Review by: Chris Harding
Published: April 19, 2000

Ever since one of the greatest athletes of all time retired, people have been wondering who will be the next Michael Jordan. There are those that say Vince Carter is the heir apparent, and even a few that proclaim Kobie Bryant or Allen Iverson as the prince to his Airness. But even with all the talent these young athletes possess, not one of them can dominate a game, series or season like Mike did. But that’s not to say that the world is without a true successor, he just happens to play golf and not basketball. There is only one athlete, currently active, who not only possesses the capability to dominate as Jordan did, but does so routinely. That athlete is Tiger Woods, and his game is golf. The 6’2″, 180lb. 24-year old linkster is the top performer in his sport in every category worthy of mention, and is Nike’s number one endorsement. So it’s no wonder that when it came to creating a golf simulation for the PC that Electronic Arts is involved.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 is the latest iteration from EA Sports featuring the 1997 Masters Champion. Along with ten other PGA Tour players and one very special amateur, EA Sports’ links simulation has a distinct style all its own, especially when compared to more traditional games such as Microsoft’s Links LS 2000. Tiger 2000 takes aim at the competitive aspects of golf, whereas a product like Links centers around the simulation components of the game. I had been anticipating Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 for some time. Being a fan of the PGA Tour, and having seen a lot of promise in EA Sports’ previous golfing titles provided a lot of hope for this new version. Adding that hope onto the mild disappointment of Links LS 2000, and you’ve got the makings of a highly anticipated title.

Understanding what style of simulation Tiger 2000 is, is critical to knowing if it is the right product for you. If you are a player who is interested in playing with and against a smattering of real life professionals, trying your hand at an entire PGA Tour Season on actual PGA courses, then Tiger 2000 will have a lot to offer you. If on the other hand you want gorgeous scenery, crisp graphics and great gameplay using a tried and true interface then you might want to look elsewhere. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 is an evolutionary title when you consider the product as a whole, although that should not discount some of its more revolutionary features, such as its “Play Against the Pros” offering.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 brings all of the qualities of its successors into the new version and adds a few surprises. “Play Against the Pros” is without question the most innovative. Registered players that have an Internet connection are offered the chance to play directly against real-life PGA Tour players as they compete in real events in real time. By connecting through EASports.Net, players can choose from a number of sponsored events, such as the Players Championship or the Buick Invitational. If scheduled and coordinated appropriately, users of Tiger 2000 see real-time video streamed right into their computers. It’s the first product to integrate television and video games in real time, truly offering players an interactive experience. EA Sports and EASports.Net are also offering an Internet Tour, that starts in mid-September and ends in mid-October with the Tour Championship. Those cyber golfers placing in the top eight of the Tour Championship will take home prize money — actual U.S. dollars ranging from $1,300 to $10,000. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2000 gives all players the opportunity to create or join multiplayer games and tournaments so in case you don’t make the Tour Championship you can still have a blast.