ea golf pga tour review

EA Sports PGA Tour Review - Hit The Links

First Released Apr 4, 2023 released

EA returns to the world of golf with a challenging and rewarding title that's let down by a couple of inconsistencies and an underwhelming swing mechanic.

By Richard Wakeling on April 12, 2023 at 10:55AM PDT

EA Sports PGA Tour is unlike any other golf game I've played. It still features familiar elements from the series' past--back when Tiger Woods was front and center--such as slow-motion heartbeat moments and climactic power shots. But after an eight-year hiatus from the world of golf simulation, EA has returned to the fairway with a more demanding recreation of the sport that's as much about feel as it is mastering the game's robust mechanics. With 30 courses covering all four majors--including The Masters at Augusta National--EA Sports PGA Tour has a plethora of golfing action to sink your teeth into. It's just a shame there are a few notable issues in critical areas that hold it back from greatness.

The first of these is the game's swing mechanic. If you've played a golf game before, the actual act of swinging a driver or 5-iron will be familiar. You pull down on the analog stick to bring the club back, then push forward again to unleash your shot. This has been a staple in golf games for a number of years now, and there aren't any alternatives at the moment--not until a three-click system is implemented in a later update. The issue with EA Sports PGA Tour is that there's a slight delay between your input and the on-screen visual. Your swing isn't 1:1, so there's an uneasy disconnect where you never quite feel like you're in total control. The general malaise of each swing doesn't help matters either, with the slow, clunky pacing and frustrating lag making it difficult to nail the timing and power of each shot. I eventually grew accustomed to these idiosyncrasies over time, but it never feels quite right and fails to capture the satisfaction that hitting a 300-yard tee shot should achieve.

To compound the issue, EA Sports PGA Tour also lacks any sort of meaningful tutorial. There are tooltips that pop up and cover the basics the first time you play, but these brief snippets barely scratch the surface of everything going on under the hood. Instead, the game has a suite of challenges that happen to include a Coaching Academy. This is the best place to start, even if these challenges still neglect to offer any tips or feedback to help you along the way. What you get is a variety of contextual situations covering different aspects of the sport, from putting downhill to dealing with elevation changes and the multitude of shot types on offer. There's a lot of trial and error involved, but the repetition of replaying each situation does give you a greater understanding of how everything works. It's not a very user-friendly approach, but it sets expectations and is genuinely helpful in an unconventional way, even if it might prove frustrating for some. Plus, completing these challenges also earns you XP that can be used to improve your created character.

EA Sports PGA Tour's career mode sits front and center, starting off with your no-name golfer competing in the qualifying school before moving on to the amateur Korn Ferry Tour. The ultimate goal is to reach the PGA Tour, which can be done either by winning one of the many four-round courses or by placing highly enough in the Korn Ferry rankings come season's end. You can expedite this process by opting for a quick play mode where you only need to play a few holes rather than an entire round, but I think playing full rounds is the way to go. That's mostly because it gives you ample time to fine-tune your skills, learn the courses, and gain a better understanding of the game's mechanics. There's also a palpable sense of progression that comes from leveling up your golfer. Earning XP lets you build your skills in driving, approach play, short game, and putting, while progressing each attribute also unlocks more shot types, giving you additional options when preparing to send the ball careening toward the green.

Fortunately, the Coaching Academy includes challenges for each of the game's myriad shot types, giving you the opportunity to see how each one functions before playing competitively. There's value in understanding the differences between a runner, spinner, or knock-down shot, but knowing when to utilize each one essentially comes down to a matter of feel. In this respect, EA Sports PGA Tour resembles the sport of golf more accurately than any other game. There are a number of variables at play for every single shot, to the point where there's a real thought process behind each swing. You have to choose the right shot type and club for each situation, adjust for wind and elevation, judge how much power you need to put into the swing, and account for the distinct ways each course plays--tweaking your shot shape depending on the shape of the fairway and lie of the bunkers. The game helps to some degree by displaying relevant information such as wind speed and distance, but then you're left to your own devices. This can be frustrating, particularly early on when you're still learning the ropes and your golfer's attributes aren't up to snuff, but once everything clicks, EA Sports PGA Tour plays an engrossing game of golf that can be incredibly rewarding.

Much of this is down to the courses themselves. Every single one of the 30 officially licensed courses is staggeringly beautiful and offers an authentic attention to detail, whether it's Liberty National and its view of the Manhattan skyline, the waves crashing against the sand at Pebble Beach, or the alligators lurking in the water at TPC Sawgrass. Almost every course is iconic on some level, and they've all been faithfully rendered and recreated, right down to individual blades of grass. The absence of a course designer is a tad disappointing, but unlike PGA Tour 2K23, it's not something that feels like a necessity because there are already so many 18-hole delights. The courses are the game's main character, providing the kind of variety and depth to stave off any tedium. Mastering a golf game's mechanics is usually the key to success, but EA Sports PGA Tour's courses demand much more from you. Each one plays differently, whether it's the roll of the green or the width of the fairway impacting your decision-making. It genuinely feels like you're playing against the course rather than the shot meter.

The physics model, which is built around the official TrackMan data for ball tracking and swing analysis, is excellent for the most part. However, there are some inconsistencies when it comes to ball rollout. On The Old Course at St Andrews, for instance, the rollout is overly extreme to the point where the ball will roll uphill at pace, even through heavy rough. This forces you to account for situations that shouldn't really occur. Once you land on the green, putting is also equally aggravating for different reasons. Each green contains a grid that uses moving beads to show you the direction of the break. The problem is that sometimes this data is inaccurate and the break is opposite to what the beads are showing. The putt reader alleviates this somewhat by showing the ideal path to the hole, but this is also misleading at times. With no reliable way to gauge the breaks, putting is a lesson in irritation that will only be rectified if these issues are fixed in future updates.

Outside of career mode, EA Sports PGA Tour also features various tournament options for use in online matches against the community. If you want to play against friends, however, stroke play is the only option, and there's a disappointing lack of alternating play for those who want to see each other tee off. A range of daily, weekly, and seasonal tournaments give you another chance to earn XP and items like club specs and in-game cash for a limited time before they're refreshed, so there's an incentive to keep coming back. That in-game cash can be spent in a store of rotating items including various cosmetics, which holds some appeal because the character creator is extremely barebones. Outfitting your golfer in branded clothing can be fairly costly, though, which is explained by the inclusion of microtransactions for those who would rather buy the in-game currency with real money. This isn't a surprising move, but it doesn't exactly vibe with the serene mood.

After almost a decade away from the sport, EA's return to the golf course is a promising one. The range of shot types, courses, and tangible variables make for a methodical and tactical game of golf that's both challenging and rewarding. It stumbles by barely introducing players to its robust mechanics, while a laggy swing and inconsistent putting are notable flaws on what is otherwise a fantastic golf sim. EA Sports PGA Tour represents a solid re-entry for the series and lays down a sturdy foundation for an auspicious future.

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Each shot must be carefully considered, taking into account a number of variables
All 30 courses are wonderfully recreated and each one feels distinct
Offers a tough but satisfying simulation of golf that's close to the real thing
The lack of tutorials makes for a rocky start
Swing mechanics are delayed and create a disconnect
Putting information is frequently misleading

About the Author

Richard Wakeling

@richardwakeling

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Authentic ball flight … EA Sports PGA Tour 2023

EA Sports PGA Tour 2023 review – serious players have much to master in EA’s return to the virtual fairway

Electronic Arts; PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S The controls can be tough to get the hang of, but the visuals are stunning, the commentary impressive and the play itself gives you all the challenge and realism you could want

A fter an eight-year hiatus from the world of golf simulation, Electronic Arts is back on the fairway, bringing its considerable licensing power and slick sports TV presentation skills with it. Featuring 30 courses, a large roster of current professionals, and a physics model built around the official TrackMan data for authentic ball flight measurement and swing analysis, this game is exactly what you’d expect from EA Sports – comprehensive, packed with options and deadly serious about the sport.

Those hoping for an accessible knockabout are going to be quickly disappointed. The new swing mechanic, which requires you to pull down on the analogue stick to bring the club back, then forward again to unleash your shot, takes considerable time and effort to master. There’s a slight lag between your input and the onscreen swing visual, which makes timing tricky, especially when you’re not going for a full-power shot. Consequently, you spend a lot of matches over-hitting wildly, and this isn’t helped by the fact that the transition on the stick from pull-back to forward has to be precise or your golfer just pulls a practice swing. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that there’s no real tutorial mode. Instead you get a Coaching Academy section in the Challenge mode, which has lots of little mini-games based around various elements of the sport – but these don’t provide tips or feedback, so it’s all trial and a lot of error.

In the main Career mode, which lets you create a player then guide them through a competitive year (hopefully ending with a shot at the Masters), you start with hopeless stats and need to earn XP points to build your skills in driving, approach play, short game and putting before you have any chance of winning cups. It’s an RPG element that feels kind of weird within this very serious simulation, and it forces you to spend hours entering lesser tournaments and trying the hundreds of skill challenges to build up your XP and raise your stats. There’s a quick game mode that lets you jump into a round on any course with any player, so you do get to experience high level play from the outset – but if you want to beat Career get ready for a real golfing grind.

When you do start to get the hang of the controls, PGA Tour 2023 becomes an enjoyable and engrossing sim. The visuals are beautiful, with lusciously detailed courses, from Liberty National with its view of the Manhattan skyline to Pebble Beach where the holes edge along rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. These courses don’t simply provide aesthetic contrast – they play very differently and require planning. Each hole demands that you tweak your swing, club and shot shaping depending on the shape of the fairway, the lie of the bunkers and myriad other factors. The commentary is also extremely good, with genuinely interesting and helpful observations, and excellent reactions to your play – I managed to land an incredible shot from a bunker 30ft from the flag and there was notable surprise in Rich Lerner’s voice. Together with the slick UI and swooping overhead cameras, EA has done a superb job of simulating modern sports broadcasting.

Alongside the Career, Challenge and Quick Play modes there are also various tournament options, including online matches against friends or the wider community. A range of daily, weekly and seasonal tournaments also allow you to earn XP and items for a limited period before they’re refreshed, so you’ve got lots of reasons to keep coming back. Unfortunately, the game features a loot box mechanic, rewarding in-game achievement with random packages of cosmetic goods and XP boosts. You can also earn in-game money to spend in the game’s outfit store, but those who can’t wait can buy the currency with real cash. Considering the money the Fifa series has made from micro transactions this is hardly surprising, but it sits uneasily in the more austere atmosphere of a golf sim.

This is a promising return to golf for EA Sports. It’s slow of pace, it’s tough to get into, and it’s a little staid and fuddy-duddy at times (most of the background music makes you feel like you’re on hold to a financial service call centre), but the accuracy of the ball physics, the huge range of shots and the highly tactical nature of the play gives serious players the challenge and realism they want. I wish there was a smoother on-ramp for beginners, or a much more basic arcade mode for those who want to thrash through a few holes with pals, but this is a sim after all and when it comes to sport, EA does not mess around.

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EA Sports PGA Tour Review

2023 marks the first year since 2015 that golf fans have been treated to an EA Sports video game, with Rory McIlroy PGA Tour having been released in June of 2015.

The game features an abundance of aesthetically pleasing golf courses with fantastic graphics and a loaded roster of elite golfers. Augusta National is a playable golf course for the first time in a video game since 2011 and doesn’t disappoint. The tricky green complexes, sloping fairways and pink azaleas make gamers feel like they’re playing in The Masters.

Swing Mechanics

The swing mechanics in the game are a bit tricky to figure out. It took me quite a long time to get a grasp of where I needed to pull the analog stick back to when making a full swing. My approach shots when over the green almost every time forcing me either to club down or make an abbreviated swing.

There are a great deal of new shot types which add realism to the game, but it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out which shot to use when the basic swing is so hard to get right to begin with. For advanced players, the abundance of shot types should be a welcome benefit.

The difficulty of the swing and figuring out how to use all of the different mechanics to play a round of golf was most definitely the biggest drawback of the game. Simply put, it will take a lot of time and effort to master EA Sports PGA Tour and those looking to pick it up quickly are in for a disappointment.

Career Mode

Career Mode is far and away the best part about EA Sports PGA Tour. While it’s certainly a grind to build your player’s stats and XP up enough to be competitive in the events, it’s worth the struggle. The game has all four of the majors, which is fantastic and truly gives the player incentive to improve and play well.

