Not bad, but the weakest entry in years.
First thing I noticed was the absence of the Gamernet, no more could I hit a cartpath or smash it off the buildings on the 18th of St. Andrews and post it online for someone to do the same because it's no longer in the game. Why they decided to take out of the more original and fun diversions is truly beyond me. Also this game has several annoying little bugs (ie) Feherty's voice sometimes plays in fast forward which makes it sound like gibberish. I've constantly landed in bunkers and been placed on the fairway and vice versa. Sometimes when I land on the green the colors flash different shades of green and brown, these are just some of the glitches I've encountered.
The swing change actually makes an easier game that much easier, now instead of focusing on tapping for power and my swing I only need to focus on my swing. And the penalty for straying from the middle of the line is minimal even on the higher difficulties. Lastly the addition of the country clubs and the Tiger legacy modes are weak at best.
I also have a bone to pick with some of the annoying unrealistic physics in this game. First what's up with playing in the rain?? I mean you hit a ball into a green and it stops dead 100% of the time, does the ball suddenly turn to velcro?? How wet are these greens?? Very annoying, very unrealistic. Another annoyance is the wind, on any approach under 100 yds the wind does absolutely nothing, I mean not a thing. The wind can be blowing 15 mph and I can aim straight at the pin and I'll go straight at the pin. I'm tired of this lazy programming :(
In closing the core gameplay is still the same, you have your regular selection of courses and solid graphics but the series is becoming stale to me now, and this coming from the most hardcore Tiger Woods fan. It needs a vast overhaul and a subtle swing change isn't gonna do it. P.S. after playing even more I decided to edit my review and give this game a lower score from my original 7 down to 6.5