Status:
No manual and Play Tested
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Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (PS3) Review
Released in 2009, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 by EA Sports was a pivotal entry in the long-running golf franchise. It introduced several new features, most notably real-time weather and live tournaments, offering a more immersive and competitive experience. While it doesnt radically redefine the series, it refined its core mechanics and added welcome polish, especially on the PlayStation 3.
Gameplay & Mechanics
| Feature | Description | Verdict |
|---|
| Swing Mechanics | Uses the analog stick for a natural-feeling swing, with draw/fade and power control. | Responsive and intuitive; still one of the most realistic analog swing systems. |
| Putting System | Offers multiple aids (putting grid, putt preview), but relies on player feel. | Strikes a great balance between accessibility and challenge. |
| Real-Time Weather | Pulls live weather data from The Weather Channel, affecting wind and course conditions in real-time. | Gimmicky in concept, but surprisingly immersiveadds variety to each round. |
| Tournament Challenge Mode | Relive famous real-world golf moments and try to replicate or outperform them. | Adds historical context and gameplay variety. |
| Shot Confidence | Based on your performance with each club and shot type. | A neat idea, though its impact on gameplay is subtle. |
The gameplay loop is polished and rewarding. From tee to green, Tiger Woods 10 delivers one of the most authentic golf simulations of its generation.
Courses & Content
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18 Licensed Courses including Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass, Bethpage Black, and St. Andrews.
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Dynamic crowd reactions and course commentary create a more tournament feel than previous entries.
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Full PGA Tour Season Mode and Career Mode with sponsor goals and stat tracking.
The variety of real-world courses, each with unique elevation, hazards, and weather behavior, keeps gameplay fresh over the long haul.
Presentation & Audio
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Graphics: While not a major leap from TW09, course detail is crisp, lighting effects are more natural, and player animations are smoother.
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Crowd and Ambience: Galleries react appropriately to shotscheering eagles or gasping at near misses.
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Sound: Commentary by Gary McCord and David Feherty is informative and occasionally funny, though can become repetitive.
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Menu Design: Clean, though slightly sluggish on PS3. In-game UI is customizable and easy to read.
While not a graphical powerhouse by PS3 standards, its atmospheric and visually solid for a sports sim.
Online Features
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Live Tournaments Play alongside real players in scheduled tournaments with dynamic leaderboards.
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Online Multiplayer Smooth matchmaking and diverse game modes (skins, stroke play, best ball).
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EA GamerNet Download and compete against ghost data from other players or upload your own.
Online integration was ahead of its time, but servers were eventually shut downmeaning most of this content is now inaccessible.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Excellent analog swing and putting mechanics
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Real-time weather integration adds immersion
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Deep and rewarding career mode
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Live tournaments brought real-time competition
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Wide variety of real-world courses
Cons
Online features no longer functional
Visuals show their age compared to later entries
Commentary can become repetitive
Long load times between menus and holes
Final Verdict
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is a high point in the series on PS3, offering refined gameplay, great course variety, and thoughtful new features like live weather and real-time tournaments. While some elements (especially online features) havent aged well or are no longer accessible, the core golf experience remains satisfying, well-crafted, and authentic.
Score: 8.2 / 10 A polished and immersive golf sim that holds up remarkably well, even if some of its once-revolutionary features have lost relevance. A must-play for fans of classic golf games.
