing the game, performing well, and winning. However, when you get sponsorships , you can choose the brand that can give you rare or epic fittings.

How to Gain More Skill Points

To earn skill points, you need to level your player. Each level gives you one skill point, and the maximum number of SP is 50.

There are 126 skill points needed to allocate all the skills in the game, so you need to choose your skill points wisely. You can reset all your skill points, but it will cost you 500 coins.

Final Thoughts

All of the things mentioned are ways you can improve your player, but most of the improvements need to come from decision-making and mechanical skills.

The best tip to improve your play is to notice everything involved that can alter your shot accuracy.

Things like wind, shot timing, terrain, lie, swing path, shot types, spins, loft, and everything in between need to be noticed. Learning how to spin the ball can save you a lot of points.

You can find more guides for PGA Tour 2K23 on our site as we continue to produce content to help players get better at the game.

More PGA Tour 2K23

• PGA Tour 2K23 Review
• The Best Skills in PGA Tour 2K23
• How to Putt in PGA Tour 2K23
• How Long is the PGA Tour 2K23 Career Mode?
• 11 PGA Tour 2K23 Tips for Beginners
• How to Chip the Ball in PGA Tour 2K23
• How to Earn Coins Fast in PGA Tour 2K23
• The Best Archetype in PGA Tour 2K23
• How to Spin the Ball in PGA Tour 2K23
• How to Get Sponsorships in PGA Tour 2K23
• Is the PGA Tour 2K23 Tiger Woods Edition Worth It?

PGA TOUR 2K23

Originally posted by Power_Bert : Graphics and player models look way better in 2k23. I don’t get the negativity. On the course there’s more trees, more bystanders, water looks better, the ball has now actual structure and spin, your player interacts with other players on the field or his/her caddy etc… 2k23 is clearly a step up from 2k21

Originally posted by goot : The colors and textures appear more natural in 2K21 there's something about 2k23 that makes it look harsher and more 'video gamey'

Originally posted by Hellofaputt : this is a step backwards 2k21 will be hard to beat

Originally posted by Stigga : Originally posted by Hellofaputt : this is a step backwards 2k21 will be hard to beat

Originally posted by RollingSton3d : No doubt because 2k21 basically looks worse than rory mcilroy from 2016

Originally posted by ShadowSorcery : Originally posted by Stigga : I agree 100% this game is a rip off , big money for a few new characters and courses , with a bodged swing meter .

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2024 Zurich Classic odds, field: Surprising PGA picks, predictions by model that's nailed 11 majors

Sportsline's proven model simulated the zurich classic of new orleans 2024 10,000 times and revealed its pga golf picks.

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay look to reclaim some team magic when they pair back up for the 2024 Zurich Classic. The PGA Tour's yearly team event tees off Thursday at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans, and 80 two-man teams will be in attendance for tee off on Thursday. Schauffele and Cantlay were the winning duo back in 2022 and they are the 5-1 favorites on the 2024 Zurich Classic odds board. Should you back this pair of California natives with your 2024 Zurich Classic picks? Or should you back Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry at 8-1 odds?

Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala are listed at 11-1 in the lastest 2024 Zurich Classic odds, and Collin Morkiawa and Kurt Kitayama follow at 16-1. Defending Zurich Classic champions Nick Hardy and David Riley are 80-1 longshots to have repeat success. Before making any 2024 Zurich Classic picks, be sure t o see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine .

Our proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June of 2020. In fact, the model is up more than $9,000 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

McClure's model correctly predicted Scottie Scheffler would finish on top of the leaderboard at the 2024 Masters, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Players Championship, and the RBC Heritage this season. McClure also included Hideki Matsuyama in his best bets to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational. That bet hit at +9000, and for the entire tournament, McClure's best bets returned nearly $1,000.

The model also predicted Jon Rahm would be victorious at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. Rahm was two strokes off the lead heading into the third round, but the model still projected him as the winner. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scheffler winning in 2022.

In addition, McClure's best bets included Nick Taylor (70-1) winning the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, Jason Day (17-1) winning outright at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, and Rickie Fowler (14-1) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

This same model has also nailed a whopping 11 majors entering the weekend and hit the Masters three straight years. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now that the Zurich Classic 2024 field is finalized, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard .

Top 2024 Zurich Classic predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the Zurich Classic 2024: McIlroy and Lowry, who've combined for 26 wins on the PGA Tour, barely crack the top five. McIlroy is set to play in his fourth consecutive event when he tees off at TPC Louisiana. He's failed to crack the top-10 in seven of his eight starts on the PGA Tour this season, while Lowry has finished T-19 or worse in six of his past eight events. 

