2012 Open Championship Preview and Updated Predictions

Ah, the Open Championship.  Golf's oldest major and the only major championship not played on American soil.  All of the game's greats have fought tirelessly on the timeless links layouts throughout Great Britain and Ireland.  The 2012 Open Championship makes another stop at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England, the course's 11th Open Championship.  The previous time the Open was hosted here, David Duval triumphed for his sole major in 2001.

The course is unique in the fact that it begins with a par 3.  The 205 yard first hole will be a stern test for the players to open.  A more forgiving hole awaits players teeing off the back 9, with the 387 yard par-4 10th.  The course has 3 par 3s on the front nine, one on the back, and only one par 5 per side.  Playing at just over 7000 yards, the par 70 layout is one of the shorter courses on the PGA and European tours this season, but the wind and weather, along with 206 bunkers will give the players a stern test.

So who is going to come out victorious?

Winner: Tiger Woods


I told myself after the last two major championships that I would not pick Tiger Woods to win another major this year.  But who in the world is playing better golf right now?  I know that he missed the cut last week at the Greenbrier, but Woods is the only three-time winner in the world this year on any tour.  Woods' driving game is excellent right now, and on a links golf course he will not have to pull driver from the bag very often at all.  His last Open Championship victory included only one tee shot with the driver at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.  If Woods can control his iron and wedge game and keep the putter going, he will be tough to beat at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.  I predict a 3+ shot victory for Woods' 15th major championship victory.

Contender: Lee Westwood


Pretty much a sure bet for a top-10 at any major u which he competes.  Westwood may have been a lost-ball-in-a-tree away from his first major championship victory at the US Open at Olympic Club.  But another top-10 showing bodes well for the Englishman to become the first Brit since Sir Nick Faldo to win The Open Championship.

Contender: Dustin Johnson


After returning from a 3-month layoff with a back injury with a victory in his second tournament, Dustin Johnson has not returned to the winners circle this season.  But last year's strong showing gives me confidence that Johnson will have another solid finish at this year's Open Championship.  As long as he keeps it in play, he will be on the leaderboard on the last day.


Contender: Padraig Harrington


Looking back on Paddy's two Open Championship victories, both came at tough courses with tough conditions.  If the course plays as tough as people think, look for Harrington to rise to the top.

Strong Finish: Rickie Fowler


Rickie Fowler's best finish in a major championship was last season at The Open Championship.  I think Rickie's game sets up real well for the Open Championship, with his creativity and youthfulness giving him plenty of shot options on each hole.  With his first win out of the way earlier this season, he should be firing on all cylinders and have a good showing in England.

Other Contenders: Harris English, Luke Donald


Missed Cuts: Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Bubba Watson


Middle of the Pack: Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose


Top 20: Matt Kuchar, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson

2012 Open Championship Preview from Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Ah, the Open Championship.  Golf's oldest major and the only major championship not played on American soil.  All of the game's greats have fought tirelessly on the timeless links layouts throughout Great Britain and Ireland.  The 2012 Open Championship makes another stop at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England, the course's 11th Open Championship.  The previous time the Open was hosted here, David Duval triumphed for his sole major in 2001.

The course is unique in the fact that it begins with a par 3.  The 205 yard first hole will be a stern test for the players to open.  A more forgiving hole awaits players teeing off the back 9, with the 387 yard par-4 10th.  The course has 3 par 3s on the front nine, one on the back, and only one par 5 per side.  Playing at just over 7000 yards, the par 70 layout is one of the shorter courses on the PGA and European tours this season, but the wind and weather, along with 206 bunkers will give the players a stern test.

So who is going to come out victorious?

Winner: Tiger Woods


I told myself after the last two major championships that I would not pick Tiger Woods to win another major this year.  But who in the world is playing better golf right now?  I know that he missed the cut last week at the Greenbrier, but Woods is the only three-time winner in the world this year on any tour.  Woods' driving game is excellent right now, and on a links golf course he will not have to pull driver from the bag very often at all.  His last Open Championship victory included only one tee shot with the driver at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.  If Woods can control his iron and wedge game and keep the putter going, he will be tough to beat at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.  I predict a 3+ shot victory for Woods' 15th major championship victory.