The choices of new clubs and gear is expansive and offers all of the big brands, but gaining the XP to purchase them in conjunction with the difficulty of the game can be frustrating.

Career Mode also offers players an option to play alongside a computer controlled professional player, which gives the tournament a much more authentic feel. However, playing alongside a pro slows the pace of play down considerably. There’s an option for players to choose Quick Play” which speeds up the round and only gives players the chance to play the most important shots of the tournament. However, there isn’t an option to change a tournament to two or three rounds instead of four.

The Verdict

The Career Mode is enough to make EA Sports’ return to the golf game world successful. Access to all four majors, the ability to play at historic courses like Pebble Beach and Augusta National, and the deep roster of stars makes this game worth buying.

The swing mechanics and overall difficulty of the golf simulation will be tough for players to adapt to, but patience and determination will pay off. Once the time is put in to master the swing and different shot types, the experience feels like the real thing.

EA Sports PGA Tour 2023 is a great start to golf video games on next generation consoles, but there is undoubtedly room for improvement for the series in the future.

Score: 8.1/10

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Rory McIlroy working with Butch Harmon ahead of 2024 Masters

A few weeks ahead of the Masters, Rory McIlroy is working with legendary swing coach, Butch Harmon.

McIlroy has been struggling with a “left miss” with his iron shots, which he spoke about a few weeks ago with the Irish Golfer .

“Another great week off the tee. I feel like I found a good feeling with the putting as well. I putted well the last three days. Just the iron play’s let me down,” he said.

“It’s sort of been the same story the last few weeks, sort of struggling with a left miss with the irons and it’s hard because the longer clubs, the woods, feel so good and then the irons don’t really feel that good, so I feel like I’m having to put like two different swings on the woods and the irons at the minute, which is a struggle. But everything else feels pretty good, so if I can get the irons tightened up, I feel like I’ll be in a good spot.”

The following week, the four-time major champion got off to a fast start at TPC Sawgrass for The PLAYERS Championship, grabbing the first-round lead, but struggled to keep momentum and finished T19.

That’s when he went to see Butch.

It isn’t the first time McIlroy and Harmon have linked up. Rory has consulted with Tiger Woods’ former coach a few times in the past (and probably much more often than many people realize), most recently in 2020.

McIlroy is set to tee it up at the Valero Texas Open this week, where we will begin to look for signs of the Harmon/McIlroy pairing paying off.

Brandel Chamblee calls out multiple players for poor form ahead of Masters; Says Scottie Scheffler can win ‘putting poorly’

On Tuesday, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee took to X to share his thoughts on some of the best players in the lead up to the 2024 Masters Tournament.

A big topic early in the week of The Masters on the LIVE FROM set will be how poorly many of the best players in the world are playing this year and why. These are the players most off in form (SG Total) who were in the top 20 last year on the eve of the Masters. 1) Patrick… — Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 2, 2024

“A big topic early in the week of The Masters on the LIVE FROM set will be how poorly many of the best players in the world are playing this year and why.

These are the players most off in form (SG Total) who were in the top 20 last year on the eve of the Masters.

1) Patrick Cantlay -1.767 2) Matt Fitzpatrick -1.608 3) Max Homa -1.558 4) Viktor Hovland -1.401 5) Tom Kim -1.388 6) Collin Morikawa -1.331 7) Tony Finau -1.265 8) Rory Mcilroy -1.023 9) Justin Thomas -.618

In addition to these players, Tommy Fleetwood who was 27th in the world last year at this time is -2.049 worse in Strokes Gained Total year over year…and Keegan Bradley who was 22nd in the world last year at this time is -.842 worse in Strokes Gained Total.

In addition to this, there is some statistical analysis (mind you the stats on LIV aren’t great) that will show how the games of many of the stars on LIV have fallen off as well.

This will do one of two things in my opinion. It will either make this year’s Masters (which is bar far the most predictable major) wide open or an absolute cake walk for Scottie Scheffler given how few stars are playing well in the world.”

The post doesn’t take into consideration the fact that Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood both won in Dubai early this year, which Chamblee addresses in a subsequent tweet.

Rory won the Hero Dubai which was about half the strength of The American Express field and Fleetwood won the Dubai Invitational which was about 1/3 the field strength of The Sony Open… they have each played 5 times on The PGA Tour, and in the strongest fields, so trying to… — Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 2, 2024

“Rory won the Hero Dubai which was about half the strength of The American Express field and Fleetwood won the Dubai Invitational which was about 1/3 the field strength of The Sony Open… they have each played 5 times on The PGA Tour, and in the strongest fields, so trying to compare who they will compete against at The Masters as best I can. I don’t ignore those wins, but statistically I’m trying to compare apples to apples.”

Later, when asked for his “top 4 picks” Chamblee speculated on what the top players, with the exception of Scottie Scheffler, struggling could mean for The Masters.

1) Scottie Scheffler if he plays good wins by 8 2) Scottie Scheffler if he putts average wins by 5 3) Scottie Scheffler if he putts poorly wins by 1 4) Scottie Scheffler if he putts average and reinjures his neck wins in a playoff https://t.co/mnBCs5GlLU — Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 3, 2024

Scheffler does look hard to beat heading into Augusta, but in golf, the best player winning is far from a sure thing.

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Pocket-lint

Ea sports pga tour initial review: hands-off with ea's golfing return.

We've been given a tour around some of the Tour. Here's what we've learned so far.

It's been a fair old while since Electronic Arts dabbled with golf. Even though it was the gaming home of the PGA Tour since the start of the 90s, we've not had a new game from EA Sports since 2015's Rory McIlroy.

In the meantime, HB Studios and 2K Games have capably filled the gap, first with The Golf Club and snagging their own PGA Tour licensing in latter days.

Now though, EA is about to return to the fairway with a new addition to the franchise. And, it's looking like it'll carry on exactly where it left off, albeit with a fair few modern bells and whistles thrown in for good measure.

We've been privy to a hands-off demo of the game and a walkthrough of its features by some of the developers. Here's how it's looking so far.

EA Sports PGA Tour

With 30 courses planned for launch and all the major tournaments, including the Masters at Augusta, EA Sports PGA Tour is shaping up to be a thorough title for enthusiasts and casual gamers alike. From what we've seen so far, it's also looking superb thanks to the adoption of the Frostbite Engine. We can't wait to get our own hands on it soon to see if it's up to par.

Stunning course mapping
Great attention to detail
30 PGA Tour courses to play on
All the majors
Too soon to tell

EA Sports PGA Tour is the publisher's biggest golf game yet. It is exclusive to current-generation consoles - PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S - and PC, which means there have been few compromises on graphical fidelity. From what we saw streamed in an online demonstration, anyway.

The development team has switched to Frostbite for the graphics, which not only renders player models (real-world and created) in great fidelity - much like the latest FIFA, Madden and NHL games - but it presents the 30 included courses in sometimes photo-realistic detail.

That's because every course was mapped using multiple methods - by helicopter using LiDAR technology, through high-resolution camera drones too, and by taking thousands of photos on the ground. Augusta even gave the developer access to its tree health system, which accurately maps every flowerbed, tree and other types of flora to ensure they are placed in exactly the same position in the game as in real life.

Impressively, this level of minute detail doesn't just help the look of the game but the feel. The bumps on the ground are in the exact same spot - as are the imperfections on the fairways and greens. And so, we were told, that when a ball interacts with the course, it will move across these minor spots in the same way it would for real.

That is further improved through the use from two other third-party data sources - the PGA Tour's ShotLink and TrackMan - which not only gave the team real-world mechanics for ball movement, thanks to storing many thousands of shots from the PGA Tour itself, but also player motion and behaviour that has provided the animation specifics for each licenced professional in the game.

EA calls its new stroke engine Pure Strike and it enables gamers to take shots in a more fluid, natural way.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

The gameplay that we viewed showed a new swing arc that is used for the accuracy and power of a shot. The power is determined by a small line on the arc that you meet during the backswing (using a thumbstick). The speed of the follow-through is important too and reminds us a little of the mechanics in PGA Tour 2K23. However, EA hasn't gone full simulation with its effort. There is still the option for boost and other gamified elements of its previous titles in the series.

One major new feature is that, as well as club selection, you also get the choice between types of shot each time - from a pool of 20. And each club in your bag will have their own assigned shot types that you can customise. In previous years, the clubs from different manufacturers would have their own stats - this is gone, but the shot types can still make one driver feel different to another, say. You can adjust depending on your play style, therefore, which is inspired by the pro golfers and their experiences on the real Tour.

It's this mix of realism and fun that we're looking forward to testing more when we get our own hands on the game.

We were also told that the old three-click shot method of yesteryear will make a return as a playable option, but wasn't active for our demo.

Putting has changed a bit this time around - perhaps even more so than the main shot system. You get a suggested line to give you a decent read of a green (although that can be turned off in settings) but the putting meter is certainly different to before. You have a smaller swing overlay that suggests power and works more like the main shot arc. Again, it's something we have to try for ourselves before we can give you more on how it works.

Licenced to thrill

Perhaps the most impressive part of EA Sports PGA Tour for us so far is the amount of licenced content in the game. The 30 courses, the clothes, clubs and shoes, the different tournaments, including all the majors, and a healthy selection of PGA and LPGA professionals to play as and against. There is also a great cast of commentators that use dynamic phrasing to make the presentation feel just like a TV broadcast. They've even recorded unique voice clips for points of interest on course that you may never hear - such as if you bounce a ball off a specific fence, which cues a sentence about that actual event.

As well as the licenced players, you can also create your own, of course, with an in-depth editor and the choice to set him onto the path of greatness by either entering amateur tournaments first, the Korn Ferry Tour, or the PGA Tour itself. And, if you want to play as a woman, the Amundi Evian Championship is there for the taking too.

In short, EA is ensuring that while it has taken a seven-year leave of absence from golf, it is coming back with its most expansive offering yet. It's certainly not doing things by half.

First impressions

It's hard to give a genuine opinion on a game we've not physically played ourselves, but everything we've heard and seen so far shows much potential. We've really enjoyed 2K's rival title (and still do), but can't help admitting that we've missed the traditional EA Sports PGA Tour games over the last few years. Plus, we're really looking forward to playing in The Masters at Augusta and this will provide the only opportunity to do so. We await it with bated breath.

EA Sports PGA Tour will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC from 24 March 2023.

EA Sports PGA Tour review: a solid new beginning

Author: Paolo Sirio

EA Sports is back in the golf game after almost a decade since the last PGA Tour edition. Despite a similar fate happening to the NBA Live series, EA Sports PGA Tour has managed to get back on its feet and deliver a very competent simulation of the fast-rising global sport.

Golf fans have not been left wanting in recent years, as 2K has been providing a very solid interpretation of the discipline in their PGA Tour 2K series. EA Sports’ goal is quite similar - to create as credible a reproduction of the sport as possible, so the clash between these two giants will be inevitable; if not today, then in time both publishers will have products mature enough to play as equals.

Compared to its direct competitor, EA Sports PGA Tour offers a probably more intuitive shot system. The player is required to move the left analog stick in the same direction as the shot bar, let the cursor scroll up to the desired point, and move the stick again to end the swing.

In a mechanic that is similar to one of FIFA ’s set pieces, you can create an effect – such as curving – on the ball with the right stick, while the D-pad allows you to choose where to send it. This allows beginners to just smash and go, while experts can focus on the precision of each shot.

If you feel like it, you can decide the type of shot and bypass the basic setup presented to you at each hole; whether this is setting the starting direction precisely or grabbing the iron of your choice. This all has an impact on the theoretical length of the shot. It works. Even on a tactile level it really gives the perception of hitting a ball on a golf course, and it's immediate enough not to require too many explanations.

The game also challenges you to find your own way, as the shooting simulation is rarely as accurate as you'd expect - after all, where would the fun be otherwise? It deliberately doesn’t take into account factors such as wind and slope - that’ll be up to you to work out.

When putting, you can see the in-game trajectory, and over time you learn which point you should hit on that line. It’s generally in the middle, but this also depends on the wind, slope and distance from the hole.

These are just some of the factors you need to consider during a game, and that helps make each hole a fresh and new experience. Studying the course and conditions is at least as much fun as the execution itself.

The Y button (on the Xbox controller) activates the golfer-to-hole camera, while pressing the back button gives you an overhead map of the entire green, something we really appreciated on an ultrawide PC screen.

