I’d be lying to you if I said that I don’t look forward to every Tiger Woods PGA Tour game that EA Sports releases each year. The series has made a number of changes throughout the course of this franchise’s lengthy history but the core mechanic remains the same no matter how many courses and putters you add. Normally, I’d be disappointed if a game didn’t do anything completely different to breathe new life into the series but somehow the franchise continues to be the series I most look forward to playing each year. 

It wasn’t until I got my hands on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the PlayStation 3 that I finally realize why I get excited about stepping on Pinehurst turf all over again. You see, the little improvements made to the game each year continues to  give us fans of the series something to look forward to and something that brings this series closer to perfection.  

There are just a few additions this year and whether or not you’ll want to consider buying it if you picked up Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 last year is entirely up to how much you love the series. If you haven’t picked up a Tiger Woods game recently, then the new features will definitely bring you back into the game. Yes, there are new courses to play through and you better believe there’s more multiplayer fun to be had in this game but there are new features that do add some extra depth to the familiar and thus comfortable gameplay. 

For starters, you can now play the U.S. Open so fans can live out their own fantasies of this challenging competition. Everything you can expect from the real thing is present so it feels like you’re playing through the toughest challenge. Imagine going up against the likes of Chris DiMarco, Anthony Kim or Tiger himself at Bethpage Black. Those who look forward to new courses will also find the Oakmont Country Club, the Hazeltine National Country Club and even Pinehurst #2.  

The real juicy additions come in the form of the new Tournament Challenge mode that sets up a series of scenarios and has you attempt to outperform the pros. Some of these challenges are taken from actual pro highlights so you are tasked with either recreating a swing or outshining a pro like Ian Poulter by outshining his score card. This mode is not only an excellent way to raise your golfer’s Career mode attributes but the more challenges you beat the more courses become available to use in other game modes. 

Another great addition is the Live Tournaments feature that features a robust online multiplayer mode filled with just about everything a fan could ask for including the option to create your own tournaments with your own rules. You can play against the pros in the Play the Pros feature, which is actually quite a challenge as well as compete to earn virtual bucks or just for bragging rights in the Tour Ranking screen. Live Tournament also makes use of Live Weather, a feature that uses real-time weather conditions via weather.com to really recreate actual conditions as you play. I can certainly see golf fans playing this one for a long time to come. 

Speaking of weather conditions, the game makes good use of different weather patterns during an offline game as well and it does change the way you play. A particularly windy day, for instance, means you’ll have to take into account the direction the wind is blowing. If it rains, you’ll find yourself swinging a bit differently. Different weather definitely adds to the challenge in a really good way. 

As far as the controls are concerned, a lot remains the same except for an improved precision putting feature by way of an aiming arrow and a putt line you must adjust with the D-pad or the thumb stick. It’s a stylish new way that allows players to judge the distance for themselves and make the necessary adjustments themselves. If you don’t like it you can go back to the classic putting controls instead. Personally, I think it works beautifully but it definitely takes some practice to master so you’ll be thankful for the Practice Round feature in My Career. 

The same modes from last year are also back and that’s a good thing indeed. There’s a great amount of returning mini-games to go along with features like Photo Game Face (as your face to a created golfer) as well as Club Tuner (fine-tune your golfer’s clubs). I even like the Performance Coach who just doesn’t offer great tips but also takes a peek at your overall performance to offer some performance training. 

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 also features a better sense that you’re watching golf on TV with up-to-date stats and information about how other golfers are doing and you also get a sense that the crowd responds to you. If you’re a poor player you’ll get some hecklers but if you’re doing great you’ll get your own cheering fans.  

On the visual front, this game actually looks wonderfully sharp and nicely detailed on the PS3. There are a few issues that I have problems with but none of them are too serious that you’ll be shaking your head in disgust. The courses offer enough to look at seeing as this is a golf game but there’s something cool about a game that recreates courses like the Torrey Pines Golf Course or Turnberry. 

I would like to say that the sound is right up there with the great visuals but it isn’t thanks to the commentary team. I think Scott Van Pelt offers enough insight and gives the game that broadcast feel but Kelly Tilghman doesn’t seem to be like she’s sitting next to Van Pelt in a booth. Her commentary sounds phoned-in and really doesn’t add any excitement even when she’s witnessing great work. 

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the PS3 doesn’t change the game but it has enough new features to pull us back into the virtual green. Sure, we do wish they piled on the features to make each edition a completely unique experience with each new release but somehow Tiger Woods manages to remain at the top of its game. If you’re new to the series or are a huge golf fan, picking this one up is highly recommended.  

Gameplay: 8.5
The precision putting works beautifully and the new courses are delightfully challenging as well. The returning favorite game modes are back but the new tournament modes and online play are the reasons you will play this game for a long time to come.

Graphics: 8.2
Visually, the game looks great on the PS3 despite a few camera issues that have you staring at pixilated bushes in very rare occasions. Other than that, the character models look great in action and the courses look very inviting.

Sound: 8.0
The licensed music is actually very catchy and the background noises and fans cheering you on is a plus. For the most part, the commentary is right on the money but Kelly Tilghman sounds like somebody woke her up way too early in the morning to record her lines.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Even with the Performance Coach and the Attribute tuning, you’ll find yourself pushing your skills to the limit whether you play as a created golfer or somebody as talented as Vijay Singh. Adding real-time weather effects to the mix adds to the difficulty.

Concept: 8.5
New courses and the U.S. Open are but a few of the new features you can look forward to in the tenth game of this series. I do like the real-time weather conditions that add to the challenge but the Tournament Challenge and Live Tournaments steal the show big time. The Photo Game Face is still a riot.

Multiplayer: 9.0
The Live Online Tournaments is what golf fans will really love in this tenth edition that certainly makes the Tiger Woods PGA Tour one of the best multiplayer golf games on the PS3. The online options are plentiful and the game runs as smooth as ice. This is definitely a game you will want to play with other golf enthusiasts.

Overall: 8.5
Another small leap in a good direction, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 delivers another stellar game of virtual golf that is sure to please dedicated Tiger Woods fans. While there aren’t an abundant amount of new features, the few that are there just add more depth to a franchise that continues to dominate.