Some Incorrect Predictions for the PGA Tour Season

Some Incorrect Predictions for the PGA Tour Season

 

Golf is nothing if not fickle. Last year, everyone and their mother had DJ dominating at Augusta until some slick stairs resulted in yet another freak golf accident. Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Jason Day didn’t record a win, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka became stars, Sergio broke the curse and Bubba and his pink ball were awful.

With that said, I’ll preface this with the fact that no one has any clue what’s going to happen in 2018. Elite professional golf can be just as streaky as amateur golf, albeit on a different stratosphere of skill. Now that the Silly Season is over, and the Tour starts its West Coast swing, we’re going to give you some wildly inaccurate predictions for the upcoming season.

 

 

1. Major Winners

 

Masters, April 5-9, Augusta National, Augusta, GA: Jon Rahm

U.S. Open, June 14-17, Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, NY: Thomas Pieters

The Open, July 19-22, Carnoustie, Carnoustie, Scotland: Rickie Fowler

PGA Championship, August 9-12, Bellerive CC, Town and Country, MO: Tony Finau

Town and Country is an appropriate name for an affluent suburb, isn’t it? I’m not telling you to go parlay this bet in Vegas, as these would all be first-time major champions. The last time that happened was in 2011, and the last time before that was 2003. Luckily, few people will read this and even fewer will remember my picks.

2. Tiger Woods Will Win a Tournament

Tiger is going to win once early in the year, adding fuel to the fire. He’s going to take Bay Hill and sneak into the top 10 in two other events.

3. Next Big Name

Stephan Jaeger once shot a 58 in a Web.com event, and is a German with a sense of humor. Oxymoron or not, he’s going to win a couple times and have a top 10 in a major.

4. Worst Collapse

Jordan Spieth is going to be in contention a lot, because he’s Jordan Spieth. I could see him possibly overtaking DJ for number 1 in the World Golf Ranking, but he won’t get a major this year (now watch him win all 4). He’s going to have the lead on the back 9 at Shinnecock and blow it.

5. The Ryder Cup Will Be One of the Closest Ever

Le Golf National is, by all accounts, extremely difficult. At 76.9/155, she’s going to play like a U.S. Open venue. This will only be the second Ryder Cup played on Continental Europe (most are in the UK or Ireland). The U.S. hasn’t won in Europe since 2003, and though the they will be heavily favored, it will be close. Prediction: U.S. 14.5 – Europe 13.5.

6. World Golf Ranking, Now and Then

Current:

1. Dustin Johnson
2. Jordan Spieth
3. Jon Rahm
4. Justin Thomas
5. Hideki Matsuyama
6. Justin Rose
7. Rickie Fowler
8. Brooks Koepka
9. Henrik Stenson
10. Sergio Garcia

October:

1. Jordan Spieth
2. Justin Thomas
3. Dustin Johnson
4. Rickie Fowler
5. Jon Rahm
6. Hideki Matsuyama
7. Rory McIlroy
8. Henrik Stenson
9. Marc Leishman
10. Tony Finau

 

7. FedEx Cup Winner:

Jordan Spieth. Duh.

 

For me, the PGA Tour season begins January 25th with the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torry Pines. I’ll give some periodic updates and previews of the majors throughout the season. It will of course be another crazy one. Happy golfing!

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