However, the onboarding of new players will need to be revisited at some point in the future. There is no tutorial at the beginning of the game, and the closest to that you’ll get while playing is hidden among the challenges. EA Sports PGA Tour takes good knowledge of the basics of the sport for granted. That’s not ideal for players who could be approaching golf as a complete stranger, and also for an official video game returning to the shelves for the first time since 2015.

Quite a steep learning curve aside, the customization of the experience is granular and covers both the skill level of the AI in Career Mode, and a whole range of assists and obstacles to customize your gameplay to the smallest detail.

In terms of content, EA Sports PGA Tour feels pretty rich, whether you want to compete locally, with the rest of the world online, or are looking for a deep single-player golf game. About thirty courses are available on day one, and they’re all visually distinct, each with its own set of challenges in terms of scenery and conformation.

Furthermore, when it comes to the modes, the game features challenges based on historical moments of the sport and the live season, sponsor tests to gain you exclusive equipment, and a career mode, which doesn’t break new grounds but ultimately works - from youth tournaments up to the PGA Tour.

There’s an appreciable RPG component too, since everything you do with your golfer rewards you with experience points you can spend on upgrades ranging from basic attributes to special abilities that emulate those of the best players around. This is not just in Career Mode, but also in quick play and multiplayer.

As a cautious relaunching of the brand, EA Sports has made a good call not including a golf version of Ultimate Team, and there’s no trace of the highly controversial loot boxes. You only have an in-game store where you can buy points using real money between $5 and $50, so you can spend them on tickets to participate in tournaments or on customization items.

That’s something you can easily do with the base in-game currency, which does not require significant grind to accumulate. The only issue is that the same currency is used to enhance your golfer's skills.

The roster lacks some well-known stars you’d expect in any PGA game, like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, but the number of well-known golfers here is high, and members of the controversial LIV are surprisingly included. By comparison, 2K ditched them to reflect the PGA ban.

The sound presentation is impactful. The buzz of the audience falls silent as soon as they notice your avatar is focusing on their next shot. There’s the very natural chatter of the commentators, too, and the soundscape is something you will notice right from your first shot.

On the other hand, the camera can be a bit messy from time to time, making it so you’re not able to even see your shot loading bar when you are close to the boundaries of the course. When putting, the colored grid on the ground can make it confusing to find the hole.

It’ll be interesting to see how EA Sports can keep up with its live service, as the developer promises to follow the actual golf season and aims at cultivating a multiplayer scene. The foundations laid by this reintroduction will only shape a great series by listening to player feedback for the games to come.

As of today, EA Sports PGA Tour is a very solid starting point for the franchise, and one that allows EA Sports to get back in the game.

Score: 7/10

Version tested: PC

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Screen Rant

Ea sports pga tour 23 review: beautifully realistic golf.

EA Sports PGA Tour combines incredibly detailed realism with an equally incredibly difficult learning curve in this stunning new golf game.

EA Sports PGA Tour is focused on getting the most detail-oriented, technologically possible approach for a realistic golf video game. Developer EA Orlando & EA Madrid and publisher Electronic Arts acquired exclusive licensing to include the top golf tournaments. The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open Championship, and The Open are all represented, along with the Augusta National Women's Amateur, the FedExCup, and many more.

In a Screen Rant PGA Tour interview , developers talked about what went into the course design process to make EA Sports PGA Tour as realistic as possible with the 30 courses currently available. The game is designed to feel incredibly immersive from the ground up and is genuinely photo-realistic on machines that are capable of handling the highest graphic settings.

Related: Every Course In EA Sports PGA Tour

EA Sports PGA Tour is stunning, and on the highest graphics settings, even the crowds along the sides of each course can feel realistic. The physics are crafted to take into account the slightest changes in the environment, swing controls, and more with a mind-blowing amount of things to tweak to get each shot just right. Unfortunately, this also creates a very steep learning curve for any casual players of the game, without a lot of leeways given when an amateur is truly an amateur.

Just as in a real-life golf career, as a player improves their golf game, they get to progress through different championships and events. EA Sports PGA Tour offers different ways to work on practicing, whether through trying to play through the Korn Tour, attempting to beat Challenges that the game sets up for players, grabbing a friend for some of the many multiplayer modes, or simply working on beating a player's own score in Stroke play.

The sports announcers in EA Sports PGA Tour are highly entertaining. Though it can be discouraging to hear the announcers making comments when things are going poorly during a round, the voice-over work is very smooth and features a large enough library of commentary that repeated statements are uncommon. This can help bring a person into the game and adds a lot to the immersion.

The Challenges mode within EA Sports PGA Tour offers several unique snapshots from games where a player is placed in a certain situation, often with a backstory of a real-life occurrence that event came from, and then are given three criteria they must accomplish to complete the Challenge.

Physics and environmental data were all closely analyzed in creating EA Sports PGA Tour , even to ensure that the ball behaves with next-gen responsiveness. When a shot is made, whether a long drive or a short putt, the ball will spin, bounce, dribble, and roll just as it would in real life on that course. Golf swing mechanics are applied based on the players' own movements with the controller, and according to developers, the use of EA Sports Pure Strike technology with PGA Tour ShotLink and TrackMan data gives a highly accurate result of what would have happened on a real golf course.

Considering how much of the player character is seen throughout the game, both in cut scenes and in lining up every shot, EA Sports PGA Tour should have made more options for character design. The women's hair in particular is poorly created considering the impressive technology used everywhere else. Currently, there seem to also be some bugs in registering swing mechanics with a controller joystick, which can be game-breaking with the amount of precision necessary for EA Sports PGA Tour . While hopefully that will be corrected with updates, at the time of this review, it made an already challenging game nearly impossible.

EA Sports PGA Tour is an absolutely beautiful and immersive golf game with a very realistic feel. The game can be quite demanding on even some of the better systems, so PC users should be forewarned to check the requirements and be ready to turn down graphic settings. It is a challenging game, but still a lot of fun and is a great foundation for players to become better with the ability to see true growth happening as they continue to practice, as long as the player has enough patience to get there.

Source: EA SPORTS PGA TOUR/YouTube

EA Sports PGA Tour is available now for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Screen Rant was provided with a Steam download code for the purpose of this review.

EA Sports PGA Tour Reviews

Slick, high-tech, and impeccably well designed; this is the best golf game of the modern era and the new standard for others to aspire to.

Read full review

EA Sports PGA Tour captures the intricate nuance of golfing. However, the systems struggle with what a user can reasonably decipher from a mere analog stick, leading to a frustrating experience. EA Sports PGA Tour is a game at odds with whether it wants to compete with rival 2K’s realism or veer closer to its own more arcade roots, and in the process, lands its first drive on this new round in the rough.

EA returns to the world of golf with a challenging and rewarding title that's let down by a couple of inconsistencies and an underwhelming swing mechanic.

As a comeback, EA Sports PGA Tour performs well enough to compete with PGA 2K23 on fairly even footing. The inclusion of all four majors, the solid ball physics, the wider arsenal of shots, and the long list of official courses are impressive, though the presentation can be flat, laggy, and rough. If EA decides to turn this into an annualized sports franchise, the next installment will need to revamp the character creator and rework the user interfaces. Despite the game's flaws, though, I can still see myself casually playing it throughout the year alongside other sports games like MLB The Show 23. It’s been a while since we’ve seen two established developers battle each other within the same sport, and I’m all for it. At the very least, golf games will be made all the better from the competition.

EA Sports PGA Tour is a good golf simulation that marks the return of the series after years of absence from the green, even if EA Tiburon hasn't managed to make a "hole in one" despite offering satisfying gameplay. The realization of the courses and the physics of the ball is truly remarkable, while the pleasant visual appearance clashes with some technical defects linked to an imperfect use of Frostbite. Overall, EA Sports PGA Tour is an enjoyable gaming experience, designed primarily for golf enthusiasts.

Review in Italian | Read full review

EA dazzles with its re-entry onto the fairways with EA Sports PGA Tour, which is comfortably the best golf game in years.

EA's return to the course is a surprisingly understated and supremely accomplished golf sim

The controls can be tough to get the hang of, but the visuals are stunning, the commentary impressive and the play itself gives you all the challenge and realism you could want

A technically solid game that has some pretty glaring issues with presentation, I still found myself going back to play round after round. It's challenging and rewarding, even if it's not the best entry in the long history of golf titles.

As golf games go, this is the most fun I have had in a while. It's a massive improvement over recent years' titles. The career mode is both addictive and rewarding, it's full of contact and the presentation is both cinematic and beautiful. A few issues will not get in the way of what I think is the best golf sim around at the moment. Let's hit the greens, people!

I wanted to love EA Sports PGA Tour. Though I find myself as disappointed as Bart Simpson was when he got Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge for Christmas. The initial gameplay showcase had me as excited as a kid in a candy store. There’s no denying it’s a gorgeous game. Course flyovers and commentary are also superb. But these fleeting moments of brilliance make PGA Tour’s missteps all the more frustrating. Until EA gets under the hood and performs the mountain of work required to get it up to snuff, I’ll be sticking to PGA Tour 2K23. At least that game works.

EA Sports PGA Tour is a game that fails to unleash its full potential. It offers a considerable amount of content and a rather realistic game structure, with some graphical bugs and some ques-tionable choices in the game modes (especially in the Career) that slow down its race to success. This is a good starting point which that could improve along the way.

EA Sports PGA Tour proves what the publisher is capable of at its pomp: this is a jaw-droppingly beautiful sports game, with a sublime selection of licensed courses and a surprising amount of depth. Its demanding swing mechanic is slightly let down by a sluggish frame rate, but its single player is boosted by a strong sense of progression – and in multiplayer there's tons to do. This is an impressively strong effort overall, and a sign of good things to come ahead of the company's other anticipated comeback, EA Sports College Football.

EA Sports PGA Tour bring you to the field again after a long stand by, but now it's time to come back to try to be the best Golf player around the world. With impressive physics and amazing modes to get fun and a bunch of content. The king of the Golf is back.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

EA Sports returns to virtual courts with a visually stunning PGA Tour.

Golf – and therefore EA Sports PGA Tour – is not a simple game, but my feelings towards it can be expressed simply. It feels like playing the sport, and it’s hard to ask for much more than that.

Despite competition from PGA Tour 2K23, EA Sports PGA Tour manages to set itself apart with polished presentation, tight mechanics, and impressive visuals. While a shortage of customisation options is disappointing, there's no arguing with the overall quality that EA's return to video game golf has to offer.

EA Sports PGA Tour is somewhat, par for the course, in many ways what I expected, retaining much of the previous few entries while adding more gameplay options and better simulation than ever before.

It has its fair share of issues, but there's more than enough in EA Sports PGA Tour to keep newcomers and golf pros occupied. It's a solid step forward for the EA Sports golf titles, and a welcome return to the course.

With so many ways to test your skills and so many gorgeous courses to explore, EA has bounced back with a long-awaited PGA installment that seems entirely focused on pleasing the fans. There's so much to do and so many challenges to conquer that any golf fan should be preoccupied and satisfied with this game for quite some time. And when courses look this gorgeous, playing a virtual 18 holes at your favorite location will never get old. I'd say EA is more than deserving of a resounding golf clap.

EA Sports PGA Tour Review (PS5) – Swing When You’re Winning

Sebastian Hawden / April 26, 2023

EA Sports PGA Tour PS5 Review. Grab your driver, don some funky trousers and let’s hit the course in PGA Tour: Road To The Masters, the latest in EA’s long-running golf sim franchise. I’ve had a long history with these games, and needless to say they have had their ups and downs along the way, so let’s see how this latest one shapes up.

I have fond memories of me and a few friends crowded around my kitchen table playing PGA Tour 97. We all loved every second of it. The beauty of the course, the serene mood and the tactical nature of tackling each hole’s puzzle was something we all adored. Plus destroying friends on the course is always entertaining, especially when they land a shot into the drink!

PGA Tour (PS5) – A Good Walk Spoiled

Par for the course.

So, PGA Tour, focuses mainly on the sport’s four major events. Along with these big events the game comes with about 30 courses, of which there is a nice variety as well as tournaments you can enter – which is one of features that matter here. It’s like tracks in racing games; you need fresh scenery and course layouts to keep things exciting.

This entry to the PGA series is also chock full of modes, challenges and gameplay types to keep any golfer occupied for a while. There are online tournaments, online matchups, friendly games and challenges. However, the career mode and how its structured is what really won me over – I could not stop playing the damn thing.

