Ever dreamt of going down the closing stretch at TPC Sawgrass or East Lake with the likes of Justin Thomas and Sergio Garcia? Fancy yourself a golf course architect and creating your own masterpiece?
Well, all this will be at your fingertips, literally and virtually, when the PGA Tour’s much-awaited officially licensed video game, PGA Tour 2K21, comes online via multiple platforms on August 21 … appropriately in tandem with this year’s abbreviated FedExCup playoffs.
The term ‘video game’ does not do PGA Tour 2K21 justice. Far from it. It’s certainly a huge move up on all counts over the previous generation ‘The Golf Club 2019’ by HB Studios, who this time teamed up with 2K and the PGA Tour to produce the ultimate virtual golf experience with a host of nifty new features and cutting-edge graphics.
Gamers can take on 12 PGA Tour professionals led by current World No 2 Justin Thomas (who was No 1 earlier this month) in a full-fledged tournament or even over a full FedExCup season, or create their own tournaments and seasons with other users, played under unique rules and requirements.
The other stars in the PGA Tour player line-up comprise a nice mix of young and established players in Cameron Champ, Bryson DeChambeau (a less meaty version as his avatar was created pre-Covid-19 shutdown), Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner, Gary Woodland, Billy Horschel, Ian Poulter (my fave among the lot), Tony Finau, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Cantlay. Perhaps the only downer is the absence of Asian players – having someone like Hideki Matsuyama or Sungjae Im would have been good for the Asian market.
All this takes place on 15 licensed PGA Tour courses, replicated with stunning graphics which bring each detail vividly to life. Apart from Sawgrass and East Lake, you can take on the challenges of Quail Hollow, River Highlands and the TPCs at Boston, Deere Run and Scottsdale, among other world-renowned layouts.
“Our goal is to make the PGA Tour 2K21 in-game TPC course recreations as detailed as possible, so it feels like you’re actually playing the course alongside top PGA Tour pros,” said HB Studios senior producer Shaun West. “To see professionals play these courses on TV, and then watch each come to life as playable courses within the game, is an incredibly cool process to see.”
And if for some reason you tire of playing on a PGA Tour venue, create your own signature layout using Course Designer which places thousands of custom features at your disposal. Hate water? Then leave it out totally!
PGA Tour 2K21 has also partnered with some of golf’s leading brands to allow you to customise the look of your avatar using MyPlayer, while building relationships with those brands via endorsement deals. These include powerhouses such as adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, Callaway, Bridgestone, Malbon and TaylorMade.
Capping off the full tour experience, PGA Tour 2K21’s broadcast-style presentation integrates dynamic cut-scenes and seamless replays, complete with play-by-play commentary from broadcaster Luke Elvy and analyst Rich Beem.
HB Studios creative director Josh Muise noted that PGA Tour 2K21 brings golf “back to the big stage”.
“You don’t need to be a pro to play it because it’s for everyone and it captures the adrenaline and drama of a live PGA Tour spectacle bringing in PGA pro players, broadcast presentation and authentic audio events captured from some of the most exciting events on tour,” stressed Muise.
Those who pre-order PGA Tour 2K21 before August 21 will receive the 2K/adidas CodeChaos MyPlayer Pack, comprising CodeChaos Boa golf shoes and custom 2K/adidas gear including a sport performance polo, Ultimate365 pants and tour hat. Players who purchase the PGA Tour 2K21 Digital Deluxe Edition will receive the MyPlayer Pack along with a ‘Golden Touch’ pack of a gold putter and driver, plus a 2300 VC pack which can be used to unlock in-game cosmetic items.
For more information, visit pgatour2K21.com
