PGA and EA Extend Golfing Partnership

The PGA TOUR and Electronic Arts today announced an exclusive six-year extension of their longstanding licensing agreement that centers upon the highly successful Tiger Woods PGA TOUR video game franchise.

The partnership, which started more than 15 years ago, will extend through 2012, coinciding with the typical six-year hardware platform cycle. The current four-year term saw explosive growth of the title.

“The PGA TOUR is excited to continue our relationship with EA,” said Ed Moorhouse, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer. “Our video game provides a great entry into golf for kids and allows our brand to reach multiple generations throughout the world. EA has been a fantastic partner and has built the best video game franchise in golf.”

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR is easily the top-selling golf video game franchise in addition to being one of the top selling video games in the sports genre.

“We look forward to continuing our longstanding and very successful relationship with the PGA TOUR,” said Frank Gibeau, EA’s Executive Vice President and GM of North American Publishing. “The PGA TOUR has been a great partner and we look forward to creating new and innovative products with them that continue to raise the standards for the sports video game genre.”

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 is scheduled to be released in Europe in September and in the U.S. in October. It will be available on the Xbox video game system from Microsoft and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, and PC as well as on mobile. EA plans to promote the game heavily in Asia and the international marketplace.

Among the new game’s features will be a FedExCup points race, reflecting the dynamic new points-based competition that will debut on the PGA TOUR in 2007.

The current generation video games on Xbox and PlayStation 2 consoles will feature 21 licensed professional golfers, including the addition of 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, two-time PLAYERS Championship/1995 PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington, and LPGA World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam. It also is adding six licensed golf courses (for 16 total), including two Ryder Cup sites – The K Club (2006) and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (1991).

The game version for the Xbox 360 will introduce new universal facial capture (UCAP) technology which brings realism and emotion to the golf course like never before. With enhanced galleries, players see and hear the crowds around them, intensifying the drama as they compete against the world’s best.