PGA Tour Player of the Year?

From the Tiger Woods scandal to the Dustin Johnson penalty, 2010 has been thoroughly unpredictable and entertaining.  Besides the Fedex Cup champ, the only thing to be decided is "Player of the Year".

It's been nearly 25 years since they've given the award to a player that hadn't won a Major Championship (Paul Azinger - 1987). 

It may just happen this year.  The only one of the four Major champions with a shot, and it's a long one, would be Phil Mickelson.  I think that he would need to win the final event of the year to earn it.  Graham McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer spent the majority of their season on the European tour so they're out.

Here are my final three.  Let me know what you think.

3. Steve Stricker (requires a win this week to get my vote)



Two wins and steady play throughout 2010 puts Stricker near the top.



2. Dustin Johnson (needs to outplay my current #1)



Dustin's great play at the Majors along with his 2 wins and current standing in the Fedex Cup (2nd) gets his name near the top of the list.



1. Matt Kuchar (needs to outplay Dustin Johnson and pray that Stricker or Phil don't win)



Kuchar leads the Tour in earnings, scoring average and is in position to take home $10 million as the Fedex Cup Champ.... [More]

2011 Golf Majors Predictions

Phil Mickelson, Graham McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer.  Hmmm.

Well, it was quite the conclusion to golf's Major Championship schedule.  Kaymer's playoff win was over-shadowed by the Dustin Johnson 2 stroke penalty on the 72nd hole.  But I'm not here to talk about the past, no matter how much it hurt (see my previous blog) and guess who I picked to win the PGA Championship.

I'm here to lay down my predictions for 2011.  I believe that the first page of the leaderboard at Whistling Straits foreshadows our next four majors.

The Masters (Augusta National) - Dustin Johnson - sets up great for left-handed hitters now (check Phil and Weirsy) and Bubba bombs it as long or longer than anyone on this wide open track.  Now that he's become a very serviceable putter, I see him contending for his first green jacket, but Dustin will sneak this one out with a 64 in the final round.



US Open (Congressional) - Martin Kaymer - Get ready for this kid because he's going to win a few of these.  Silky smooth swing, with power & accuracy.  He can also make the big putts.



British Open (Royal St. George's) - Rory McIlroy - He'll be due and I've got all the confidence that he'll get it done at next year's Open.  It's only a matter of time before he starts dominating.



PG... [More]

US Open Picks

The winner of the 2010 US Open lies within this list of 5 players.  I'll provide you with a little rationale as well.


Lee Westwood - This is an easy pick.  He's been extremely strong in the majors of late including a 2nd place showing at the Masters this year.  He's also coming off a win last week.  (+1246)




Dustin Johnson - He's won the last two AT&Ts which were held at Pebble Beach.  He may be a little inexperienced in the majors but his value is outstanding at +3619.



Padraig Harrington - I think he's rounding into form and he plays his best golf on the big stage.  He's not far removed from Player of the Year status.  (+2575)




Phil Mickelson - Could he pull off the Grand Slam?  I doubt it.  But he certainly loves the west coast and he's got the game to win any week of the year.  (+673)



Tiger Woods - As much as I hate putting him on this list, you can never count Tiger out.  He's pulled off far bigger surprises and he's owned this golf course in the past. (+604)



Sprinkle a little cash on these guys and your US Open will be much more enjoyable to watch.

Cheers,

Zarley... [More]

Golf - 5 Worst Major Champions

First of all, let me clarify two things before you rip apart this list.  One, this is based on the majors that I've been watching for the past 20 years.  Two, it has nothing to do with the actual event or how it was won and everything to do with the golfers who took home the hardware.

Some of these guys were a joy to watch in their finest moment.  Some of these guys pulled off incredible shots in the clutch to win.  Not one of these guys, however, can claim to be great Tour Players.

5. Wayne Grady - 1990 Shoal Creek Golf and Country Golf

When this happened I wondered why the hell anyone watched golf.  I soon learned that this guy isn't a typical major winner.




4. Todd Hamilton - 2004 Open Champion at Royal Troon

Yawning just thinking about this guy and his golf game.



3. Paul Lawrie - 1999 Open Champion at Carnoustie

This guy is actually a decent golfer but the Open that year was all about Jean Van de Velde.  Lawrie was a non-factor unknown who's that? throughout the majority of the event and when Van de Velde handed him the trophy with his collapse, noone felt that this guy deserved anything.








2. Rich Beem - 2002 PGA Champion at Hazeltine

Truly enjoyable to watch it happen.  I was even cheering for this guy.  He seems like the everyday Joe Golfer.  He's played well here and there but he's really not a very good golfer. ... [More]

8 Best Young Golfers on the Planet

Now that we can officially say that Tiger is a non-factor on tour for at least the short term I thought it would be interesting to take a look at golf after Tiger and who will be dominating the tour in 10-15 years from now.  Here's my list... feel free to add a name or two:

8. Rickie Fowler (21) - USA - Think Freddy Couples and all the back troubles. His swing may not hold up for the long term.



7. Shane Lowry (23) - Ireland - The Irish version of Colin Montgomerie?



6. Jason Day (22) - Australia - He'll hover around the Top 25 in the world for a long time.  He's got all the tools.



5. Jordan Spieth (16) - USA - This kid will be brought along slowly but he's got the game already.  There won't be a repeat of the Ty Tryon mistakes with Spieth.



4. Ryo Ishikawa (18) - Japan - A final round 58 on the Japanese Tour.  Incredible talent.



3. Rory McIlroy (21) - N. Ireland - He's got it all.  Distance, touch and a winner's mind-set.




2. Matteo Manassero (18) - Italy - I don't know what it is about this guy... oh yeah... it's that perfect swing.




1. Dustin Johnson (25) - USA



Long bomber with silky hands tops the list.  He's the future of golf and has a win in each of his first three years on tour after finishing a great collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University.  Mickelson, Nicklaus and Butch Harmon have bee... [More]