Contender: Lee Westwood


Pretty much a sure bet for a top-10 at any major u which he competes.  Westwood may have been a lost-ball-in-a-tree away from his first major championship victory at the US Open at Olympic Club.  But another top-10 showing bodes well for the Englishman to become the first Brit since Sir Nick Faldo to win The Open Championship.

Contender: Dustin Johnson


After returning from a 3-month layoff with a back injury with a victory in his second tournament, Dustin Johnson has not returned to the winners circle this season.  But last year's strong showing gives me confidence that Johnson will have another solid finish at this year's Open Championship.  As long as he keeps it in play, he will be on the leaderboard on the last day.

Strong Finish: Rickie Fowler


Rickie Fowler's best finish in a major championship was last season at The Open Championship.  I think Rickie's game sets up real well for the Open Championship, with his creativity and youthfulness giving him plenty of shot options on each hole.  With his first win out of the way earlier this season, he should be firing on all cylinders and have a good showing in England.

Other Contenders: Harris English, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald


Missed Cuts: Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Bubba Watson


Middle of the Pack: Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose


Top 20: Matt Kuchar, Tom Watson

The Travelers Championship 2012 Preview

The next stop on the PGA Tour this week is the TPC River Highlands course in Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.  After the second major championship of the year last week at the US Open, the PGA Tour returns to normal scheduling for the next month before the Open Championship. 

Coming off the biggest victory of his life, Webb Simpson is looking to build on a solid 2012 and win his second tournament in a row.  Essentially guaranteed a spot on the 2012 US Ryder Cup team, Simpson can now concentrate on winning each tournament he plays.  With the US Open victory comes a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, entry into the US Open for the next 10 years, and entry into The Masters, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship for the next five years as well.  Simpson will not be playing in the 2012 Open Championship due to the birth of his second child.

The Travelers Championship also marks the professional debut for Patrick Cantlay, who relinquished a spot in the Open Championship to turn professional this past Tuesday.  Cantlay was the top ranked amateur in the world and had completed his sophomore year at UCLA.  Cantlay made the cut last season at The Travelers Championship, shooting a second-round 60 to take the lead into the weekend.  He finished in a T24, but the 60 is the lowest round ever recorded on the PGA Tour by an amateur.  Cantlay signed with Tiger Woods' super-agent Mark Steinberg.

Also returning to competition this week is John Peterson, the 2011 NCAA Champion from LSU.  Peterson is coming off a T4 in the US Open, his best finish as a professional.  Peterson earned a birth into The Masters with his T4 finish and is looking to continue his strong play to try to earn a PGA Tour card for 2013.

Hope you all enjoy The Travelers Championship!  See if Frederik Jacobson can defend his title, or if one of the players mentioned above can keep the strong play going.

2012 US Open Predictions: From The Olympic Club in San Francisco

Well, it is finally US Open week.  Players from all over the world have worked hard to hone their game for our National Championship.  This year, the tournament heads to The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.  The course last played host to the US Open in 1998.  After the ease that Rory McIlroy seemed to have finishing -16 last year at Congressional Country Club, many believe the USGA will set up the course to play extremely difficult.  Already, the course will play longer due to the heavy air in San Francisco.  Many shots will play longer than they would in desert air or on other courses.  The fairways will not run out as far.  Some have even labeled the first six holes as the hardest opening holes in golf history.  Fairways slant away from doglegs, making tee shot placement even more of a priority.  So who's gonna come out on top?  And who's gonna surprise?

Predictions:

Winner: Tiger Woods
I just think Tiger Woods' game is better than it has been in years.  At the Memorial Tournament, Woods was able to win without hitting driver on many of the holes.  And at Olympic, he will not need to hit driver on every par four or five to win.  He can hit 2 iron or 3 wood off many tees and still have a mid iron into most of the greens.  His iron play is also excellent right now.  If Tiger can continue to putt like he has during his two wins this season, I think he will win his 15th major and go into the Open Championship as the clear favorite.

