Electronic Arts and the USGA has today revealed their plan to “authentically represent the U.S. Open Championship experience” in EA Sports PGA Tour. The U.S. Open is often referred to as “America’s championship” and is considered the toughest major in golf.
The championship is usually reserved America’s greatest golf courses. Among those chosen are Torrey Pines, host of the 2021 U.S. Open Championship and The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, host of the 2022 U.S. Open. Both courses will be featured in EA Sports PGA Tour with The Country Club in Brookline is making its first appearance in a video game when the PGA Tour launches next Spring.
In a statement released today, EA said: “The U.S. Open Championship brings together both the best professional and amateur golfers in the world to test their skills competing for the career-defining prestige.”
They continued: “To realistically render one of America’s most legendary courses for the first time, EA Sports is implementing cutting-edge aerial scanning to capture The Country Club and […] its unique history as one of the five founding member clubs of the USGA and the site of Francis Quimet’s triumphant 1913 victory which propelled golf into the mainstream.”
Play your Way onto the Pro Circuit
In addition to the U.S. Open, EA Sports PGA Tour will see the return of amateur events to career mode, including the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Navin Singh, USGA Chief Commercial Officer said, “With the inclusion of so many USGA championship host sites, career mode in the game will really allow players to grow their skills authentically. We look forward to players building their game up to the challenges of playing at this year’s U.S. Open host, Torrey Pines and for the first time ever, next year’s host site, The Country Club in Brookline.”
“Winning the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship was a highlight of my early career that helped propel my game forward, ultimately winning the 2020 US Open Championship, which felt like years of hard work coming to fruition,” said Bryson DeChambeau.
“I’m a big video game fan, and EA SPORTS bringing not only the U.S. Open but also amateur golf events, is very exciting, especially given how important they are to golfers growing their career.”
Return to the Fairway
Next year’s EA Sports PGA Tour is the first in the series since 2015. Of course, that game was endorsed by local man, Rory McIlroy who doesn’t return as the face of the game. Just as well, as Rory McIlroy PGA Tour received mixed reviews for its lack of polish and thin content.
The announcement of new courses and the return of the amateur series to career mode should help with the latter. Naturally, career mode will be extended by a player’s route to professional status but hopefully some of the odder amateur tournament formats make their way into EA Sports PGA Tour.
It’s hard not to notice that six-year gap and the announcement of a potential content mine well ahead of the EA Sport PGA Tour‘s release. Let’s hope these are an indication that the game will be a bit fuller and more finished than their last outing.
EA Sports PGA Tour Golf is slated for a Spring 2022 release
