The Tiger Woods PGA Tour series has the golf simulation market pretty much all to itself, thanks to its chief competitor Links becoming dormant since its last release on Xbox in 2003. Golf in real life is a sport that's all about "feel", which is why Links, a series that provides a truer representation of golf, has been a personal favorite. However, Tiger Woods PGA Tour has always trumped it with superior gameplay modes and depth. Tiger 07 on the PSP is no different and provides a surprisingly rich portable experience.

The Tiger Woods series has received criticism for turning golf into a ridiculously easy sport. Rounds in the low 50s were not career defining; instead, they became customary, as players could cut treacherous doglegs for eagle putts without thinking twice. Similarly, course management became a joke. EA has addressed this in the console versions of Tiger 07 by premiering the True Aiming system, the first overhaul to the games mechanics in years. This introduces risk to the swing because shots may end up anywhere within a general aiming circle, the size of which depends on the character's attributes. Put simply, skilled characters that have had hours invested into pumping up their skills will have narrower aiming circles and hence more accurate shots.

What's odd is that this change didn't make the transition over to the PSP version. In fact, Tiger Woods 07 PSP plays almost exactly the same as Tiger Woods 2005 on Xbox. Hitting the ball is as simple as pulling the analog nub down for a backswing and then pushing up to swing down and follow through. By varying the direction of the analog nub, fade and draw shots can be performed as well as the more extreme hooks and slices that will likely lead to big trouble. Barring wind and swing errors, shots will end up more or less wherever they're aimed.

Adjusting to the controls of the PSP can be problematic, and it takes time to learn how to make smooth, straight swings. Luckily, there is an on-screen swing path meter that gives immediate feedback after a shot so that players can learn what is accepted as a straight swing. The bigger problem comes from putting, which has never been the series' strength. This year, an Ideal Putt Camera has been introduced. While on the green, this camera angle gives a clue to the proper line for the putt by leaning in one direction. The idea is that after following the clue and shifting the aim of the putt in the indicated direction, the Ideal Putt Camera can be continuously checked until it doesn't lean anymore, which would indicate the perfect line for the putt. .

Of course, this is a completely artificial method of putting and doesn't even work all that well because putting speeds are notoriously difficult to judge. A good rule of thumb is to always putt with greater power than recommended by the game, which sometimes works but can be treacherous on sloping greens. But the system is inconsistent and leads to much aggravation. David Faherty, part of the commentary team, exclaims in the game "This is the worst putting I have ever seen!" Very appropriate observation, sir.