Golf season starts tomorrow, which means it is time to actually start thinking of the best game with dimples. While the giants take a nap, others will play at the Mercedes Championship, and golf will be around the rest of the year. FanHouse spent a couple of minutes thinking what is to come in 2009. Here is what transpired. 1. Tiger Woods
Yes, that's right. I said it. Tiger. Freaking. Woods. It's stupid of me to even suggest it and I'm pretty sure I might be the only person not picking him to win 40 tournaments and maybe five majors. And it's only because he's coming back from major (No pun intended. Seriously. Stop it.) surgery and, well, regardless of his injuries, expectations are going to be high.
He did, after all, win the US Open with stumpy legs, yellow teeth and an issue with obesity. Oh, wait. That was Johnny Miller. But still -- Tiger did it on one leg. Look, he's going to be good/great/Tiger-style this year, and he's going to win tournaments, but that ridiculous moment will cause people to be disappointed if he doesn't win the Grand Slam.
2. Sergio Garcia
The title of "Best Player Never to Win a Major" (BPNTWAM) is fairly ridiculous when you think about it. Some golfers are very good, some are great and some choke under pressure because they're wearing lavender shirts on Sunday. Sergio isn't in the first class, but he's talented as hell. Yet, if he wins a major, guess what? You got it -- someone else takes the title. But it won't happen this year. Pressure is a B on lavender.
3. Adam Scott
For all the BPNTWAM talk that surrounds Sergio, what about this guy? Sergio's been around a lot longer, but Scott's only one year younger, if my math is correct, and frankly, because Serg looks so pastel when he's got his hands around his neck, Scott kind of gets a free pass on not really coming up big. Not only that, but the 15th ranked player in the world has played in 31 major championships, and finished in the top-10 four times, the last coming in 2006. At least his stubble is consistent.
4. Camilo Villegas
If this were a column about a baseball pitcher, I would probably be fawning over Villegas' breakout potential this season; "second-half" (late, in golf, I suppose) performance is always a nice factor in analyzing how someone will perform the following year. And I think that Villegas is prepared to make the next step. But when I see the amount of love he's getting (PGATour.com's number four overall "Golfer to Watch" in 2009), suddenly everything about the guy starts to scream, "HEAT CHECK!"
5. Kenny Perry
Perry isn't the sexiest name on the circuit, but he sure as mess balled it up last year, grinding his way out to fifth on the money list and locking himself into the Ryder Cup. Perry's older now (48 turning 49, it's all relative) and has more or less accomplished everything that he wanted to -- within reason of his capabilities -- so seeing a step back this year wouldn't be shocking at all.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
how the mighty suffered :)
I would generally agree except for one guy - Camilo Villegas. With his wins he knows he can elevate to the top levels of the game and at the end of last year he gave credit where credit was due, to his team, showing that he is not totally self centered. He is extremely disciplined in physical fitness and training to develop his skills and is "programmable" by his team, and has one more quality akin to Tiger, he has a steely grit and look of determination, and while he may not reach Tiger's level, it shows that he won't quit until he reaches his own full potential, which will be far from disappointing.