I’m an avid golfer, both in real life and in the video game realm. However, I decided to skip Tiger Woods ‘10 with the game having very little new compared to ‘09, which I own for the Wii. With the 2011 version making big strides, it was time to jump back on the course. The team at EA turned up the realism and added plenty of content to make this a must buy for golf fans.

A laundry list of new features were added to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 - Ryder Cup play, online Team Play, all new golfers, course, Skill Challenges, and my personal favorite, the Focus meter. In previous years, you could spam the Power Boost and Spin on every single shot, turning a golf round into an effort to shoot under 50, an event that’s virtually impossible in real life (I’ve witnessed Steve shoot a 45 in a Tiger Woods game). With the Focus meter, every boost feature uses a bit of Focus. Power boosting, putting spin on the ball, boosting your shot accuracy, or using your putting line all take a bit of Focus, so you have to choose wisely on how you’ll play each round, closing the gap between the arcade and simulation game types. Normal shots without any boosts will refill your Focus meter, so playing conservatively for a hole or two will pay off later in the round.

EA introduced a new XP system for your created golfer to increase each area independently, whether it be power, boost, accuracy, balance, draw/fade/touch controls, green reader, putting touch, etc. This allows you to put your earned XP from each round into the area that suits your play style the best. You can also use your XP to purchase new clothing and clubs, which can give performance enhancements to areas of your play.

The Team Play online feature is one of my favorite new modes, although finding a 12 vs. 12 match has been a futile effort thus far. The game was just released publicly yesterday, so I expect that to become easier in the coming days and weeks. Standard online features are there and what you’ve come to expect from a Tiger Woods game.

I have one issue with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 - loading times. Our review is based on the PS3 version of the game, which I’ve been playing for the past week. Loading between holes in a round takes too long. The load times before rounds and in the menus are acceptable, but the game should move quicker from hole to hole in a round. Otherwise, it’s the best golf game I’ve ever played.

Even if you picked up Tiger Woods ‘10, the new Ryder Cup, Team Play, Focus meter, and XP systems make this is a no brainer purchase for sports gaming fans out there. If you’re Achievement/Trophy whores, you’ll fall in love with the game immediately. If you want a solid round of golf, you’ll fall in love right away too. I’m just waiting for the PlayStation Move release to play the PS3 version with motion controls.

[A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.]