Role Playing Golf

What made it so addictive is the slight RPG nature of proceedings. You create your character using one of the worst character creators I have ever seen (more on that later) and you go off on your journey to become the number-one golfer in the world. The issue with this is you need to improve both your stats and skills in the game to get there and it was glorious.

I started out with rubbish stats and the skillset to match but over the course of many fairways, hundreds of drives and putts of all varieties I brought it back around. I got better at the game and at the same time, as my golfer participated in events, I could improve his stats, unlock new shot types and pick up new equipment. I found this very rewarding, extremely interesting and much better than the last career mode I played in a PGA Tour game.

I did have a slight foray into the multiplayer side of things and everything worked as you expect. I like the simultaneous play, no waiting for folks to take their shots and rounds flew by. The connectivity and gameplay were smooth and very entertaining. I imagine this would be great with friends using microphones with a few beers and shouting obscenities at each other.

In terms of mechanics, I particularly enjoyed the amount of customization and options there were for tailoring this golf experience to your liking. You can change your swing difficulty and type, and the developers have even added the old-school three-click swing from the older games. This version of PGA Tour can be played by most people, no matter their skill level. Inclusivity is awesome!

A Golf Game For All

I also really enjoyed the putting mechanism in this game. The combined effects of a green grid and putting preview line made most putts easy to read. This means that most putts I missed were my fault. I hit it too hard or did not read the undulations correctly. Nowhere is this more prevalent than judging your power, I rarely overhit or underhit putts and when I did it was my swing that was to fault, rather than the game presentation of the green’s ups and downs.

From a presentation standpoint the game looks fantastic at times. Apart from my character model, which I still hate, I really enjoyed strolling through PGA Tour’s meticulously crafted golf courses. Lush greens, lovely lakes and fabulous shrubbery surround every round you play, making for a graphically-pleasing experience.

On the sound front, it’s pretty much the same thing. The commentary, even though it repeats sometimes is overall pretty solid, witty and entertaining. We have a few golf experts onboard, and their commentary really fits what is happening on screen and really makes each round feel like an authentic PGA event. The music was a bit lacking but let’s be honest, no one plays a golf game for its soundtrack.

A Character Creator From A Distant Past

I did have a few issues with this game, it’s not all sunshine, fairways and rainbows. The character creator for example is tosh. I could only pick from a few faces and the amount of customization I could do could fit on the back of a post-it note. It was so poor and it really set me off on the wrong foot when I first started up the game.

I also had a few weird camera shenanigans, which fortunately seem to have been fixed with the latest patch. In any case, there were a few shots where buildings or other obstructions at the side of the course would completely obscure my character. I could not judge my swing, prepare my shot or anything. These were rare issues and I haven’t encountered them since the last patch.

Well Under Par

PGA Tour is a brilliant golf sim. It can be tailored to any playstyle and skill level. The career mode is both rewarding and addictive, watching your skills and character get better over time is brilliant. The multiplayer options are well implemented and the amount of content, modes and things to do is vast. Yes, there’s a niggly issue or two but overall, this game is the best PGA Tour outing for years. FORE!

PGA Tour is now available on PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.

Review code kindly provided by publisher.

The Final Word

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EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters is a golf game unlike any other

EA Sports PGA Tour: Road to the Masters is out now.

Didn’t score Masters tickets this year? Still trying to cope with the fact you might never peg it at Augusta National? Those things might not change, but you can still visit Augusta … virtually.

For the first time since 2013, Augusta National is back in video game form with the latest release of EA Sports PGA Tour.

EA Sports, known for its popular Madden NFL and FIFA titles, is relaunching its popular golf series in 2023 for the first time since 2015 — and it’s bringing back the home of the Masters as part of it all.

Augusta National hasn’t been in the game since 2014, the last time the series was released under the “Tiger Woods” name. Augusta is one of 30 different courses now available on the new game, with more courses — like major hosts Oak Hill and Los Angeles Country Club — coming online as those majors get underway.

EA’s return to the golf world means that golf gamers have the option between two PGA Tour-licensed golf games for the first time. 2K Sports released its third PGA Tour-licensed game, PGA Tour 2K23 with Tiger Woods, last fall.

The EA game was officially launched on Masters Friday, and we at GOLF have been putting it through the wringer to see if it’s a worthy golf simulation game. Here’s what we learned.

What we liked

Graphics and Aesthetics: In the run-up to the release of the game, the EA Development Team credited significant advancements in video game visual technology with bringing the series back from its nearly decade-long hiatus.

They weren’t kidding. Not only do the courses look stunning — EA producer Ben Ramsour told GOLF a screenshot of Augusta’s 13th green was mistaken for a photograph — but also the swing animations have finally started to appear lifelike.

You can really see EA’s attention to detail with the equipment highlighted in the game. From Callaway and TaylorMade drivers to Scotty Cameron putters, most of the game’s most modern offerings are available to users. And it all looks like the real thing. EA even brought insane detail into recreations of the trophies from golf’s majors, which brings us to the next item…

The four majors : Unlike the 2K games, EA Sports PGA Tour features exclusive rights to all four of the men’s major championships, meaning that the majors are now playable in career mode. That also goes for the U.S. Amateur, as well as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. You can also play in the LPGA’s Evian Championship .

Each major has a unique broadcast package, with specific lines of dialogue from the broadcast team — a solid grouping that reunites Rich Lerner with Frank Nobilo, Notah Begay III and Iona Stephen. Nick Faldo even handles a spine-tingling intro for the Masters.

Career mode : You have three options of where to start your career: as an amateur in either the U.S. Am or the ANWA, a pro playing on the Korn Ferry Tour or by skipping those steps and heading straight to the PGA Tour.

I chose to start as an amateur, winning the U.S. Amateur to qualify for both the Masters and U.S. Open. My player made the cut on the number at Augusta (I have yet to break 71 there, more on that in a bit) and then earned a solid top 10 at the U.S. Open. Eventually, I’ll have to tackle Korn Ferry Tour Q-School before advancing up the ranks into the world of the PGA Tour.

As you play rounds or challenges, which can range from easy to very difficult, you earn XP to level up your golfer and earn skill points to improve your ratings and add shot selections to your repertoire.

Gameplay and shot types: Finally, a golf game has done justice to the stinger and the knockdown, two of my favorite shots. You have to level up your golfer enough to unlock these speciality shots — at which point you need to learn how to use them — but it’s fun to see a game actually delve into shot-making.

I’ve been playing on a custom difficulty in between the two most-difficult settings, “Tour” and “Simulation.” This means my shots are penalized or rewarded for timing, my clubs are recommended to me by carry distance, not total yardage, and I don’t get putt previews or shot trails. In the past, I’ve found golf video games were too easy in the mid-difficulty levels and far too difficult at the harder settings. With the latest EA offering, I’ve found a balance that allows me to shoot some “normal” scores that a pro would shoot on a real course.

The actual swing mechanic works nicely into the user interface. Some people have noticed some lagging in the timing, but it rarely impacts me significantly.

That said, Augusta National is hard. I mean, seriously hard, especially around the greens. I have yet to break 71 there and it’s mostly due to the crazy slope in the greens. That makes not only putting difficult but also chipping and approach shots.

Thanks to new ball flight and ball behavior settings, shots seem to react like they would at ANGC. Miss the tiny plateau in the upper right corner of 6 green? You’re going all the way back to the front left corner. Come up short on 9? You’ll be rewarded with a fun 50-yard pitch. Go long of the Sunday pin on 18? Good luck with that putt.

As expected, you also won’t get the same kind of spin at say, Bandon Dunes or St. Andrews, where the ball bounces and bounds like a true links course. These tendencies are independent of what the course setting is too. “Tournament” conditions at St. Andrews will naturally be firmer than at Augusta, but green speeds in Georgia will be quicker.

What could be better

I’m no video game expert (I only ever buy golf and basketball games at this point) but here’s what I, as a golfer, would like to see.

Short game: Short shots have always been the toughest to replicate in video games for some reason. Thanks to the new ball behavior, putting from off the green is finally reasonably accurate. The game also added a spinner shot, basically a lower pitch that checks, which I found myself using most of the time once I unlocked it. However, I still find myself using the flop shot at times I wouldn’t in relief simply because it spins way more than it should, even out of the rough. Also, where the spinner checks a little, the regular pitch and chip shots don’t. It would be very hard to recreate Tiger’s chip-in from the 2005 Masters.

Real-world weather : I believe the previous EA games had access to real-world weather that would allow you to play courses in real-time conditions. I would love to see that again as the tournaments I’ve played had random wind directions and speeds each day. Plus, the PGA is in May now — no way there’s perfect weather all the time!

Parting thoughts

The graphics and actual shot types make this game a must-have for any golf-loving video gamer or a video game-loving golfer. But then again, a golf game with Augusta National might be enough to earn “must-have” status alone.

After Tiger Woods’ 2K23 game came out around the same time this one was teased, I thought more people would gravitate toward 2K thanks to Tiger’s name (which was part of the success of EA’s previous games ).

But EA deserves a big chunk of the market share with this game. They knocked it out of the park with a vastly superior experience both from a visuals and gameplay standpoint. Would I love to play with Tiger in this game? Yes — but I’d argue having access to some of the best venues in golf is more important. I’d also love to figure out how to use EA’s graphics on a golf simulator, because the game has some of the best golf visuals I’ve ever seen.

EA Sports PGA Tour is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox S|X and PC; the standard edition costs $69.99 and the deluxe edition costs $84.99.

EA Sports PGA Tour

Latest in lifestyle, love the famous azalea cocktail here are 5 other floral-inspired drinks with major flavor, this muni costs $28 to play. here's why pga tour pros were raving about it, masters 101: 9 ways to host the ultimate masters watch party, how reddit has attracted a tight-knit golf community of nearly 1 million members.

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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EA Sports PGA Tour review – Masters-ful golf sim

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After years in the rough EA returns with a new PGA Tour golf game that brings back the glory days of the Tiger Woods era.

Golf, that most traditional – some would argue staid – of sports, offers a window into a bygone age. At least, it used to, before an attempt at a modernising, disruptive coup was launched in the form of the LIV Tour, a rival to the PGA and European Tours (the latter now renamed the DP World Tour), offering over-the-top rewards for its rebel players.

So far, the traditionalists have held firm: despite some high-profile defections, the LIV Tour has failed to acquire much credibility. A similar scenario is playing out in the field of golf games . For over a decade EA’s PGA Tour games, most of them headlined by Tiger Woods, dominated the field but the last entry was the poorly received Rory McIlroy PGA Tour in 2015. In the meantime, 2K has also started its own line of golf games although last year’s PGA Tour 2K23 was equally disappointing.

This new EA Sports PGA Tour, which doesn’t share its name with any particular golfer, is clearly an attempt to regain its former glories, and sales success. The end result is the best golf sim in a very long time and a considerably better game than would-be rival PGA Tour 2K23.

EA Sports PGA Tour is not only relentlessly high-tech – no golf-game has ever looked or felt so startlingly like the real thing – but demonstrates impressive attention to detail throughout. For example, when you jump into its flagship Career mode, which casts you as a rookie on the PGA Tour (although you can opt to start on the amateur or Korn Ferry tours), it’s impossible to ignore how closely its gameplay mimics the real-life PGA Tour TV coverage.

There are 30 of the most iconic PGA Tour venues at launch, along with the likes of St Andrews’ Old Course, and all the remaining courses for the year’s majors will be added post-launch – so we’re promised. They all look stunning; no golf-game has ever got so close to photorealism. Nor sounded so good: the commentary is equally good with the team familiar from PGA Tour coverage reminiscing about Arnold Palmer as they would in real life, while you negotiate your way around the Bay Hill Invitational.

In terms of feel, EA Sports PGA Tour also gets it absolutely spot-on. You have to think very carefully about how to adjust your approach to shots from different types of rough, bunkers, pine needle-strewn paths and the like, just as in real life. There’s one proviso, though, as EA Sports PGA Tour doesn’t give you an option to control your swing via button presses, instead insisting that you use the more modern method of aping a swing via analogue-stick movement.

However, you can assign your swing to either left or right sticks, and there is a vast array of shots on offer via thoroughly intuitive modifiers that easily let you apply draw or fade, or take high and low approaches according to wind conditions.

There are many elements to EA Sports PGA Tour; as well as Career, you can jump into Quick Play which boasts a number of matchplay formats, play online against random people, set up private tournaments with your mates, or take on Challenges which range from coaching to recreating classic real-life moments from previous PGA Tour events – via skill-testing designed to show off the equipment of potential sponsors.

