It's startling to consider how dominant Tiger Woods has been on the golf course for the past 10 years. Just as startling has been the run EA Sports has been on, as the Tiger Woods game series has decimated the competition. The Tiger development team has tested and refined its product over the years and the result is a game which doesn't make many mistakes, but also doesn't push the gameplay envelope.

Long-time fans of the series will instantly recognize this year's release as something of an "anthology," as it seems to steal the best parts of the previous releases. There's certainly nothing wrong with that approach, and it offers gamers a chance to mix and match gameplay mechanics to get the desired results. Don't enjoy the shot shaping stick? Turn it off. Prefer a previous putting system? Go for it. In a sense, Tiger Woods 07 offers you the development tools to create your own game. This sense of flexibility is a welcome relief to gamers who are constantly puzzled as to why certain gameplay features / mechanics are dropped or added.

The Tiger Team Tour mode leads the list of new offerings. It's basically a hybrid between last year's Rivals Mode, the Tiger Challenge, and a bit of the fantasy sports scene. Draft a ragged band of players for your foursome, and then take on challengers around the world. Improve your team and created player through upgrades in hopes of taking out Team Tiger. It's a welcome distraction and adds a new dynamic to the usually rigid rules of golf.


Other new treats involve new golfers and courses. The Xbox version boasts 21 pro characters (50 total), with favorites like John Daly meeting newcomers Michael Cambell and Annika Sorenstam. The list of courses tops out at 21 as well. Fictional "dream" courses are there for the taking, as well as trusty stand-bys such as Sawgrass St. Andrews and so on. Highlighting the list of new courses are The Falls in Vegas and the K Club in Ireland (host of this year's Ryder Cup competition).

The collection of game modes beyond Team Tour consists of the "been there, done that" variety. PGA Tour Season is new in name only, as it mimics the PGA's switch to a season series of events in 07. This traditional career mode is buffered with Skills 18, Skins, Bloodsome, Greensome and Battle Golf modes. Each format is enjoyable enough, and Skins (with friends and money on the line) has always been a favorite.

The true joy in Tiger Woods 07 comes in the new difficulty settings and the balance they provide against an otherwise birdie-heavy affair. Always easy to provide highlight-reel shots and miracle chip-ins, EA's game finally gives gamers some bite to the challenge. Tour difficulty should be the standard for anyone with two opposable thumbs and the least bit of competitive spirit. Sliders and customized club difficulty ratings can be set to replicate some of the challenges real golfers face. Yea hitting driver on every hole is fun, but set the driver difficulty up and new gameplay decisions arise. Should you keep it in the bag on the 18th at Pebble with a one-shot lead? Can you still eke out a par if you hit three-wood? Plotting your way around the course, minimizing risk, and executing the occasional tough shot is much more gratifying than blasting the ball 340 yards straight ever time.