@Sneakler So you are cherry picking what you want debate, as in only the last two game.
Granted 2K23 was not a huge update over 2K21, but there are some significant changes though subtle. The major one that comes to mind is how much more the ball rolls out on the greens for both longer irons and putting.
But if you want to make this argument the mechanics of this game is not much different than the previous Tiger Woods game. To me it just feels like an updated TW2014, with some things added and others removed.
I would consider myself a competent but not elite player, and this game is easy. Sonce day one I set the difficulty to the highest level, but with the green grids enabled. I have commented several.times I don't feel you can display a 3D environment on a 2D screen.
I do not remember shooting over par with this game yet. I have played without the grid 3 times and shot 5 under each time but didn't enjoy the experience.
The game is easy... the difficulty is mainly in the randomness of the RNG. I get punished with good swings and rewarded for bad ones.
There is little for me in this game now. I hit the ball in a general direction, let the RNG determine where the ball lands and hit my next shot rinse and repeat.
If I land on the green I will either make the putt or 2 putt and go to the next hole. Because of the putting mechanics you can always pretty much hit the distance you want. And once you understand how slope and direction works in the game you can always lag to within about 3 feet of the pin.
If you don't land on the green, it is a simple flop or pick shot, short putt and off to the next tee box.
Unless I am just off the green with a relatively flat lie the flag. In that case I may try to chip the ball in the hole.
Note if I am flopping or hitting a pick shot I won't try to sink the shot as hitting the flagstick is normally very penal.
So in short I agree with the OP that the game is quite arcadey, long shots into a green roll out too far, and wedges spin often way too much even when delofting the club.
And that RNG seems to take precedence over user input.
I can play through a round in EA's game quickly because there is very little thinking. I hit the ball, once near the green I will switch to a flop shot from the rough or pick from the bunker, sink the putt and move on.
At least on 2K I need to be aware that I cannot be above the hole if the green is sloping away from me.
EA looks good, and the career mode is pretty well executed if you turn off the commentary. But because of the difficulty and playing mechanics the experience is lacking.
The game has potential but it just is not their yet for the sim player. This is an arcade game dressed up as something more.