Yes, EA Sports PGA Tour includes lootboxes, it is, after all, an EA Sports game. But at least it doesn’t aggressively spam you to spend real-life money on them, confining them primarily to the Challenges section as rewards for demonstrating your skills. Amongst the virtual tat they bring (depictions of clothing and equipment from real-life golfing equipment brands) you also get XP which helps generate skill points, but none of it is necessary to progress.

EA Sports PGA Tour has a role-playing style skills tree which, like the rest of the game, manages to be deep and complex without causing confusion. Its skills are split into the likes of driving, approach, short-game, and putting, and there’s also a crucial power category which lets you beef up all aspects of your game, which eats up big chunks of skill points.

On each branch of the tree, as you progress, you unlock new, ever more exotic types of shots, which come in particularly handy when you find yourself in tricky situations. A consequence of the skills tree’s presence is that if, say, you jump straight into a PGA Tour season in Career mode, it seems quite hard at first. You won’t be able to drive over 300 yards until you’ve upgraded your core power considerably, nor will your short-game include trick shots so, for a while, you’ll struggle to get close to flags from, say, the rough or greenside bunkers.

Roughly every other event you enter, you will level up and earn skill points. So with the Career mode’s emphasis on qualifying for the Masters (which takes place as EA Sports PGA Tour goes on sale) you should have levelled up sufficiently to compete by the time it comes around. The coaching section in Challenges comes in handy, too, walking you through the considerable subtleties of the control system.

Another aspect of the Career mode which works well is that it doesn’t force you to play entire four-round competitions unless you choose to, but by default splits PGA Tour events into individual days, in which you play a mere selection of the holes. So you might, for example, have to pull off a few birdies to make the second-day cut and if you do, you’ll then be presented with the third day as if it were a new event. That format brings a sense of narrative thrust, and makes you feel as though you’re improving very rapidly, as your golfer’s attributes and array of shots improve with alacrity.

You can, of course, spend hours tinkering around with the physical aspects of your golfer, to make them look as much like you as possible. There are plenty of options for creating female golfers, as well as depictions of real-life LPGA golfers in the game, but it currently only has one LPGA event – albeit a major: the Amundi Evian Championship.

EA Sports PGA Tour is, quite simply, one of the best golf games we’ve ever played. It’s certainly the most technically accomplished, it plays beautifully, and it looks and sounds incredible. Like all the best golf games it also has a soothing quality to it, even if you do find that you tend to crack under the pressure and make frustrating mistakes.

When you find yourself in contention at The Players’ Championship, say, it’s incredibly exhilarating, and as you transform from a weedy 220-yard driver with no short-game into a Masters contender, there’s a huge amount of satisfaction to be had.

If you’re a golf enthusiast with a modern console, EA Sports PGA Tour is pretty much an essential purchase, especially given that its Career mode is geared towards letting you vicariously enjoy the thrill of contending in the Masters. And even if you wouldn’t dream of playing a round of golf in real life, it’s such a professionally put together and deeply enjoyable game that you would do well to check it out.

EA Sports PGA Tour review summary

In Short: Slick, high-tech, and impeccably well designed; this is the best golf game of the modern era and the new standard for others to aspire to.

Pros: Looks incredible, with great commentary and clever RPG-style skills progression. Great Masters-centric Career mode, nuanced control system, and nicely judged challenges.

Cons: Unaccountably lacks the LPGA Tour. No traditional control system option. Sadly, includes lootboxes.

Score: 9/10

Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X, and PC Price: £69.99 Publisher: EA Developer: EA Tiburon Release Date: 7th April 2023 Age Rating: 3

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EA Sports PGA Tour review - Gold standard of golf

PGA Tour is the first EA golf game in eight years

the entrance to Augusta national golf course

Published: 14 Apr 2023 2:29 PM +00:00 Updated: 14 Apr 2023 2:29 PM +00:00

Golf is a hard sport. Since returning to it during lockdown in 2020, I’ve found myself saying “golf’s a shit sport” more than once as I somehow slice a drive into the only bunker on the first hole at my local course, but also celebrating as a second shot lands perfectly on the dancefloor.

Few golf games embrace that side of the sport as a real sim. Everybody’s golf, while great, was more about aesthetics, and 2K’s PGA Tour games are pretty accessible.

EA’s PGA Tour , which is the publisher’s return to golf after eight years away, is a golf game that stays true to the sport, and it gets most things right.

Tee to green

The swing mechanics are pretty spot on, hitting that sweet spot between tough to perfect and simple enough to gradually improve.

Rather than the three-hit points system you’ll see in the likes of Everybody’s Golf, EA’s PGA Tour asks you to swing back with the right stick to the right point and then swing back down as straight as you can manage.

Get the apex of your backswing perfect and nail the narrow window to be straight on the downswing and your shot will go close to where you aimed. It’s a satisfying, challenging, and easy-to-understand core mechanic. The downswing direction sure does take some time to get to grips with, though.

However, that’s not all you have to worry about. You need to consider the impact of your ball’s lie on your shot, how strong and in what direction the wind is blowing, how far the hole is above or below you, and whether the ball is above or below your feet.

All of those things, on top of the quality of your swing, determine the club you should use and where your shot will end up.

Of course, you’re not left completely to your own devices. You don’t have to be a weatherman or be able to determine distance to the nearest foot over 500 yards, with the game giving you all the information you need. You just need to consider how all those aspects will affect where the ball will go after you hit it.

Getting it right and nailing the green on a second shot on a par 5 or trickling in a chip from the fringe of the green is so, so satisfying.

Then, as you play more and more, visiting different courses from around the world, you become more consistent and more comfortable with taking risks when aiming for a great score.

The occasional issue with ball placement after hitting hazards and some putting line suggestions being a bit off aren’t enough to really frustrate. Golf is a frustrating sport at the best of times, but EA has done a good job of limiting it.

PGA Tour has a really fun learning curve as you make your way through the amateur ranks and up to the Masters. The balance in the difficulty is perfect.

a character taking their first shot in PGA Tour

There’s also an upgrade system that affects your ball striking in all situations. As you level up and spend skill points, you can improve your driving distance, approach control, putting accuracy, and many other things, all while unlocking new types of shot for your character.

The actual character creation tool is limited, which is disappointing, but the upgrade system once you start the career is another feature that keeps the actual golf feeling fresh.

There are also challenges to test your skills on while trying to earn rewards. They’re well-designed and varied, but they could use some kind of feedback loop to help you understand how to improve on them.

Content and Courses

PGA Tour is also the most visually impressive and content-rich golf game ever. The Frostbite engine makes every course look stunning. The lighting, which changes as you tee off at different times of the day, makes every fairway and green look photo realistic.

Playing the iconic Augusta National course while watching Jon Rahm win the Masters there last weekend, I couldn’t believe how perfectly the place had been recreated.

Image of the crowd and a player in PGA Tour

Having the ability to play some of the best holes in golf is brilliant, but I didn’t expect it to look so good.

The addition of crowds to the game’s 30 courses also drastically improves the experience, making each round feel like a televised tournament rather than a simple solo round. It’s something that’s been sorely missed from the golf game competition, so I’m glad it’s included here.

Whether it be alone as you work through the career mode, having so many courses to play, many of which are iconic ones from the real tour, is brilliant. Some are a lot more challenging than others, so your skills continue to be tested in different ways.

All in all though, PGA Tour is the best golf game to be released in a long time. I just hope I can continue to get better at it.

EA Sports PGA Tour was reviewed on PlayStation 5 with code provided by the publisher.

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EA Sports PGA Tour Review

EA returns to the PGA with an inconsistent, frustrating simulation, struggling with its identity. While gorgeous, with pro golf’s best interactive presentation, the on-the-course action delivers inconsistent results.

In licensing, EA wins, scoring the Masters and key courses like Pebble Beach. Presentation counts, like the Masters’ first day showing opening tee shots from Jack Nicklaus and others. Quiet commentary meaningfully discusses each hole during flybys. Gorgeous vistas line the courses, and every individually rendered blade of grass is visible, even on the fairway. Each hole is lined with realistic-looking spectators, but their lack of reaction when struck with a ball removes the immersion.

Prestige comes with a cost – this is a daunting golf sim. Fairways and greens seem stuck on their hardest/fastest setting. The analog stick swing functions logically, but results vary, with little feedback on what sent a tee shot slicing toward trees. Each stroke accounts for forward and backswing speed, length, loft, and wind. That’s true to the sport, as any one of those can cause a botched shot, yet EA’s PGA Tour doesn’t allow a sense of what’s going wrong at the moment.

With the ball airborne, a small window shows the analog stick’s motion, and any left/right deviation (no matter how small) means a drastic gaffe. This becomes more forgiving when leveling, however marginal the gain. Greens present a useless guide showing the best ball track but no indication of what that line represents to help aim. Even on easy, if the swing is a smidgen off in power or straightness, it misses, short putt or not.

Elements from EA’s retired Tiger Woods series remain. Notably returning is the chance to jam a button for power during the backswing and add spin as the ball goes skyward, a wholly unrealistic option. That’s the crisis facing EA Sports PGA Tour, trapped with the studio’s arcade-esque legacy while competing with golf-sim rival 2K Sports.

Setting up a career (the only long-term single-player mode), the disappointing character creator limits your options. Only generic heads and an abysmally small line of clothes fill the menus, the latter widening via the in-game shop.

From there, it’s a matter of entering tournaments, playing majors, and leveling up. Earning XP happens quickly at first, but the final stages in each stat take way too long, and the currency accumulates just as slowly. Meanwhile, PGA Tour pesters players to spend between $5 to $50 on in-game cash for new shirts or a +3 club power boost to speed up this process. When combined with the slow progress, the pressure to spend feels overt.

Training challenges offer sponsorships and XP, but it’s clumsy and tedious. Each typically lasts for a few swings – say, a driving accuracy test – then back to a loading screen, then the menu.

Graphical beauty can occasionally create problems. Before a crucial Masters tee shot, a fan’s body blocked the swing meter. Tall grass does the same, even if it’s translucent. Power becomes a guess because the meter doesn’t show, making the already-brutal difficulty unfair.

Leveling allows additional swing types, like power drives, to ease the challenge. These fit EA’s brand, akin to Madden’s X-Factors, but like the backswing button mashing, they seem like misfits in a game true to golf. While some shot types make sense, it’s illogical that many of these need to be unlocked in the first place; imagine going to the PGA without basic skills.

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EA Sports PGA Tour brings true golf authenticity back to the fore

Fairway to heaven - EA's return brings all four majors, proper RPG golf, and more

The return of an EA golf game has its surprisingly vocal community very excited, and with good reason: EA Sports PGA Tour looks incredibly promising. Over the seven years since the last EA game, there's been a bit of a hole for golf fans. The Golf Club series and more recent 2K titles have gently scratched the itch, but for many, there's always been something missing. From what I saw at a recent preview for EA's upcoming return, that looks set to change. Proper golf games are back.

Ever since the teaser trailer for EA Sports PGA Tour, narrated by Jordan Spieth and showing Augusta National, the messaging was clear: only in EA's game can you play the major tournaments, and become a true hall of famer. "We want to put you on the first tee in the shoes of a major champion," says lead producer David Baker. "Everything we've built, more than any other game before, has been designed to make you feel like a major championship golfer." Owning this territory and being the only game to offer all four majors – the most-requested feature from fans – immediately puts it above its predecessors. The last EA installment, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, only had two of the majors, and PGA 2K23 's major schedule is also light and a bit disappointing.

Tiger Uppercut

This approach to offering the best courses and tournaments extends to offering 30 'bucket list' courses at launch. Each one has been meticulously surveyed for their recreation. Using EA's Frostbite engine, these courses look fantastic, serving up the new-gen visuals committed swingers have waited for. The landscape designer in me loves the fact that these courses aren't just dev-made or researched. They've been made by liaising with geologists, utilizing low-flying helicopters, and the Masters' private database. Each tree is correctly placed, and each color of Azalea is right for the Augusta National course at the time of the Masters.

However pretty the settings, gameplay is paramount. Thankfully, EA appears to understand this. "While the game looks and reacts ultra realistically, at the end of the day, it's a video game," says producer Ben Ramsour. "The core mechanics have to be approachable, easy to learn, and fun." On first impressions, the golf swing mechanics, and shot-making underlying the 'Pure strike' system, look excellent. It channels authentic, smooth, and fun swing play with impressive nuances and shot craft.