Both players have struggled mightily on the green this season. McIlroy enters the 2024 Zurich Classic ranked 78th in strokes gained: putting (0.119) and 72nd in putting average (1.758), a big reason why he ranks 98th in scoring average (70.44). Lowry, meanwhile, ranks 99th in strokes gained: putting (-0.012) and 143rd in putts per round (29.38), which doesn't bode well for their chances to finish on top of the leaderboard this week. 

Another surprise: Rasmus Højgaard and Nicolai Højgaard, 35-1 longshots, make a strong run at the title. The twin brothers have a much better chance to win it all than their odds imply, so they're a target for anyone looking for a huge payday.

The Danish twosome has been making headlines abroad for years now, becoming the first brothers to ever win events in consecutive weeks on the European Tour back in 2021. They are now making noise on the PGA Tour as Nicolai finished second at the Farmers Insurance Open back in January and finished T16 in his first ever Masters appearance earlier this month. Nicolai also played this event last year, so his experience makes the duo an under-the-radar competitor at the 2024 Zurich Classic.  See who else to pick here . 

How to make 2024 Zurich Classic picks

The model is also targeting three other teams with odds of 35-1 or longer to make a strong run at the title. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model's picks here .

Who will win the 2024 Zurich Classic, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the Zurich Classic 2024 odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected Zurich Classic leaderboard , all from the model that's nailed 11 golf majors, including the last three Masters.

2024 Zurich Classic odds, field

Get full 2024 Zurich Classic picks, best bets, and predictions here .

Patrick Cantlay / Xander Schauffele +500 Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry +800 Will Zalatoris / Sahith Theegala +1100 Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama +1600 Tom Hoge / Maverick McNealy +2500 Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick +2500 Taylor Pendrith / Corey Conners +3500 Rasmus Højgaard / Nicolai Højgaard +3500 Taylor Montgomery / Ben Griffin +4000 Sepp Straka / Brice Garnett +4000 Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin +4000 Keith Mitchell / Joel Dahmen +4000 Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka +4000 Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre +4500 Doug Ghim / Chan Kim +4500 Davis Thompson / Andrew Novak +4500 Daniel Berger / Victor Perez +4500 Kevin Yu / C.T. Pan +5000 Billy Horschel / Tyson Alexander +5000 Beau Hossler / Sam Ryder +5000 Andrew Putnam / Joe Highsmith +5000 Aaron Rai / David Lipsky +5000 Thorbjorn Olesen / Matt Wallace +6500 Taylor Moore / Matt NeSmith +6500 K.H. Lee / Michael Kim +6500 Greyson Sigg / Chesson Hadley +6500 Gary Woodland / Lee Hodges +6500 Garrick Higgo / Ryan Fox +6500 Austin Eckroat / Chris Gotterup +6500 Steve Stricker / Matt Kuchar +8000 Nate Lashley / Rafael Campos +8000 Luke List / Henrik Norlander +8000 Kevin Streelman / Martin Laird +8000 Dylan Wu / Justin Lower +8000 Davis Riley / Nick Hardy +8000 Chandler Phillips / Jacob Bridgeman +8000 Carson Young / Ben Martin +8000 Ben Silverman / Kevin Dougherty +8000 Zach Johnson / Ryan Palmer +10000 Vincent Norrman / Jorge Campillo +10000 Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman +10000 Alex Smalley / Matti Schmid +10000 Thriston Lawrence / Aldrich Potgieter +13000 Ryan Brehm / Mark Hubbard +13000 Justin Suh / Rico Hoey +13000 Jhonattan Vegas / Bronson Burgoon +13000 J.J. Spaun / Hayden Buckley +13000 Erik Barnes / Harrison Endycott +13000 Chad Ramey / Martin Trainer +13000 Carl Yuan / Zecheng Dou +13000 Sam Stevens / Paul Barjon +15000 Peter Malnati / Russell Knox +15000

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Fact or Fiction: Scottie Scheffler Is the PGA Tour Player of the Year Already

SI Golf’s writers and editors debate the historic runs of Scheffler and Nelly Korda, plus the return of LIV Golf.

• Author: SI Golf Staff

Welcome back to SI Golf’s Fact or Fiction, where we’re not crazy to be entertaining Grand Slam odds for Scottie, and even wondering what they might be for Nelly. 

Once again, we’re here to debate a series of statements for writers and editors to declare as “Fact” or “Fiction” along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be “Neutral” since there's a lot of gray area in golf.

Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X account.

Scottie Scheffler won Monday at the RBC Heritage, dominating and completely brushing off any post-Masters hangover . Bernhard Langer was the last to win the week after a Masters title—in 1985. If the major was his best win of the season, Hilton Head was his second-best. 

Bob Harig: FACT. Winning the Players Championship will get some attention but a victory a week after capturing the Masters is above and beyond. It’s simply too difficult to come back a few days later and compete at the level needed to maintain what went so well at Augusta National. Not to mention … Harbour Town is such a different test of golf than Augusta National. That Scheffler was able to quickly adapt and keep it going is impressive.

