The Best Golf Games To Play While You're Watching The PGA 2026 Leaderboards

Listen, even if you're a huge golf fan, the PGA Championship can have its lulls, especially during the second and third days, which is exactly what's going on at the time of this writing. You may not actually be watching the matches, and instead just checking the leaderboards, which is a totally fair way to keep up on scores. Or maybe you're the type to have golf playing on one screen while playing a game on the other.

While you're waiting to see if Scottie Scheffler can repeat as champion (he's currently tied for 9th, so let's see how badly this ages), why not fire up a golf sim and get in on the action yourself? From all-time classics to polished modern releases, there's something for just about every level of golf fan to enjoy in these next games.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004

The Undisputed Champ

Let's get the obvious choice out of the way first. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 isn't just an all-time great golf game; it's one of the best sports games ever made. It may not look like much today (although frankly, it's not bad), but what it lacks in 60fps 4k fidelity, it makes up for in perfect gameplay balance.

Nailing the balance between realistic simulation and accessible mechanics, PGA Tour 2004 set a lot of standards for golf games that are upheld to this day. It has a fantastic soundtrack, a cool (if slightly simplistic) character creator, and fantastic commentary voice work from David Feherty and Gary McCord. As far as EA's series goes, you could play the modern game for the graphical improvements, but you'll have more fun with this one if you just dust off an old PS2.

100Ft Robot Golf

As Cool As It Sounds

Look, maybe you enjoy watching golf but aren't trying to emulate the real-life sport at the same time. We're not here to judge. Instead, we're here to recommend something like 100ft Robot Golf, a game where, instead of a human-sized golfer, you play as a giant robot golfing against other giant robots on larger-than-life courses.

True to form, giant robots aren't exactly held back by hazards (which can include buildings and moon bases), so instead, you can use your robot powers, such as lasers or your big fists, to clear them away, or even block your opponent's shots. Speaking of opponents, 100ft Robot Golf allows for either four-player splitscreen or online co-op, making it the perfect goofy golf game for while you watch the pros play the real deal.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational

A Great Way To Introduce Newcomers

Don't let the chibi art style fool you. Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, known outside of North America as Everybody's Golf 6, is one of the best multiplayer golf experiences out there. What hides beneath its cartoony exterior are some serious gameplay chops, from pitch-perfect physics to smooth controls and a fantastic soundtrack backing it all up. It was even nominated for a Game Award back when they were produced by Spike TV.

The real star here is the multiplayer. While Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational was originally exclusive to the PS Vita, it is also playable on PS3, making it available with a PS+ Premium subscription today. From goofy lobby antics to tons of customization and quick match setups, it's a multiplayer experience that's hard to top.

PGA Tour 2K25

The New Hotness

At the end of the day, sometimes you just want the state-of-the-art project, and that's completely valid. If that's your interest, you're going to want PGA Tour 2K25. The PGA 2K series is on a biannual release schedule, so 2025 is the most recent entry, but as far as modern golf games go, you're not going to find anything better.

EA Sports PGA Tour might boast the best visuals (and more inspired commentary), but PGA Tour 2K25 has by far the better swing mechanics and MyPlayer character creation system (which feels like an RPG-lite). Meanwhile, MyCareer mode is pleasantly robust, with plenty of options to customize your experience and a huge roster of real-world players to face off against. It's probably not suited for someone who is still learning when to use a 9 iron, but if you're an avid fan, this is the kind of detailed sim that you can invest hours into.

Links 2003

Create It Yourself

This is another all-time classic, albeit one that maybe doesn't get as much love as the big names like Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Links 2003 is a more technical golf sim, with pinpoint controls, and, due to a persistent and dedicated community, it is still playable today on modern PCs thanks to a series of fan-made mods and updates. The folks at linkscorner.org are always willing to help someone set up the game to work with their current system, and they provide purchase links to the original product as well.

While the mechanics and player roster here are great, the real standout is the Arnold Palmer Course Designer. This is where the game gets its legs, and is a big reason why its popularity has been sustained over the last two-plus decades. There are other mods available as well, adding real-world courses, texture updates, and more. Links 2003 is still a great game all these years later, but above all, it sports the best ongoing community of any golf game out there.

What The Golf?

Get Weird

Are you someone who enjoys watching golf but hates playing it? Something like What the Golf? is going to be more your speed. The basic principles of golf are here, such as shooting a ball into a hole (or a flag), but the rest of the experience differs drastically, and plays more like a series of golf-themed puzzles than anything else.

You see, everything in the world of What the Golf? obeys the rules of golf, from cars to cows to bottles of wine. Every stage has its own take on a "ball" and its own mechanics in how you control it towards the flag on the green. The controls are simple as can be, but the gameplay scenarios are consistently surprising and consistently funny. Is it truly a golf game? Kind of, but it's a blast no matter how you slice it.

Nintendo Switch Sports Golf

(Almost) As Good As The Wii Days

We're going to include a couple of games exclusively for the Switch and Switch 2 owners out there. Nintendo has always maintained a surprisingly consistent niche of golf games for its players. While Wii Sports is still locked on that seventh-gen console, Nintendo Switch Sports is a more-than-sufficient replacement.

If you're hosting a PGA Championship gathering and need a suitable party game for the occasion, then Nintendo Switch Sports is the best choice you could make. It feels good to play, is easy to pick up, offers solid motion control options, but isn't so deep that you'll have people obsessing over it or feeling like they can't grasp its mechanics in a pick-up-and-play multiplayer session. It won't replace your nostalgia for the Wii days, but it will serve to fill that void.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

Arcade Golfing At Its Finest

Rather than dusting off another old console in the form of an N64 just to play Mario Golf 64 again (not that we're saying that's a bad idea), why not pick up the latest and greatest? Mario Golf: Super Rush is the most recent entry in the series. It definitely doesn't quite hit those same, perfect highs as Nintendo's 1999 masterpiece, but it has a lot of polish and modern QoL improvements that make it a less bumpy experience today.

There are some great new modes included, such as Speed Golf, that change up the formula, but overall, Mario Golf: Super Rush is just a low-stakes, cozy kind of golf game that will scratch the itch for playing nine holes without putting you through the wringer of perfectly aimed shots or informed club selection. It has some great multiplayer options, too. Choose your favourite character, pick a course, and just have fun. That's what golf is all about.