A brief FAQ for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, EA Sports.
Specifically, an FAQ that presents an alternate route of quickly
gaining money for a new character in TW2004.
Author's Note: I have only played the PS2 version of TW2004 and my brief
guide results from my experiences with this particular version. Any
information within this FAQ may or may not apply to other versions of
TW 2004. I will gladly accept any input regarding the validity of my
suggestions on other platforms and update this FAQ accordingly.
Disclaimer: I searched GameFAQs thoroughly before composing this FAQ.
Any original suggestions I make I believe are not on gamefaqs.com. Any
references to other faqs on GameFAQs are noted by their respective authors.
Version 1.0: August 20, 2004
Version 1.01: August 23, 2004
-- Updated Double Eagle Cash Value with "I" Tour Card
Copyright 2004, Matt Leonard.
reticentiaprima [at] outgun [dot] com
This document is protected by the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
This FAQ is intended solely for use with GameFAQs.com and its affiliates.
(1.01) Introduction and Purpose
(1.02) Suggested Settings and Helpful Tools
(1.03) The Method in Question
(1.04) A Few Notes
(1.05) Conclusion
(1.06) Credits
This is my first attempt at an FAQ for GameFAQs. I hope that it is found
to be helpful and informative for anyone who is looking for a way to
earn a fair amount of money quickly just after creating a new golfer. As
stated above, this guide is intended for the PS2 version of TW2004. I
do not know if this method would be successful on other platforms.
In brief, the idea is to exploit the fact that, at 110% power, Tiger Woods
(and Sunday Tiger) can drive the ball 329 yards with the 9 degree driver.
As mentioned in blackwidow26's FAQ (here at GameFAQs), Bay Hill #6 is
a very driveable hole (that is, you can hit the green in one shot if you
bravely cut across the lake -- this requires lots and lots of boost!).
With a successful putt, one can reel in a lucrative double eagle.
-Driving accuracy and control. Being able to hit the ball straight helps; but
sometimes being able to pick the proper amount of draw or fade also helps
considerably.
-Practice at boosting your drives. You should be able to attain a boost level
just one tap shy of maximum and, if possible, maximum boost.
-Access to Sunday Tiger Woods is preferable. This can be achieved
by completing World Tour Mode, using the password "4REDSHIRTS", or
playing a two-or-more-player game where another individual's character has
access to Sunday Tiger Woods. STW has 110% Boost Power, allowing him to
be more consistent with reaching the green in one shot.
-HOWEVER: "Normal" Tiger Woods can also be used with (perhaps) less success.
He has 110% Power; however, his 100% boost capabilities may cause the ball
not to carry far enough to reach the green.
-Note that either version of Tiger Woods has a 9 degree driver. This gives
a nice combination of loft and distance.
-A created course that consists entirely of Bay Hill #6.
-Rain: Off or On. If it's on, the ball sticks nicely on the green. This is
good if you're accurate with your drive. If rain is off, however, you can
make some minor corrections if your drive if inaccurate.
-Play from the Black (Hard) Tees. The shape of Bay Hill #6 is that of
a horseshoe; consequently, playing from the black tees only serves to
increase the money you earn.
-Use Expert Pin Placement. It sounds suicidal; but the green of Bay Hill #6
only seems to have one nasty dip. If you're facing the pin from the tee, this
dip is located northwest relative to the pin.
-Soft greens. This will help the ball stick in place and can be used in
tandem with rain to virtually place your ball wherever you want it.
-Soft fairways. There is a little strip of fairway surrounding the entire
hole. If you miss the green, you may still be able to putt from the fringe
or nearby fairway. Soft fairways may minimize the tendency of the ball to
roll into any surrounding rough -- and the rough may mean a chip or pitch.
-Wind: calm. Stronger winds might help if they are in your favour; however,
a calm crosswind will have less effect on your drive than, say, a 30 mph
crosswind. Even with calm winds, however, it may not always be possible
to drive the green if any sort of wind is in your face.
Briefly, the idea is simple. Using Sunday Tiger Woods (or Tiger Woods, if
you absolutely have to do so), head to your All Bay Hill #6 custom course.
Again, be sure to set your tee and pin placements, as well as the green and
fairway speeds as suggested in section (1.02).
Please note that when I say that something is to the "right," "left," or
any other direction of that nature, or perhaps a direction such as "northwest"
or "southeast," that direction is relative to the golfer hitting the ball
toward the pin from the tee.
When you tee off at the hole, simply turn toward the green. If you cannot
see it from the tee, be sure to zoom out to your target by holding the
Circle Button. With Tiger Woods, you'll only be aiming at 329 yards -- this
is dead in the water. But your power boost will get you to the green if you
can boost the ball effectively.
