However, not all of the tweaks really work in the game's favor. Tiger Woods' gameplay has taken a slight stumble due to the introduction of some technical goofs. The analog-powered golf swing, for instance, now requires more attention than ever before due to the introduction of hooks and slices. To put it simply, if a player veers the control stick even to the slightest left or right direction, it makes the ball fly off with a curve. So, those looking to get their ball past a couple of bothersome trees might be frustrated as it goes sailing straight into them by mistake. Last year's game had the right tone going for a system that wasn't too demanding while, at the same time, providing just the right amount of difficulty. This year's change-ups result in a system that introduces the ugly, frustrating side of golf -- the one that makes people throw their golf bags in the middle of the lake out of sheer, unblocked rage.

Another change worth bringing up is the three-button-press swing set-up. This might please fans of older, arcade-style golf games, as it simply requires button presses for power, accuracy and execution. However, it seems to only work best on short shots. Anything more powerful than those can lead to the same disastrous failures with the analog system, thanks to a rapidly moving meter that can be hard to get the timing down on. Because of this, it stumbles, another "improvement" that hinders the game rather than helping it.

Due to the flaws within its very gameplay, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 doesn't garner the same stellar recommendation as the previous year's solid game received. Fans of the series will still want to check it out, if only to mess around with Photo Game Face and Shot Confidence while tackling all of Tiger's numerous challenges. However, this feels like a struggle to reach the next green rather than a leisurely stroll back to the clubhouse. Do yourself a favor and approach with caution.