Just like the courses themselves, this is all underpinned by real-world data. There are 20 shot types, unique trajectories for the ball based on clubs and shots, and redesigned ball behaviors – all contributing to a total of more than 1300 unique physics profiles. These then culminate in providing "unique golf swings that have a fluid feel, and lead to realistic outcomes on every golf shot". Given that swing mechanics are informed by ShotLink and Trackman data – genuine tools that real-world pros and players use – there could be no better virtual recreation of a golf swing, especially with the number of dedicated shot types and shaping options available to players.

"Every time you approach the ball, you don't only choose your club, but also the type of shot you want to hit," says gameplay designer Craig Penner. "These shot types add a wonderful new layer of depth to every shot, so that as your mastery and understanding of each shot type grows. You'll start to think and plan your way around the course just like a pro."

There's solid potential for the game's deep and multi-layered golf mechanics to elevate it well above that offered by the 2K games. The mix of specialist shots and shaping tactics looks greater already, and even the way it's presented appears purer and closer to real golf. For example, there's a swing arc that tracks the path of the club neatly but also shows you where you deviate from it; something that sits very nicely in terms of real-life golf simulation. Naturally, in real life, the swing arc is open to error and alteration, especially as you improve at the game, so seeing this as something that can change based on your play, and not just rely on a 'line on a ball' graphic in the HUD, is very welcome.

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Nine-iron man

The same level of thought and authenticity is also present in the career mode. Often the standout of previous EA golf games, the depth and intricacies of taking your created player - male, female, or gender-neutral – from the toils of being a hack entering the amateur tour, all the way to winning majors is back with a vengeance. While 2K's series offers a simple career, and 2K23 saw some boosts to that, your player could still bomb 300-yard drives from the off. In EA Sports PGA Tour, you gradually improve and progress your player by spending earned XP, learning and adding new shot types to your arsenal, and by enhancing your skills. The choices you make can be meaningful to your game and also crucial to getting you in a position to master particular courses. 'Course Fit' is a feature that measures a course's demands against your skill level to give an indication of the level of challenge, and a blueprints system helps you tune your equipment too.

Those who prefer their pitch and putt to take place online are also well served. You can play social unranked matches with similarly skilled players, with friends to ensure level playing fields, or social modes offline for more casual play – be it match play, alternate shot, or other modes. You can play competitively too. This ranked matchmaking is designed "to test your skills in numerous game types, including nine and 18-hole parameters", Baker describes. Such online tournaments will be "limited-time events for players to go in by themselves and submit a score to a global leaderboard."

At the end of such an event, the game gives you a final rank earning you rank points based on finishing position. A particularly intriguing multiplayer mode that caught my eye was where you play holes simultaneously with other players – up to 16 of you – with all the sounds and shots flying everywhere at the same time.

Modern sports games such as FIFA 23 and NBA 2K23 are all about live content. EA is keen to keep up with the Woodses in a similar vein. It's planning more courses that mirror real-world tournaments. A three-click swing action is also in the works, and there will be other promising updates like regular challenges inspired by real-world events. "As new history is made at current tournaments, we can rapidly craft challenges to mirror what players are watching in the real world," says Baker. If there's a hole-in-one at a particular event, then players of EA Sports PGA Tour will be challenged to recreate it. Along with a ton of extra gear, attire, and clubs that are coming throughout 2023, there's going to be more 'game' coming after release to get our teeth into.

Maybe I have some rose-tinted glasses on, yearning so much for the halcyon days of Tiger Woods 2005, but the early signs of EA Sports PGA Tour are excellent. It looks like the "'proper golf RPG" and journey fans have yearned for is back for good. The handicaps of the last few years have seemingly been conquered, and EA Sports PGA Tour should please both new and long-term fans down to a tee.

EA Sports PGA Tour is one of the new games for 2023 worth watching, and it's set to release on March 24 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Rob is the Deputy Editor of sister site, TechRadar Gaming, and has been in the games and tech industry for years. Prior to a recent stint as Gaming Editor at WePC, Rob was the Commissioning Editor for Hardware at GamesRadar+, and was on the hardware team for more than four years, since its inception in late 2018. He is also a writer on games and has had work published over the last six years or so at the likes of Eurogamer, RPS, PCGN, and more. He is also a qualified landscape and garden designer, so does that in his spare time, while he is also an expert on the virtual landscapes and environments of games and loves to write about them too, including in an upcoming book on the topic !

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EA Sports PGA Tour – Road to the Masters Review | A Master in the Making?

EA Sports PGA Tour Road to the Masters – the golf game presumed to make a strong comeback after being MIA for the last eight years. Speculations were that this title was meant to come in, use the latest tech, come up with new initiatives, and knock its competitors out of the park. So, did it exceed expectations?

Features such as the Puke Strike, Ball Behavior, the long list of Pros, exclusive golf courses, game modes, and more were all meant to set this one apart following its worldwide release on April 7. Adding pressure to the release of Road to the Masters was the brave decision to make the game exclusive to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC, while excluding the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. From this, you have to ask… Did they accomplish what they set out to do by excluding other platforms?

With this review, Prima Games will discuss the gameplay, graphics, pros and cons, and more. The discussion will also cover if EA Sports PGA Tour is a game changer in the golfing simulation world; if it perfectly stroked past its counterparts; if it’s worthwhile investing all your time in; or if it’s none of the sorts.

Sit back, grab a coffee, and enjoy the read. Hopefully, it’s not like the suffocating silence you experience before making a long 40ft putt, and it’s more like the release of cheers around the golf course after a long successful drive for a Greens In Regulation.

EA Sports PGA Tour - Road to the Masters | Golf Course

EA Sports PGA Tour Gameplay and Features

EA Sports PGA Tour Gameplay has a few clean swings and missed hits. EA’s hit-and-miss involves the in-game experience, what to make of the user interface and many other factors.

Let’s start with playing golf.

Playing Golf

Yes, many out there feel the new swing mechanics of Road to the Masters left EA in the rough. However, I liked it more than I hated it and quickly became accustomed. With the developers ready to introduce the 3-Click Swing mechanics soon with their next major update, there’s an option for all, making the game more enticing.

To find out more about EA’s latest update, you can read: EA Scores a Hole-in-One With Latest PGA Tour Fixes and Additions .

The gameplay is fantastic if you enjoy being a professional athlete. However, the UI is lacking in-game, and there’s a need for more assistance and tutorials. Once your first tutorial’s done, you’re on your own. It’s like swinging closed eyes and hoping for the best.

The same can be said for the grid and guide for putting. There should have been an added feature: darkened areas where there are huge slopes and lightened areas with less slope. It would help you fare better in the short game, and having this as a map addition in the game would have been nifty. It would help eliminate using the putting guide and assist all players in identifying slopes better — a quicker way to get accustomed to all of the courses, allowing you to work on your strengths and weaknesses.

The lack of assistance does, however, influence practicing more by doing all the game’s challenges. One has to admit, rehearsing shot after shot gets your game going which, in turn, is a tremendous positive for the game. If you’re fresh to golfing and any golfing simulator, the Coaching Academy in the Challenges game mode will be your best friend and where you need to head first.

To sum it all up, playing golf in EA Sports PGA Tour is not user-friendly, but you can master your craft quite quickly to swing like a pro.

Related: All EA Sports PGA Tour – Road to the Masters Shot Types Listed

Something to Celebrate and Something to Improve on

The main hub is clear, straightforward, and easy to navigate around. Despite some glitches that occurred because of bugs in the early days of its release, it was pretty easy to maneuver around — a great UI experience, hands down.

Upgrading Your Player in Road to the Masters

Probably the most straightforward upgrading system I’ve ever used. Plain and simple describes it best. The upgrading points could use some improvements, though. With only two points for levelling up, I’ll be 65 by the time I win the Master with a fully upgraded self-created Pro.

“ Where there is an unquestionable shortage in one area, another area weighs in heavily and comes to save the day. “

The biggest letdown is the editing and player creation. A high flop by the dev team here. Limited options, no face scan, and nothing new. For a team like EA, this is a department where they excel and usually deliver.

EA Sports PGA Tour | Player Upgrade System

Apparel Equals Fire In EA Sports PGA Tour

Where there is an unquestionable shortage in one area, another area weighs in heavily and comes to save the day. The apparel in the game lifted my mood on the editing front, and honestly, all the options you have for equipment and clothing to choose from are fire.

A big ups to EA for including such an incredible catalogue of exclusive drip. Supposing you can’t play like a pro, at least you can dress up and look the part!

Exclusive Courses In-Game

From Augusta National to Teeth of The Dog, the 30 courses in EA Sports PGA Tour are winners. The attention to detail of the grass, water, bunkers, and trees makes for a fantastic view. Playing in 4K certainly has its touch of realism in the PGA Tour.

For decades, we’ve seen EA triumph over their rivals in many, if not all, sports titles in one crucial area. That is, having all the licences and agreements for players, stadiums, courses, etc. Having the rights to the exclusive courses in Road to the Masters sets the bar high for all of their counterparts. It’s, again, a winning factor for them.

The courses will also make or break you, asking different questions and making each hit, stroke, drive, and putt a unique situation. Brilliant!

EA Sports PGA Tour | Teeth of the Dog Course

Related: EA Sports PGA Tour – Road to the Masters: All Golf Courses Listed

EA Sports PGA Tour Graphics

Other than a few moments where the ball is missing just before you swing, the audio playing at the wrong time, and other minor glitches with the fans and delay, the EA Sports PGA Tour graphics are phenomenal.

Playing Road to the Masters on PS5 has been a great experience and something I enjoyed, but only once I started getting used to the game’s mechanics. The massive downfall is the Pro players who look “similar” rather than like-for-like to their real-life figures. It’s not the end product just yet, and work needs to be done.

The cutscenes overview of the courses is the best way to admire the precise detail of all the golf courses and structures. The TrackMan data, Fluid Swing Mechanics, Ball Behavior, many Shot Types, and Course Dynamics all aid the graphics and make for a better and smoother golfing game experience.

Related: EA Sports PGA Tour – Road to the Masters Pure Strike Explained

Concluding Thoughts on EA Sports PGA Tour

With this one, if I were to sum up EA Sports PGA Road to the Masters into one analogy, I would say: If this were an 18-hole round of golf, EA got an excellent few birders, one or two eagles, but there were undoubtedly bogeys.

Was the comeback strong? Yes, It indeed was. The Pure Striker, Flued Swing Mechanics, and Ball Behavior make for a real-life golf experience. The courses are fantastic to play on, and their abundance in the game makes for a timeless title. The online modes make the game even more timeless, something many are happy about, not just me. Without it, golf can be a lonely place.

“ You restart, restart, restart, you get a bogey, you’re disappointed with yourself, and you restart again. You make a top, top shot; you‘re running around the house celebrating and thanking the crowd for their support. “

Though, much work must be done on making the title more story-driven and following something like FIFA when you play as Alex Hunter, the fictional character, on a journey to become a professional footballer. Or when you sit in on negotiations during transfers. These ideas could be implemented into the game for a more simulated experience, maybe by separating this from Career Mode and giving it its own title: Story Mode.

To find out more about the various game modes in Road to the Masters, you can read: All EA Sports PGA Tour – Road to the Masters Game Modes

It’s Just Straight-Up Golfing

This is where EA Sports PGA Tour does excel over its counterparts. The swinging, response to the joystick, bounce of the ball, how you can manipulate the shot, the many shot types, immersion, everything seems to be in tuned and seamless. That alone sanctifies a strong comeback for EA into the golfing gaming world.

Believe it or not, the game has an alluring feel about it. You want to get all the stars in each challenge. You restart, restart, restart, you get a bogey, you’re disappointed with yourself, and you restart again. You make a top, top shot; you‘re running around the house celebrating and thanking the crowd for their support. You consider your strategy every step of the way. It is all definitely “ In the Game!” in this one.

If you’re into sports games that allow you to live the thrills, chills, disappointment and excitement of a professional sportsman, I highly recommend this game. If you’re an action-packed junky that enjoys end-to-end action, this game is way too quiet and passive for you. The true meaning of the gentleman’s game comes to mind when playing EA Sports PGA Tour Road to the Masters.

Looks incredible realistic
User-friendly HUD
Limited editing options when creating a pro
Little golfing aid and assistance
Slow upgrade system

A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review. Reviewed on PlayStation 5.