Contender: Luke Donald
World number one Luke Donald is still looking for that elusive major championship trophy.  After winning the money titles on both the PGA and European tours last season, and winning twice already this year (once on both sides of the ocean), Donald's play is still in top form.  The Olympic Club is not overly long and accuracy will be paramount off the tee, which should fit right into Donald's plan.  If Donald can keep the putter going and hit enough fairways, look for him to be right on top of the leaderboard come Sunday.

Contender: Lee Westwood
A perennial pick at every major, Lee Westwood is looking to shed the moniker: "Best Player without a major."  Switching this past week to new irons (Ping I20s) and a new putter (Ping Nome), Westwood is fine-tuning his game for a run at this major championship.  But putting is where he'll need to excel in order to win.  One of the best drivers of the ball, Westwood struggles mightily when it comes to the flat stick.  But all it will take for him to win is to have a good putting week.  Look for him to be right there when all is said and done.

Pretender: Rory McIlroy
After a torrid start to the season, Rory McIlroy has fallen off a bit lately.  Missing 3 straight cuts after a T40 in The Masters, McIlroy is struggling with some swing changes.  He is contending for the win this week in Memphis, but I don't think his game is in the shape it needs to be for a US Open title defense.  He will probably make the cut and stay right in the top 20, but I don't think he will be in play for a second major title.

Others to watch:
Rickie Fowler: 4 straight top 10s and another strong tournament (The Memorial) derailed by a final round 84, Fowler is at the top of his game right now and his style of play fits right in at Olympic Club

Davis Love III: Love III has qualified for the US Open and hopes to make a strong push for a high finish.

Casey Martin: Martin qualified for his first US Open since 98 at The Olympic Club.  He will be playing in a cart due to a leg ailment.

So who do you think is going to pull it off?  Watch for more coverage and insight coming from The Olympic Club throughout the week.

2012 HP Byron Nelson Preview, TV Schedule, News and Notes

The summer PGA Tour schedule is upon us.  Many top players will start to play more events to get ready for the majors.  This week, the tour heads to the TPC Four Seasons Resort for the HP Byron Nelson Championship.  This year, the tournament is celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Byron Nelson.  A pioneer for the game, Byron would have loved to see the names his tournament is attracting today.

Keegan Bradley returns to Texas to defend a tournament for the first time in his young career.  The 2011 PGA Champion had a solid start to the season but has fallen off a little bit lately.  Joining him in the field are Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, and 2012 Masters runner-up Louis Oosthuizen.  Other notable players are last week's winner of the Players Championship, Matt Kuchar, and Adam Scott.

The course at TPC Four Seasons is ranked as the 5th toughest on the PGA Tour.  It will play at just under 7200 yards on the week and play as a par 70.  With bermuda fairways and rough, there will be many jumpy lies on missed fairways.  The greens are definitely one of the harder sets of greens on tour, but do not run too fast.  The scores should not be too low if it does not rain.


TV Coverage:
Thursday 5/17 2-5 PM CST Golf Channel
Friday 5/18 2-5 PM CST Golf Channel
Saturday 5/19 2-5 PM CST CBS
Sunday 5/20 2-5 PM CST CBS

2012 PGA Tour Predictions--A look back at the early season

The PGA Tour season has already reached its midpoint.  Although only 1 major has been contested, the season is half over already.  It is time now to look back at the first half of the season in my predictions to see how the season has played out so far.

I will also be updating my predictions for the second half of the season as well later this week so watch for that!

