Rory McIlroy PGA Tour contains some new features, assists and gameplay changes. New Backswing Meter, Aiming Arc, and putt read features were added to assist players in making accurate shots. Three main swing modes are offered; "Arcade", which uses the analog sticks to swing and allows application of spin to the ball in mid-air, the traditional "3-Click", and "Tour"—an advanced mode similar to Arcade mode, but with no assists enabled at all and higher sensitivity.[5][4] Players can toggle individual assists to customize their experience.[6]
The new engine provides more realistic physics and interactions between the ball and aspects of the environment, such as accounting for firmness and grass length, and shooting balls through plants and trees. As an entire course is now treated as a single map, errant shots can also land and be played from areas that were previously considered out-of-bounds and incurred penalties.[5][4][7]
A new mode, Night Club Challenge, requires players to make shots at targets in a nightclub-inspired setting.[5][7]
Some features were removed in comparison to PGA Tour 14; amateur (aside from a Web.com Tour event for earning the player's PGA Tour membership) and women's events were removed,[8] as well as certain alternate modes (such as Stableford scoring) beyond stroke and match play, the ability to play individual or certain types of holes (only back 9, front 9, or 18 can be played),[8] online Country Clubs[6] Quick Tournament,[8] weather,[8] and career schedules.[8]
Courses[edit]
Rory McIlroy PGA Tour includes eight real-world courses on-disc; Bay Hill, Chambers Bay, the Old Course at St. Andrews, Royal Troon, TPC Boston, TPC Sawgrass, Whistling Straits, and Wolf Creek. TPC Scottsdale was a pre-order exclusive. Additional courses will be added through downloadable content.[5][4][9] Four fantasy courses are also offered, including one based on the Battlefield 4 map Paracel Storm, the Grand Canyon, and a nightclub-themed course for the game's new challenge mode.[5][2][3][4]
Due to an expired license, Augusta National and the Masters Tournament do not appear in the game, although an EA representative has suggested that the course may be re-introduced as DLC in the future.[10]