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR to Receive Major Update Ahead of The Masters

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR celebrates one year with largest update yet, featuring Augusta National Par
Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus joins roster with unique abilities, outfits, and signature swing.
Three new PGA Major Courses added, reflecting 2024 schedule. Additional content and gameplay fixes included.

EA has announced a major update to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR as the game celebrates a year since release. The game has seen many updates since its launch as it is now entering Season 11, and this will be the largest content update to date. The update is available today and along with new content, will see several gameplay improvements and bug fixes. With The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia just about a week away, the update is headlined by the inclusion of Augusta National Par 3. The traditional Par 3 Contest that is held annually on the eve of the tournament is now playable in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR.

The Biggest Name

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR will be adding a 23rd playable professional golfer and it's a big name. Jack Nicklaus is being added to the roster and no additional purchase is required. "The Golden Bear" is known for powerful drives, precision iron play and excellent putting skills. Nicklaus nabbed 18 major championship wins and won The Masters a record six times. Nicklaus will also have his own set of golf clubs, four outfits and a unique swing animation. He's playable in any format that supports playing with pro golfers.

Review: EA SPORTS PGA TOUR

2024 major courses.

On top of Augusta National Par 3, there will be three new PGA Major Courses added to the game that are pulled from 2024. The first is Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky as it hosts the 2024 PGA Championship. Career Mode will reflect this now as it will rotate between this, Oak Hill and Southern Hills every season. Pinehurst No. 2 is also being added as it hosts the 2024 U.S. Open as it will also rotate every season with this, the Los Angeles Country Club and The Country Club. The final addition is Royal Troon, which is famous for its "Postage Stamp" eighth hole. The Open Championship will now rotate with this, Royal Liverpool and St Andrews.

Additional Patch Notes

Store & Content:
Jack Nicklaus’ swing animation has been added to the Store rotation.
Added a “Starter Bundle” which includes a set of rare specs and a currency pack.
New items added to the store rotation including the TaylorMade Qi10 Driver, Scotty Cameron Circle T putters, and several new apparel items.
Increased matchmaking search timeout from 2 to 5 minutes.
Outfits & Gear:
Updated the “Into Out” swing animation.
Fixed the “TaylorMade MySpider - Red” left-handed version of the putter being colored white instead of red.
[Kiawah] Moved several shrubs and bunker footprint decals that were incorrectly placed.
[Career] Fix to enable changing outfits in Career mode lobbies.
[Select Golfer] Updated Patrick Cantlay’s picture.
[Store] Updated thumbnail icons for “In to Out” and “Sweep” swing animations.
Additional crash and stability-related fixes.

** Pro Pass content requires gameplay to unlock. Requires EA SPORTS PGA Tour (sold separately) and all game updates to play.

^ Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See tos.ea.com/legalapp/eaplay/US/en/PC/ for details.

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR to Receive Major Update Ahead of The Masters

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The exclusive home of the Majors, EA Sports PGA Tour features Pure Strike for superior golf gameplay powered by ShotLink, and unrivaled access to the world’s most exclusive golf courses.

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Xbox Game Pass adds another two games today

Another two games are joining Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass today, including the excellent golf sim EA Sports PGA Tour via EA Play.

Published 04 Apr 2024

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Ea sports pga tour (cloud, pc, xbox series x|s via ea play).

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Free Play Days features four Xbox games, including EA Sports PGA Tour

EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ Patch Notes 8.0

Take a look at upcoming changes coming to ea sports pga tour..

On October 24th, EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ will get an update which includes a new season, Halloween themed gear and cosmetics, and many highly requested features and bug fixes. Read on to learn about all the details about the update.

Welcome to Season 7!

The season, Halloween has come to EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ with new themed gear and cosmetics. Season 7 Pro Pass** includes seasonal content such as Scottie Scheffler’s Signature Wood Spec in the free tier, while the premium tier includes Halloween themed gear and apparel such as the Trick or Tee Driver. Throughout the season you’ll earn tokens to level up your Pro Pass by completing live Quests and playing rounds in Online, Tournaments, and Career modes.

Menus, screens, and key art have been updated to replace the Ryder Cup theming with the original Masters theme.

Online playlists have been updated to replace the Ryder Cup Foursomes and Match Play formats with standard Foursomes and Match Play formats that include a wider variety of courses. Ryder Cup formats have also been removed from Private Match due to technical limitations of having them available during a non-Ryder Cup season, but we will be looking to bring them back in a future update. Ryder Cup formats remain available in Quick Play.

One of the most noticeable visual improvements in this update is that 3D grass now reacts when it collides with the ball, club, or golfer. Here’s an example of what it looks like in gameplay.

Many quality of life updates and bug fixes were prioritized for this patch. Highlights include improving AI’s ability around the green, fix for the divot flying before the ball is hit in online gameplay, and fixes for how AI playing partner is selected in Career mode. Lastly, there has been an issue affecting Challenges where stars sometimes wouldn’t be received in the first attempt, but would work after the player restarts the challenge. We believe this issue has been fixed with this update, but will continue to monitor results to confirm.

Thank you for your continued support!

Superior Impact: Significantly increases Power and Accuracy attributes.
Superior Pathfinder: Significantly increases Control and Recovery attributes.
Improved AI golfer’s ability to hit pitch and sand shots around the green.
Drive shot type is now available to use on shots closer to the hole so that it is available on short par 3’s for golfers who have not yet unlocked the Finesse shot type.
Fix for 2 putt read lines being shown if an unplayable lie is requested while the golfer is already on the green.
Fixed noticeable lagging that could occur when opening the scorecard screen during active gameplay. The issue was most apparent if the scorecard screen was opened while the ball was in motion.
Fixed issue where divot could be seen flying before the ball was hit for remote golfers in online turn-based gameplay.
Fixed an issue that caused the online hole timer to continue running in the background for a golfer after they hit into a hazard.
The tee and tee flying VFX is now visible for remote golfers in online turn-based gameplay.
Fixed an issue where “Team Leaderboards” were not available. The fix was applied to servers on September 28th.
Fixed an issue where 2 balls would be visible on the tee if the previous golfer hit their ball out of bounds.
Fixed an issue where yardage in the hole info widget would sometimes be displayed in feet instead of yards.
Added the ability for the host to kick players during gameplay using the view golfers screen in Private Match.
Fix for "Not Enough Players" pop-up preventing matchmaking in online Foursomes or Four-Ball if a player entered and exited an online Foursomes or Four-Ball lobby immediately before.
Fix for an issue where if both players remain idle in online match play, the round can continue without either of them being kicked due to time violations.
Fixed an issue where if a player remains idle for multiple holes in online Four-Ball, they are now kicked immediately after their final timeout instead of waiting until the next hole-out occurred.
Multiple fixes for how the AI playing partner is selected. The logic now ensures that the closest AI player in the leaderboard is selected and your player’s tee time is not affected by which AI playing partner was selected. This also fixed a rare issue where the in-game scorecard could show a different golfer’s name than the AI playing partner.
Fixed the "End of Career" pop-up so that the “Restart Career” option now functions correctly.
Fixed a bug where OWGR points were not updated if multiple events were skipped. This also fixed a related bug where the scoring average would show in an incorrect value at the end of the season.
Fixed challenge stars sometimes not being received in the first attempt, but working after the player restarts the challenge.
Shot challenges now retain the player’s previously selected club and shot type instead of resetting it to the recommended values after every shot.
Rewards such as specs and cosmetics that have already been earned are now visible in the “preview rewards” screen.
Removed unplayable lie functionality from shot challenges.
Added “More Info” screen that explains Pro Pass features and commonly asked questions.
Additional improvements to support cleanly transitioning from one season to the next.
Updated par save stat to include birdies and eagles.
Updated the recovery shot stat to include shots from mud, dirt, path, and heavy rough.
[Augusta National] Fix for hole 15’s Sarazen Bridge cutscene being delayed until after the following shot if the player hits their approach over the green past the trees.
[Evian Resort] Fixed visible artifact in the stream near the bridge by the green at hole 16.
[Marco Simone] Fixed hole 16’s Wednesday pin. Was floating above the ground causing unexpected collisions to occur.
[Olympia Fields] Told crowd members who were walking in circles on hole 1 and 3 to return to their seats.
[Pebble Beach] Fix for crowd obstructing post shot reaction cutscenes on the hole 10 tee box.
[Torrey Pines] Crowd clipping through the structure behind the tee box on hole 18.
[Wolf Creek] Fixed a hole in 12th green which causes the ball to abruptly bobble and stop. Friendly reminder to repair your ball marks.
Update Jack Nicklaus’s outfit and equipment in the Masters Honorary Starters cutscene.
Fixed some shirts not being visible when previewed in the store. Affected shirts were Nike Dri-FIT Tour Polo Black, Cactus, Eclipse, and Gold.
Reduced the size of logos and branding on Titleist balls.
Updated thumbnail image for TaylorMade 2023 Summer Commemorative Staff Bag.
[Career] The golfer is now hidden when viewing Career settings.
[Gameplay] Fix for the widget shown during round intro cutscenes having inconsistent color theming in Ryder Cup formats.
[Equipment] Fix to ensure that clubs are always ordered from longest to shortest in the Yardage Breakdown widget.
[Equipment] Fix for Ball Trails disappearing too slowly after previewing them in the Equipment screen.
[Equipment] Fix for the "Equip to All" option still being functional for putters even though the button hint was removed.
[Main Menu] Updated camera angle to show golfer’s full body and their golf bag.
[Main Menu] Fix for the golfer continuing to wear the selected Ryder Cup uniform in the main menu after exiting a Ryder Cup Quick Play lobby when disconnected from servers.
[Main Menu] Added ability to disable the "View" link for dynamic messages that don’t require a link.
[Main Menu] Fix for non-functional “View” link for dynamic messages if the player disconnects from servers while loading into gameplay.
[Main Menu] Fix for the text on a skill points notification sometimes overlapping with the edge of the box.
[Online] The nameplates of any players who disconnect or quit a match are now immediately removed from the View Golfers screen.
[Online] The player is no longer able to change the camera angle in the scorecard screen, if the player is waiting for other players to finish a hole in online stroke play.
[Online] At the end of a stroke play round, the leaderboard widget is now hidden during the post-round cutscene.
[Online] The position shown for each player in their nameplates in online stroke play gameplay is now updated more frequently to ensure it is up to date.
[Online] Fix for sometimes showing a wedge image instead of a putter during online turn-based gameplay.
[Online] Fix for the golfer being displayed in the lobby as Scottie Scheffler instead of their created golfer if a player accepts an invite with the game closed.
[Outfits] Fix for flashing between previewed item and currently equipped item when scrolling quickly through inventory.
[Online] Fix for no tabs being visible in the lobby if the player accepts an invite in the rewards summary screen.
[Online] Fix for lobby tabs being shown in the main menu instead of the main menu tabs if a player accepts an invite while in a Tournament lobby and then exits to the main menu.
[Online] Fix for advancing to a lobby with incorrect settings if a player accepts an invite during the "Event Settings" pop-up in Career mode.
[Online] Fix for some of the round settings in online foursomes (Time of Day, Hole Location, Wind Speed, and Wind Direction) appearing to be editable even though they were non-functional and should have been grayed out.
[Pro Pass] Removed Pro Pass title from the top left of the Pro Pass screen.
[Pro Pass] Fixed progress not updating immediately if a player opens a pack and navigates from Rewards to Pro Pass tab.
[Quests] Quests widget in gameplay has been moved to the other side of the screen to improve its visibility and avoid overlapping with other UI elements.
[Quests] Timing for when the Quests widget in gameplay is shown and hidden has been updated.
[Rewards Summary] Fix for duplicate XP, stats, and Pro Pass Tokens being displayed if the player loses network connection while exiting a round.
[Settings] Renamed the “Controller” tab to “Controls”.
[Store] Ensure that the first item in each bundle is always displayed as the featured item.
[Store] Updated multiple item icons to be higher resolution.
[Store] Fix for the preview items button hint not being displayed after a bundle is purchased.
[Tournaments] Surfaced the tiebreaker stat in Tournament leaderboards.
[Tournaments] Updated column descriptions for tournament leaderboards.
Added Ralph Lauren logo to UI for store and outfit screen.
Added Ryder Cup 1927 logo to UI for store and outfit screen.
Updated PGA of America logo.
[Equipment] Fix for a softlock that could occur if a player accepts an invite while changing clubs in the Equipment screen.
[Identity] Fix for a softlock that could occur if a player disconnects and reconnects their controller and then selects a new Swing Style for their golfer.
[Main Menu] Fix for a softlock that could occur if a player disconnects from the network while attempting to link to Quests screen.
[Private Match] Fix for a softlock that could occur if an invitee was kicked from the session by the host while they were loading into the lobby.
[Private Match] Fix for a softlock that could occur if an invitee disconnects from the network while accepting an invite.
[Quick Play] Fix for a softlock that could occur if the player disconnects from the network while in the scorecard screen and selects “Continue Offline”.
[Store] In order to fix multiple issues and improve stability, the ability to equip a new item from a bundle immediately after purchasing it has been removed.
Additional crash and stability-related fixes.