Here are the links for my early season predictions:
PGA Predictions Part 1
PGA Predictions Part 2

Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines
Winner: Phil Mickelson:

Contenders: Bubba Watson, Nick Watney:


Actual Winner:
Brandt Snedeker

My Predictions:
Phil Mickelson: Missed Cut
Bubba Watson: T13
Nick Watney: T60

WGC Accenture Match Play
Four Semifinalists: Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy
Finals Match: Tiger Woods vs. Ian Poulter
Third Place Match: Luke Donald vs. Rory McIlroy


Actual Winner: Hunter Mahan

My Predictions:
Tiger Woods: T17
Ian Poulter: T33
Luke Donald: T33
Rory McIlroy: 2nd


WGC-Cadillac Invitational at Doral
Winner: I believe Alvaro Quiros

Contenders: Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker:

Actual Winner: Justin Rose

My Predictions:
Alvaro Quiros: T57
Lee Westwood: T29
Steve Stricker: T8

Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
Winner: I have to go with the man Tiger Woods on this one. 

Contenders: Rickie Fowler, Bud Cauley:

Actual Winner: Tiger Woods

My Predictions:
Tiger Woods: Winner
Rickie Fowler: DNP
Bud Cauley: T4

Other Winners of Note before the Masters
Here is a few golfers I expect to have a win before the Masters:

Luke Donald: Won Transitions Championship
Rory McIlroy: Won Honda Classic
Mark Wilson: Won Humana Challenge
Bud Cauley: Best Finish T4
Nick Watney: No Win

RBC Heritage
Winner: After a tough 2011, I think Furyk will bounce back with a strong win here at Harbor Town. 

Contenders: Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose:
Actual Winner: Carl Pettersson

My Predictions:
Jim Furyk: T8
Rickie Fowler: MC
Justin Rose: DNP


The Wells Fargo Championship
Winner: Adam Scott

Contenders: Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer:

Actual Winner: Rickie Fowler

My Predictions:
Adam Scott: DNP
Tiger Woods: MC
Martin Kaymer: DNP

My Predictions: 
The Players Championship
Winner: Ryo Ishikawa. 
Contenders: Lee Westwood, KJ Choi.  

Actual Winner: Matt Kuchar

My Predictions:
Ryo Ishikawa: DNP
Lee Westwood: T61
KJ Choi: MC

Looks as though a few of my predictions came true, but it is definitely a hard task to predict winners of golf tournaments.  But I will try again.  Watch for the 2nd half of the season predictions coming up!

The Masters 2012 Predictions--Final Write-Up

Ahh, the night before the tournament.  I am as excited as ever for the golf to begin.  The Masters is here.  And what better way to finish off the pre-tournament coverage than with my final predictions.  Now I have written up a few posts covering my predictions, but this is the post I am going to base my successes from.  The weather, the course, and the players will all be taken into account with these predictions.  So here we go:

Winner:
Tiger Woods
It looks as though Tiger has drawn a favorable tee time.  With weather supposed to affect Thursday Afternoon and Friday Morning tee times, Woods will be off in the morning Thursday and finish up in the afternoon Friday.  Look for him to take advantage of these conditions and build a lead, or be right there come Saturday.  And there will be no Saturday stumble for Tiger this year.  Moving day will vault him into the lead, where he'll maintain his 14-1 record leading on Sunday in majors.

Final Score: -15

Runner Up:
Keegan Bradley
I just think Keegan is playing too well right now and too confidently to not be in the mix.  I think he will be the opening round leader, and stick around until the end.  He hits the ball high and far, and can get hot with the belly-putter.  I think he will have a tough Saturday, but recover enough to finish at the top of the leaderboard.

Final Score: -12

Near the Top:
Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy
Phil and Rory seemingly have gotten the two worst tee times based on weather predictions.  Final tee times on Thursday followed by morning tee times on Friday.  I think their scores will be a little higher than Tiger's.  But they will play well Saturday and Sunday to get in the mix.  But it is not enough.  And Mahan is playing arguably better than anyone right now.  And he'll be right there come Sunday.  But chipping will let him down and he will not be able to pull off the win.

