The latest 'Tiger Woods' golf simulator is a worthy alternative to the fairway

Tee for One

The latest 'Tiger Woods' golf simulator is a worthy alternative to the fairway

By NICK CLAYTON

The gods of golf in pursuit of the Masters' green jacket will know every blade of grass, each magnolia tree and the exact topography of all the greens on the Augusta National course. And it'll still catch most of them out. I know exactly how they feel.

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EA Sports

A TIGER IN YOUR TANK: The latest version of 'Tiger Woods PGA Tour' lets you battle the greats.

Not that I've ever actually driven onto the hallowed fairways; instead, I've spent probably far too long playing "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" on my Xbox 360. This is a simulation that really does capture much of the detail and frustration of the real game. OK, it's not quite as hard—would that I could actually drive over 300 yards off the tee—but my putting is every bit as erratic on screen as it is on grass.
To appreciate the game properly, opt for "Career Mode," which takes you through amateur and professional tournaments, collecting new skills, equipment and items of clothing as you go. Playing on 20 courses in varying weather conditions, including against friends or other online "Country Club" members, offers at least as many variations as the real thing.

The console game's biggest weakness is that it's a victim of its own success. Back in 1999, publisher EA Sports neatly translated the sport from a hefty bag of clubs to a little game pad. Incremental improvements have been made, including to swing mechanics in this edition, but there's little room left for dramatic change.
For the latest outing, the main addition is the "Legends of the Majors" mode, in which you compete against greats like Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, using vintage equipment on courses as they were at the time. It's fun, but not really a compelling reason to upgrade if you already own the game.
If, on the other hand, watching sports on TV makes you want to rush out into the garden and pretend to be one of your heroes, "Tiger Woods PGA" offers a decent grown-up alternative. It remains really the only console golf simulator on the market worth considering. ------------------------ Wall street journal