** Pro Pass content requires gameplay to unlock. Requires EA SPORTS PGA Tour (sold separately) and all game updates to play.

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: LEGO 2K Drive, EA Sports PGA Tour, Harold Halibut, and More

Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

My favorite part about “coming soon” to Game Pass is that it quickly turns into “available today” messaging. From driving to golfing to tomb raiding, there’s plenty here that’s going to be available sooner rather than later. Let’s take a look at the games that are mere moments away from your download queue!

Available Today

Superhot: Mind Control Delete (Cloud, Console, and PC) Returning to the Game Pass library today, Superhot: Mind Control Delete gives you more insight into the signature power fantasy world of Superhot with more story, more signature gameplay, more action, more guns. Keep dancing the slow-motion ballet of destruction for much longer than ever before.

Coming Soon

LEGO 2K Drive (Cloud and Console) – April 3 Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!

Lil Gator Game (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 4 Who wouldn’t want to be an adorable Lil Gator? Embark on a cute “lil” quest, discovering new friends, and uncovering everything its island has to offer. Climb, swim, glide, and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet along the way in this adorable open-world adventure!

EA Sports PGA Tour (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – April 4 EA Sports PGA Tour is coming to The Play List with PC Game Pass and Ultimate via EA Play. Become a Major champion, tee off on the Par 3 Course at Augusta National, along with three new 2024 Major host courses.

Kona (Cloud and Console) – April 9 Another game is making a return to the Game Pass library! A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive in this chilly, interactive tale you won’t soon forget.

Botany Manor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 9 Available on day one with Game Pass! Explore the historic manor home of retired botanist Arabella Greene, who has amassed a collection of rare, long-forgotten flora that require special conditions to help them bloom. Unlock new seeds, look for clues in the items scattered around the residence, and solve each gardening puzzle to revive these plants.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 11 Experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she is forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Combining the base game, all seven DLC challenge tombs, as well as all downloadable weapons, outfits, and skills, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience Lara’s defining moment.

Harold Halibut (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 16 Available on day one with Game Pass! Harold Halibut is a handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean. Join Harold as he explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of ‘home’. You can learn more about Harold Halibut in Xbox Wire’s recent hands-on preview here .

DLC / Game Updates

No Man’s Sky Orbital Update – Available now Dock your fully customized starship in the sleek new space stations of update 4.6, Orbital! Space stations have been completely overhauled internally and externally; new starships can be constructed from salvaged parts; frigate fleets can reach out for guidance with interstellar expeditions; standing and guilds have been improved, trading and system economies have been deepened – and much more! Learn more about No Man’s Sky ’s Orbital update here on Xbox Wire .

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Final Fantasy XIV Online: Starter Edition – Available now Join over 30 million adventures worldwide in the critically acclaimed online RPG. From now through April 19, the Final Fantasy XIV Online – Starter Edition base game is now free for a limited time – including a 30-day free play period for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Terms apply. You can also learn how to build your Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy XIV Online here on Xbox Wire .

YouTube Premium 3 Month Trial – Available now Watch your favorite YouTube creators without ads, offline, and in the background. Plus, stream the latest songs from your favorite artists with uninterrupted access to YouTube Music. New users only. Monthly subscription fee starts at the end of trial. Cancel anytime. Not available in all regions. Terms apply .

Battlefield 2042 : Season 7 Field Kit – Available now In the iconic all-out warfare first-person shooter of Battlefield 2042 , Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can get the Battlefield 2042 Season 7 Field Kit containing a Ride’em Crab Boy Weapon Charm, Rising Tide AM40 Weapon Skin, and Dustproof Specialist Headgear. Check out the other EA Play member rewards and Perks here on Xbox Wire .

Leaving April 15

Make sure you give the following games a proper farewell before they leave the Game Pass library. As always, you can save up to 20% off your purchase to keep them in your library.

Amnesia Collection (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Amnesia: Rebirth (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Back 4 Blood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Phantom Abyss (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Research and Destroy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Soma (Cloud, Console, and PC)

That wraps us up! Let us know which game you’re planning on playing first over at @Xbox , @XboxGamePass or @XboxGamePassPC . Catch you next time!

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The Coalition
Compulsion Games
Double Fine
The Initiative
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Obsidian Entertainment
Playground Games
Turn 10 Studios
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World’s Edge
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Golf's great mustache revival: A journey through facial hair on the fairway

Out Of Bounds

The golfer's mustache is an accessory that transcends generations.

From Fluff to Fowler, we review the history of mustaches on the PGA TOUR ahead of the Valero Texas Open

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The modern golfer’s appearance serves as an ever-evolving canvas of self-expression.

From Arnold Palmer to John Daly to Tiger Woods, legends of the game have left their mark on the course through distinctive fashion and style choices, resonating through the PGA TOUR to this day.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable resurgence of a particular form of personal expression among the PGA TOUR’s finest: the mustache. This revival reflects a renaissance, perhaps, of dignified and classic masculinity that once enjoyed the spotlight in the twentieth century.

As the PGA TOUR heads to the Texas Hill Country for the Valero Texas Open, it seems fitting to examine this phenomenon as we promenade through cowboy country. So, crank up the Alan Jackson and queue your favorite episode of "Walker Texas Ranger" as we explore the history of the mustache at the highest level of golf.

The 1970s and 1980s witnessed a strong affinity for the mustache, with celebrities like Burt Reynolds and Freddie Mercury epitomizing the trend. Naturally, this style found its way into the world of professional golf. Pioneers like "The Walrus" Craig Stadler, with his billowing gray facial hair, and legendary caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan, sporting his distinctive lip bristles, established the mustache as a notable feature.

Craig Stadler and Mike "Fluff" Cowan were pioneers on the forefront of mustache style on TOUR. (Credit A. Messerschmidt and Harry How/Getty Images)

When questioned by "The Caddie Network" about when he first donned his iconic mustache, Fluff responded nonchalantly, "I just grew it for the heck of it. I'd say 1984, because I shaved it then and almost immediately grew it back, and it's still here." Stadler and Cowan built the groundwork upon which generations of mustachioed golfers would thrive. These men walked so names like Corey Pavin and Bart Bryant could run.

Corey Pavin and Bart Bryant combined rugged and refined with their mustache styles. (Credit PGA TOUR Archive)

However, the popularity of mustaches waned in the mainstream during the 2000s and 2010s. Cleaner, sleeker aesthetics took precedence and the mustache was cast to the wayside in favor of a more athletic look. Nonetheless, figures like Andres Gonzales and Johnson Wagner, who now graces television audiences with his follicle talents, provided a glimmer of hope for mustache enthusiasts.

Andres Gonzales and Johnson Wagner shined as mustaches grew into the twenty-first century. (Credit Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images and Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)

This brings us to the present era, where mustaches have experienced a comeback in popularity. Whether fueled by nostalgia or the cyclical nature of fashion trends, the modern golfer has embraced the mustache as a symbol of personal expression. Rickie Fowler, known for his bold fashion choices, notably embraced the mustache trend in 2018, signaling its reawakening across championship golf into the 2020s.

Rickie Fowler stunned the scene at the 2018 Open Championship with his Fu Manchu-style mustache. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Leading this contemporary wave of mustache enthusiasts is South African style trendsetter and PGA TOUR-winner Erik van Rooyen.

"I've kind of done it through Christmas the last few years, just to keep up the spirit, I guess," he remarked in a 2022 interview with NBC Sports. “It’s kind of stayed through the new year; we’ll see how long it keeps going for.”

Erik van Rooyen showcases a unique style in both his game and facial hair. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

He has kept it going for the better part of two years. While van Rooyen will occasionally trim down and allow the beard to grow in, he eventually succumbs to the temptation and returns to looking like a shortstop for the 1920 Boston Braves.

“I brush it, shampoo, condition," he said. "You got to treat it well, otherwise it kind of bites back. So, yeah, I’ve got a little wax that I throw in in the morning.”

Van Rooyen’s vaudeville aesthetic was in full form during his win last FedExCup Fall at the World Wide Technologies Championship.

Erik van Rooyen's mustache was in full bloom during his most recent PGA TOUR win at the 2023 World Wide Technologies Championship. (Credit Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Van Rooyen trimmed down his mustache following a T2 finish at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. Coincidentally or not, he failed to notch a top-20 finish during the remainder of the Florida Swing, prompting speculation from this author about the influence of facial hair on athletic performance.

Playoff beards have long been a powerful tradition in the world of hockey, expanding into baseball and beyond. Athletes have no reservations about personal superstitions directly affecting their performance on the field. Golf is already one of the most personalized and expressional sports – the idea of facial hair directly correlating to performance doesn’t seem like the most outlandish explanation to assume.

On the other side of the coin as van Rooyen is PGA TOUR rookie Chandler Phillips. A Texan through and through, Phillips sported a tremendous mustache during his time at Texas A&M University and on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Chandler Phillips showcases his Texas roots with a dastardly display from his days on the Korn Ferry Tour. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

While Phillips, a Huntsville, Texas, native, failed to crack the top 20 until the Valspar Championship, his strong showing at the event coincided with the absence of his trademark mustache. Phillips dismissed any correlation between his grooming choices and his performance, emphasizing his lack of superstition regarding facial hair.

“I was planning on shaving it,” he told PGATOUR.COM. ”I was looking at the stache and I just shaved it. It will come back, it won’t take long. I’m not superstitious about it, the truth is I keep the mustache because without it I look 12.”

On the other hand, fellow rookie Harry Hall subscribes to a routine involving beard growth and removal as a symbolic gesture of readiness for victory.

“I kind of have a little thing from over the years where I grow a beard from like December to February then shave it off to get ready for the middle of the season, thinking that I don’t want to have a beard when I’m holding the trophy when I look back in 20 years time,” he explained at this year's PLAYERS Championship.

"When I get rid of the beard and just leave the mustache, it's a sign that I'm ready to win.”

Harry Hall's blonde mustache evokes a dignified yet bespoke influence that compliments his choice of traditional driver's cap. (Credit Logan Riely/Getty Images)

As our journey through the history of the golfer's mustache comes to a close, we find ourselves not merely recounting a trend in facial hair, but rather witnessing a reflection of the evolving identity within the game of golf itself. From its pioneering days to its contemporary resurgence, the mustache serves as both a symbol of individual expression and a potential harbinger of performance superstition.

As rookies like Phillips and Hall navigate their relationship with facial hair, we are reminded that while the mustache may come and go, its significance in the tapestry of golf's culture remains ever-present. Just as the game continues to evolve, so too does the canvas upon which its players express themselves, whether through fashion, style or the humble mustache.

Jimmy Reinman is a member of the PGA TOUR's digital content team. A native of Florida’s Space Coast, he is passionate about golf’s most emboldened characters and bizarre lore. He dreams of one day making center-face contact with a long iron.

COMMENTS

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EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ Patch Notes 8.0 Take a look at upcoming changes coming to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR. On October 24th, EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ will get an update which includes a new season, Halloween themed gear and cosmetics, and many highly requested features and bug fixes. Read on to learn about all the details about the update.
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: LEGO 2K Drive, EA Sports PGA Tour, Harold
EA Sports PGA Tour is coming to The Play List with PC Game Pass and Ultimate via EA Play. Become a Major champion, tee off on the Par 3 Course at Augusta National, along with three new 2024 Major host courses. Kona (Cloud and Console) - April 9. Another game is making a return to the Game Pass library!
Golf's great mustache revival: A journey through facial hair on the
Jimmy Reinman is a member of the PGA TOUR's digital content team. A native of Florida's Space Coast, he is passionate about golf's most emboldened characters and bizarre lore.

EA Sports PGA Tour Review - Hit The Links

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Richard Wakeling

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EA Sports PGA Tour Review

Swing Mechanics

Career Mode

The Verdict

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