Mahan: -11
McIlroy: -10
Mickelson: -10

Well, there you have it!  Now we get to sit back, wait, and enjoy the golf.  Look for coverage on each round with analysis and some thoughts each afternoon.

Follow @ahintz2 on Twitter!  Hit em Straight!

2012 Masters Tournament Preview: Masters Week Day 2, Tournament Pairings Announced

Well, it is Tuesday of Masters week. The main day of preparation for all of the players. This is the final day that most of the field will be out on the course, playing a full practice round. Tomorrow is the Par 3 competition, so some of the field will be on the executive layout adjacent to the tournament course. The tee times have been released, beginning with Craig Stadler, Brendan Steele, and Tim Clark off the first tee at 7:50 AM following the first tee shot from honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Arnould Palmer, and Gary Player.

Some of the pairings to watch:

Group 14: Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, Kelly Kraft (am)
The traditional grouping, pairing the reigning Masters Champion with the reigning US Amateur Champion and the PGA Champion. Bradley has been playing extremely well this year, with numerous top 10s and chances to win a couple tournaments. And his game sets up very well for Augusta, with his high ball flight and left-to-right shot shape. Can he make it 2-2? And can Schwartzel become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger? And will Kraft make it to the weekend and win low-amateur honors?

Group 15: Tiger Woods, M.A. Jimenez, Sang Moon Bae
The group everyone was waiting to hear. Tiger Woods looks to win his first Masters tournament since 2005. And he is hitting the ball better than ever. If he can putt and use his experience, I think he has a pretty good chance to come out on top. And he should be pretty comfortable in this group, with the uber-relaxed Jimenez and the young phenom from Korea. Look for Tiger to go low starting Thursday.

Group 16: Luke Donald, Francisco Molinari, Nick Watney
World Number 1 Luke Donald tees off following Tiger Woods. Will he finally win the elusive major? He's coming in to the tournament winning the last time he played. And can Nick Watney regain his form from 2011 and surprise many with a win?

Group 31: Rory McIlroy, Angel Cabrera, Bubba Watson
The second to last group of the first day includes World #2 Rory McIlroy. And it is unusual to say McIlroy is the shortest hitter of the group. Will he put 2011 behind him? And can Bubba finally put together 4 full rounds in a major? Or will Cabrera pull another one out of the hat and play great golf and win his 3rd major?

Group 32: Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Peter Hanson
This should be a fun group. The best driver of the ball in the world and arguably the hottest player right now, Hunter Mahan, looks to win his first major. He should keep it in play and have a good shot if the putter and shortgame stay solid. And Phil has played good golf in 2012 with a win and some top 10s, and you can never count him out.

The award for "Group Most Likely to cause a brawl": Group 23: Kevin Na, Frederik Jacobsen, Ben Crane
If you want to watch slow play and don't mind pulling your hair out, follow this group.

Other players to watch:
Justin Rose (Group 10)
Steve Stricker (Group 7)
Lee Westwood (Group 27)
KJ Choi (Group 30)

Well, there's the preview of the groups to watch at the 2012 Masters Tournament. Look for coverage of the par 3 tournament tomorrow, as well as final predictions going in to Thursday's opening round. I cannot wait!

The Masters 2012 Two Week Preview and Prediction

Well, it is that time of year again. The time of year where the northerners are dusting off the clubs, the time where the southerners are finishing their weekly nassau, the time where casual golf fans are emerging from the woodwork and starting to pay attention to the PGA tour again. In two weeks, golfers will be arriving to Augusta, reaquainting themselves with Magnolia Lane and the tradition that is The Masters. And this year may just have the most anticipation for the tournament that many can remember.

This year, all the big name golfers seem to be in top form for the tournament. Phil Mickelson has regained his form, with a win and a second-place finish in a playoff. And we all know Phil peaks at Augusta, where he last won in 2010. The last major champion, Keegan Bradley, also is at the top of his game. We have rarely had a leaderboard in 2012 that has not included his name. Will he win 2 majors in a row?