John Pluym: FACT. Check out these two stats: In the last 20 years, only Tiger Woods averaged a tournament finish position in the top 10 after winning the Masters in 2002. And the record for most tournament victories after winning at Augusta in the same year is three, and Woods did it twice (2002, ’05), and Jordan Spieth did it in 2015. So, yes, Scheffler winning the RBC Heritage the week after the Masters is no ordinary feat. In fact, it’s actually quite extraordinary when you consider the stats above. 

Jeff Ritter: FACT: Scottie is on fire, and going right out and winning a week after the Masters is further proof that he’s on another level right now. The PGA Championship can’t get here fast enough. 

John Schwarb: FICTION. Becoming the first back-to-back Players champ, against the Tour’s deepest field on its flagship course, has to rank second in this run. But as Bob wrote Monday, not mailing it in at Harbour Town is still remarkable. Scottie is wired differently. 

Scheffler’s wife Meredith is due at the end of the month with the couple’s first child. The world No. 1 could take the rest of the year off as a new father and still win PGA Tour Player of the Year. 

Bob Harig: FACT.  Scheffler has won a major, the PGA Tour’s flagship event and two signature events. Nobody else on the PGA Tour has more than one victory at this point. Take Hideki Matsuyama, for example. He won the Genesis, a signature event. He’d need to add a major plus one of the remaining signature events (Wells Fargo, Memorial, Travelers) and ONE more win just to match Scheffler. And what win would be on the same level as the Players? So that suggests another signature event or a FedEx Cup playoff win. It’s possible someone wins a major and the FedEx Cup and gets consideration but it is difficult to see that at this point.

John Pluym: FACT. The only golfer on a hotter streak than Scheffler is Nelly Korda, and she plays on the LPGA Tour. I don’t see any golfer on the PGA Tour playing consistently well enough to overtake Scheffler for POY if Scheffler decided to pack it in for the rest of the season. Rory? Xander? Wyndham? Max? Tommy? Collin? It’s not even close right now.  

Jeff Ritter: FICTION. Scottie’s resume would be impressive, but the news cycle moves fast! Someone else—maybe Wyndham Clark, or Rory or Morikawa, for example—could snag one of the summer’s majors and cap the season with a FedEx Cup title just before voters go to the polls for POY. 

John Schwarb: FACT. Taking POY from Scheffler right now would likely require a half-dozen wins with two majors. Tough to see who’s doing that given the lackluster seasons by so many Tour “stars.” 

Nelly Korda won her fifth consecutive start at the Chevron Championship (for her second career major), tying five-win streaks by Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam. Hers is the most impressive.   

Bob Harig: FICTION. This is not to diminish Korda’s accomplishment, which is incredible. We are comparing remarkable achievements. But her winning early in the year, and then not playing for seven weeks, makes it harder to equate it to what Lopez and Sorenstam did. But we’re splitting hairs. Winning five tournaments—at all—is amazing.

John Pluym: FICTION. Here’s the thing: Is the LPGA Tour field better than when Lopez and Sorenstam were dominating? No. So, for now, the streak is impressive but let’s see if she can win a couple more in a row.

The LPGA's best player also has excellent cannonball form.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Ritter: FACT. Today’s LPGA draws from a worldwide pool of the best players the world has ever known. It’s a much more global tour than in the days of Lopez, and even Annika. It’s tough to win, even if Nelly is currently making it look easy. 

John Schwarb: FICTION. Sorenstam’s five, like Korda’s, was capped with a win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship (now Chevron). But she won that by eight shots, one of many tournaments in which she was the best by a wide margin. 

LIV Golf returns this week with a two-week swing through Australia and Singapore. Jon Rahm will get his first win at one of the two stops.     

Bob Harig: FACT. Rahm had a bad Masters but that happened to a lot of players. He started strong at LIV with a couple of early close calls and he’s too good to let this linger for long. Either place seems a good spot to get the first win and some momentum heading into the PGA Championship.

John Pluym: FICTION. It might take a pair of low-pressure stops for Rahm to win after the defending Masters champion stunk it up during the first major of the year. And he looks like a guy who is enjoying a $450 million payday and has settled into playing 54-hole tournaments. 

Jeff Ritter: FICTION. Rahm appeared lost and ticked off leaving Augusta. But is he just going to throw the switch on his golf game? I’d expect him to win somewhere on LIV this year, but I’m skeptical that it’s coming soon. He has some work to do. 

John Schwarb: FACT. As great as it is to return to the Masters as the defending champion, there was a lot more baked into it for Rahm as a LIV guy and it didn’t appear easy on or off the course. He can exhale with that behind him and these are a pair of low-pressure stops for the Spaniard to get a W.

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