If you’re a golfer and a gamer, you likely already know that there’s been a boom in golf video games.
And with EA Sports announcing the return of EA Sports PGA Tour, the company’s first golf video game since Rory McIlroy PGA Tour came out in 2014, they’ve got something special in store.
That’s because for the first time since 2014, LPGA players will be included in a golf video game. And that game will have a female commentator to call the action.
While it may seem like a small thing to celebrate, bringing the best women in the game to the consoles and screens of gamers all over the world is huge in terms of elevating the women’s game and growing it’s fan base.
To that point, EA Sports Senior Producer Jenny Martin believes the partnership between EA and the LPGA is crucial to growing the women’s game.
“The partnership itself is a testament to our commitment to growing the game of women’s golf,” she told GOLF.com. “It is also part of our (EA Sports) desire to create a more diverse and welcoming community into our game.”
Augusta National is officially making a return to EA Sports video games
As if including LPGA players in a video game wasn’t groundbreaking enough, EA Sports PGA Tour will also include a woman commentator voiced by Sky Sports and Golf TV host Iona Stephen, who also happens to be a member of EA Sports’ Creative Council for the first time.
For Stephen, this opportunity goes beyond just lending her voice to the final product in the form of in-game commentary.
“It’s a great achievement to have more in-depth female representation across all modes in EA Sports PGA Tour,” she said. “I’m thrilled to help provide this offering for LPGA fans, especially when more fans are getting into gaming.”
EA Sports’ decision to include women in the next iteration of this game is indicative of the push being made in golf and in the wider world of sports to be more inclusive and elevate women’s sports. This move is akin to NBA 2K22 announcing Candace Parker as the first female basketball player to grace it’s cover in the game’s history, and it goes a long way to bringing the women’s game to new audiences.
As for which LPGA stars will grace gamers’ screens. World No. 2 Jin Young Ko, a two-time major champion and eight-time LPGA winner, has been announced as the first among a roster of LPGA players coming to the game in 2022.
“I’m beyond excited to be included as one of the female golfers in EA SPORTS PGA TOUR,” Ko said of her inclusion in the game. “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.”
Between the inclusion of the best LPGA players in the game, and some of the best courses golfers can dream of including Augusta National and now the Evian Golf Club, home of the Amundi Evian Championship, golfers and gamers alike have a lot to look forward to in spring 2022.