The player

"If I have a bit of free time I'll get on the PS3 and play a bit. But I mostly keep it to sports" From golfer to gaming avatar - JOE GRIFFINon the transformation of Rory McIlroy

Sports stars have always been a valuable component of the gaming industry. But what happens when one of them becomes mired in scandal?

EA, developer of the phenomenally successful Tiger Woods games, is wise to hedge its bets. The cover of the latest tie-in features Woods on one side and Rory McIlroy on the other, his trademark curls poking out from under his cap. McIlroy is the first sports figure in 11 years to share a videogame cover with Woods.

Scruffy gaming journalists and dapper golf correspondents crowded a corner of Celtic Manor last month to watch the young golfer in a motion-capture demonstration. Surrounded by cameras and wearing what looked like a scuba suit dotted with white spheres, McIlroy took a few swings and made a few gestures. In real time an avatar of his outline and proportions appeared on a computer screen.

Nestled in the Cardiff countryside, Celtic Manor, the venue of the next Ryder Cup is a marvel. High ceilings and elegant interiors overlook rambling hills and immaculate links. Lounging in the restaurant area (which smells like leather in a new car), McIlroy is mellow.

"It's sort of surreal to be able to get on and play as yourself," he admits. "You've been playing [ videogames] for so long and then you see yourself onscreen. Then obviously there's motion capture and being able to swing the exact same way as in real life, it's pretty cool."

With Woods golfing but far from full public redemption, there's a Tiger-shaped hole

in the sport and gaming industries. McIlroy could just be his videogame heir: their early careers have parallels, but the humble scruffy McIlroy is arguably a closer reflection of a typical gamer.

"I've grown up playing a lot of sports games," he says. "Fifa, Tiger Woods, Madden, NBA. So, I mean, if I have a bit of free time I'll definitely get on the PS3 and play a bit. But, yeah, I mostly keep it to sports."

McIlroy says that playing the videogame helps his golf game, if only a little.

"You'd know the layout and the type of shots you'd need off the tees, so in that respect it would help you a little bit to play. It's more to do with the shape of shots you need, because the golf courses on the game are so accurate to what they're like in real life."

EA could do a lot worse for a franchise star, but whether McIlroy gets a game of his own probably depends on his performance in the coming year.