It is not necessarily the wisest choice to aim directly at the pin. As stated
in section (1.02), there is a rather nasty dip in the green that is northwest
of the pin's position from your perspective. You want to avoid having to
putt through this dip if possible, lest you happen to be a perfect
putter (which I am not). In my experience, landing to the right of
the pin on the relatively flat area yields the best putting position.
The green is rather large, so one might ask "Where exactly to the right of
the pin are you talking about?" There is a rather flat area anywhere from 3
to 33 yards to the right of the pin. Rather flat does not necessarily
mean perfectly flat. In general, however, putts (even from 95 feet) require
minor adjustments if you place your drive properly.
If your drive misses to the north of the pin, you may find yourself on a
section of fairway. There may be a slight downhill run from your position
that requires a shortening of your aim.
However, before you drive the ball, be sure you consider the behavior of
the wind. If the wind is calm, then you shouldn't have to adjust your
aim. However, if you have a crosswind, be sure to adjust your aim left
or right to account for the crosswind in question. Or, if you are good
at fading and drawing, add the proper amount of draw or fade to cancel any
wind effects. Be sure, however, that this does not compromise your driving
distance.
Beware: If the wind is at all against you, whether it be directly against you
or perhaps blowing southeast or southwest, it is very likely that you will
come up short on your drive and land in the water. If you do encounter
unfavorable wind, you might want to play the hole as you would normally and
"settle" for an eagle or birdie.
Once you have set your aim and are ready to drive, take a few practice
backswings and make sure you feel confident in your boosting abilities. If
the wind is in your favour, a boost level one tap short of maximum will
usually succeed in getting on you on the green. If it's calm, you can chance
a boost level of one tap short of maximum, or go for maximum boost.
If you're at all unsure, go for maximum boost and see where you land.
You can always adjust your boost and aim the next time if you find
you did not place the ball where you liked or if you missed altogether.
If you landed successfully on the green, or perhaps the fringe/fairway and
have a putt, go for it and sink the double eagle. If you are forced to chip,
pitch or flop, give it your best effort and you might be able to sink it.
Chips, pitches and flops are a little less uncertain; but there is no point
in wasting an opportunity for double eagle.
Upon sinking the ball and acquiring whatever score, move on to the next hole
(well, really it's Bay Hill 6 again) and repeat.
In most cases, newcomers to the game will have to practice to make this
method effective. Once mastered, it is a very lucrative exercise.
Because the wind may not always be favorable, it is unlikely (though
certainly not impossible) to get 18 double eagles in one round. I doubt I
am an expert; but provided the wind is more often favourable than not, I can
average 10 double eagles per round.
Below is a list of how much a double eagle is worth using this method.
As you gain higher touring card levels, the money increases.
NOTE: Tee choice and pin placement will change this list. In particular, if
you opt to play from closer tees and/or use an easier pin placement, the
amount of money will decrease per double eagle.
No Touring Card: $22500
T Card: $45000
I Card: $67500
G Card: $90000
E Card: $112500
R Card: $135000
In tandem with a bonus for hitting the green in one shot, and perhaps a bonus
for a long distance putt, one can earn $25000 or more per hole without a
touring card. This is particularly lucrative if you are consistent at
attaining these double eagles.
As with any single algorithm, I fully realize this method could quickly become
very boring. The solution is to vary your methods for earning cash.
You can use this method a little, then follow blackwidow26's suggestion of
making progress into World Tour mode (where victories yield returns between
$75000 and $600000 per round, $800000 for defeating Sunday Tiger Woods).
Completing World Tour Mode will increase your completion percentage, as will
making headway toward the Eagle Hunt trophy ball. This is particularly
helpful -- in blackwidow26's FAQ, he theorizes that one's touring card level
increases as your completion percentage increases. My experiences support his
theory (and it may now be fact; if so, someone please tell me). As stated
above, a higher touring card level means more money per double eagle. The
three methods complement each other nicely.
Any references I have made to blackwidow26's FAQ imply that the facts I am
restating are his work or common knowledge. I claim no credit for any details
I may have cited from his FAQ. His FAQ may be found at www.gamefaqs.com. I
encourage you to read through it for a mountain of details regarding
Tiger Woods 2004.
I welcome any feedback, suggestions, criticism and corrections. Updates will
be made in a timely manner, pending my amount of free time. Please send any
thoughts to reticentiaprima [at] outgun [dot] com. Please be sure your
subject line reads "Tiger Woods 2004 FAQ," else I may delete it as assumed
junk mail.
