The Tiger is still the best. Could do with a little work on his charisma, though...

Tiger Woods is unquestionably the best golfer on the planet. But there's something a little too straight-laced about him. He doesn't like the Ryder Cup, for a start, and famously refused to celebrate winning the event in 1999. And so it is with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003. Like the man himself, the game is near flawless and easily the best golf sim around. But there is something a little po-paced about it. Unlike the classic Everybody's Golf on PSOne, there's little here to capture the imagination of those who see golf as nothing more than a nice long walk.

We don't want to be too mean spirited because there is a lot to like here. But there's also a lot that anyone who bought the last version six months ago (Tiger 2002, OPS2#19 70%) will recognise. The brilliant analogue control system remains - and this is what really marks Tiger out from the crowd. For the uninitiated, you hit the ball by pulling down on either of the analogue sticks and then pushing forward. These two movements perfectly recreate the up and down motion of a swing. While doing this, you can also rotate the analogue stick round to the left or right to effectively create a spin which will draw or fade the ball (or hook it into the trees).

The main single-player game is the Tiger Challenge. Here you take on various tests - mainly beating other golfers in stroke or matchplay - to win money and open up new courses, players (there are seventeen in all but very few Europeans, which is a real pity) and other challenges as you go. These are nicely varied and have a satisfying learning curve that'll take you from amateur rank to Tiger-style brilliance. You can also develop a character as you go along - win and you'll receive cash to buy new attributes such as better length off the tee, better putting and so on. You can also enter tournaments as your new character or even challenge your mates on one of the many two- to four-player games.

The courses themselves - fourteen in total - have been lovingly recreated, and the real-life challenges and details that distinguish these great courses are all evident in the game. Playing St Andrews in the wind is very different to, say, Sawgrass on a summer's day, and this is accurately brought to life in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003.

The crux of the game is that it is an exceptionally accurate golf simulation. Despite the variations, and the presence of speed and street golf, it is about playing the game right, learning the courses and perfecting your swing. It isn't about having a laugh. Unless, of course, you're giggling at your mates as you hole out with an eagle while playing skins. Don't know what that means? Well, unless you do (or at least want to) know, you may be better off taking that walk after all.

1. It's incredibly realistic
2. Will keep you playing for months
3. Beautifully rendered courses

1. We bought the last one six months ago
2. Very US-centric
3. Just for golf lovers

Graphics 90%
Big improvement. Courses and players are spot on.

Sound 80%
Brilliant use of heartbeats and crowd whoops.

Gameplay 80%
Joyful controls. The perfect golf game.

Lifespan 80%
It's huge and takes patience to perfect.

Overall 80%
Tiger 2003 is a great golf sim and is easily the best around, but can take itself just a little too seriously.