Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 announced

EA Sports has unveiled the next game in the long-running Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf series.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters features the Masters Tournament – a first for the franchise. You'll be able to play on the grounds of Augusta National and embark on your own journey to wear the Green Jacket.

The Masters Moments feature lets you play through historic moments against golfing legends. You can relive each of Woods' four Masters wins by attempting to equal or beat his scores in each round of the Tournament.

EA detailed a raft of improvements in its announcement release. A caddie will be by your side at all times, providing strategic advice. EA Sports used a new laser scanning technology at Augusta to laser scan every hole in the game. "Every tree, every azalea and every undulation in every green was recreated down to the smallest detail," reads the blurb.

There's an all-new commentary team of Jim Nantz and David Feherty, and a completely revamped TV broadcast presentation package. Fast Golf allows you to complete a full round in half the time. The new save system lets you save and later resume your round at any point.

The all-new Career Mode is designed to closely mirror the journey of an amateur golfer's rise through the ranks as you chase the title of Masters champion. You'll be able to jump-start your career if you played last year's game by carrying over XP.

Over 20 professional golfers are in the game, including 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson (2010 Ryder Cup – Team USA). Then, of course, there are the courses: 16 of the "world's most celebrated courses", including Augusta National Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia), Atlanta Athletic Club, TPC San Antonio, St Andrews Links and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The Masters edition launches in North America on 29th March and worldwide on 1st April for PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. The PS3 version supports the Move controller. The PS3-exclusive Collector's Edition includes the Masters and five additional courses. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will set you back £49.99, the Wii version £39.99.

"For more than a decade, the Masters Tournament has been the most requested and coveted feature for the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise among our fans," said EA Sports president Peter Moore.

"Pairing the number one golf video game franchise with the most prestigious golf tournament in the world is a perfect marriage and we're thrilled to bring our fans this exciting opportunity to experience Augusta National Golf Club like never before."

Said Tiger Woods: "I am very happy and excited that the Masters Tournament is featured in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour game.

"There are many new and unique elements in the game that will make everyone feel like they're really competing at Augusta National. This is great for the sport and will connect a new audience with the Masters, a tournament I've been fortunate to experience since 1995.

"Continually growing the visibility of golf is important to attracting newcomers to the sport, and I agree that showcasing the Masters Tournament in the game will bring an entirely new dimension to that approach."

EA Sports will be hoping for better things from Tiger Woods 12 than 11.

Dan Whitehead returned with 7/10 in his Tiger Woods 11 review from July last year.

Sales of the 2011 iteration were down 68 per cent compared to the previous year's edition. Some analysts suggested cover star Tiger Woods' controversial private life and subsequent dip in form were to blame.

Then, last month, EA boss John Riccitiello said Woods needed to start winning games in order for his business relationship with EA to make sense.

"We have no plans to move away from him, but it's a business relationship on the basis of we make the best golf game and he's the best golfer," Riccitiello said.

"Both of those things need to be true in the long run for the partnership to make sense.

"He sort of stuck with us for a very long time and we made great business together," he added, "and we're willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a period of time."