EA has revealed how they’re working to integrate more women golfers/experience into the upcoming PGA Tour title.
EA is looking to bring a complete golfing experience to gamers when the franchise returns early next year, as they’re fully incorporating aspects of the LPGA into the game. Today, they revealed more details on their partnership with the Association:
For the first time, the LPGA Tour will be experienced in high-fidelity on next-generation consoles and will feature a wide breadth of women’s golfing representation. In Spring 2022, all players will be able to tee-off as a female golfer at the truest representation of the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France, thanks to the power of EA’s Frostbite™ game engine.
“We’re thrilled that the LPGA Tour is coming back to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR especially with the inclusion of a major global tournament like The Amundi Evian Championship,” said Brian Carroll, the LPGA’s senior vice president of global media distribution. “EA SPORTS has done a great job in continuing to expand female representation in the various modes throughout the game and featuring women’s golf in an authentic and modern way.”
To authentically represent the diversity found in the sport of golf and create a more welcoming community, the development team worked with a diverse group of golf professionals, including GOLFTV and Sky Sports broadcaster and former pro golfer Iona Stephen. Iona is a part of a larger Creative Council and has worked with the development team at EA for over a year on everything from design to audio, visuals, golf trends and community building. Iona is also joining the EA commentary team as the first female on-course commentator in game, bringing her experienced insights from both playing professionally and working in golf broadcasting.
“I’m incredibly excited that EA SPORTS PGA TOUR laid out a vision to represent female athletes and the LPGA in the game,” said Iona Stephen, GOLFTV and Sky Sports broadcaster, and EA SPORTS ambassador. “My goal in helping EA is to give women the satisfaction of playing a quality golf game while seeing themselves in a variety of ways that go beyond a handful of female character models.”
“I’m beyond excited to be included as one of the female golfers in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR,” said Jin Young Ko, professional golfer, and winner of The 2019 Amundi Evian Championship. “Women’s golf is growing so fast and having us included in this game is a great opportunity to reach fans all around the world. I can’t wait to see how it turns out – and I can’t wait to play the game!”
Ko joins a roster of LPGA Tour athletes coming to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR when it launches next year. Each of these athletes can be used to compete in multiple game modes — including a variety of challenges and The Amundi Evian Championship — from the start. First played in 1994 as the Evian Masters, The Amundi Evian Championship was elevated to major-championship status in 2013. Nestled at the base of the Alps, Evian Resort Golf Club provides spectacular views of Lake Geneva and sprawling snow-capped mountains. The course has served as the venue for some incredible moments in LPGA Tour history, including Ko’s two-stroke win in 2019, Angela Stanford’s first major victory in 2018 at age 40 and Hyo-Joo Kim’s first-round 61 in 2014, which still stands as the lowest round at a major by any golfer, male, or female.
The Amundi Evian Championship will be just one of the many additions to EA SPORTS PGA TOUR as a part of EA’s long-term partnership with the LPGA. Players will have the opportunity to play as several female athletes as well as create a female golfer of their own in the newly overhauled Create-A-Player feature. From having the chance to participate in a series of LPGA-themed challenges, amateur tournaments and events like The Amundi Evian Championship, EA SPORTS PGA TOUR is providing an in-depth women’s golf experience in 2022.
EA SPORTS PGA TOUR will serve as the first appearance of The Amundi Evian Championship in a videogame as it joins four of golf’s men’s major championships: the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship™, U.S. Open Championship and The Open Championship™. In addition to playing the major championships, golf fans can also live out a legendary career as they authentically compete at THE PLAYERS Championship and FedExCup Playoffs, while experiencing the unique atmosphere and venues of each tournament.