Luke Donald started off 2012 pretty flat, but after his 2011 season many people imagined it wouldn't be as easy for him. But it seemed losing his #1 ranking for a couple weeks motivated him, taking the Transitions Championship in dramatic fasion, winning in a 4 man playoff with a great iron shot from the rough to 6 feet. And with that, Luke regained his #1 ranking, though he himself has said that a major would be much more important to him at this time.

And the man who took Donald's #1 ranking? Well, that would be Rory McIlroy. And we all remember the epic collapse starting at 10 last year. But this is a new Rory. He is now a major champion, and many consider him the best player in the game this year. And to further affirm that position, Rory has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finish in tournaments in the US this year. I don't think any golf fans out there have him far from the top of their predictions for the Masters.

And then there's the enigma, the GOAT for many people, Tiger Woods. Woods has looked pretty good so far in 2012. I can't remember him driving the ball so well, ever. And his iron shots are getting better, too. But his putter is still holding him back. But if anyone in the field knows Bobby Jones' greens at Augusta, it is Tiger Woods. He has finished T4 the past 2 years without any signs of good golf at the beginning of the season. This year, he has a couple top 10s and a 3rd place finish in Dubai. And at this time tomorrow, Tiger may be celebrating his first PGA Tour win in over 2 seasons, with a 1 shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tournament he has won 6 times before. I don't think anyone would be surprised if Tiger won his 5th green jacket.

There are numerous other players who have a great chance of wearing the Green Jacket come Easter Sunday. Will Adam Scott or Jason Day become the first Australian-born player to win The Masters? Will Lee Westwood finally break through and take his first major championship? Will Martin Kaymer win another major? Will American bombers Dustin Johnson or Bubba Watson overpower the course? Will Freddie Couples surprise everyone and make a run at a second green jacket? No one knows at this time. Heck, I bet the winner still will not be determined Sunday when the final group hits Amen Corner. But that doesn't mean I cannot make my predictions.

Winner: Tiger Woods

I just think Tiger is playing better than he has for the last 5 seasons, especially with the driver. The results may not show yet, but I think his swing looks better than it has for a while. I think Tiger will silence doubters and win his 15th Major Championship.

In Contention on the Back 9 Sunday:

Rory McIlroy
Hunter Mahan
Adam Scott
Phil Mickelson

Leader after 36, but bad round Saturday:

Bubba Watson

There you have it, folks. I cannot wait for The Masters, because I know it will be one of the better tournaments in the past few years.


Hit 'em Straght

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2012 PGA Tour Prediction: Sony Open in Hawaii

This week marks the first full-field event of the 2012 PGA Tour season. The Sony Open in Hawaii will once again be contested at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, HI, a fun and challenging course for the players. Many of the top names are skipping the event, but there are still stars at the course.

Defending champion Mark Wilson will be looking to get his 2012 off to another fast start just like last year. And fellow Wisconsinite Steve Stricker will be looking for back-to-back wins in the Aloha state. Bud Cauley, one of only seven players to ever earn his PGA Tour card without Q school or nationwide tour, opens his first season as a full-time PGA Tour member here as well. And you can never count out David Toms or Davis Love when it comes to a PGA Tour event.

Winner: Steve Stricker
I expect Steve Stricker to win the event by a good margin. After dominating the field at the Tournament of Champions, Stricker will continue to have his A game at Waialae. His wedges and putter look as good as ever, and his driving and iron play were spot on last week. If he plays like he did last week, he will be a lock to win the event.

Contenders: David Toms, Keegan Bradley, Robert Allenby
Looking to avenge his LSU Tigers BCS game loss, David Toms will open the 2012 season much better than his showing in the Tournament of Champions. His iron play will be much improved over last week and he will have a strong finish. Keegan Bradley also will improve upon his play from last week and have a high finish. And Robert Allenby will look to shake the memories of the President's Cup from his mind and start off his 2012 PGA Tour season with a win, which he has not had for a while.

Dark Horses: Bud Cauley, Vijay Singh, Corey Pavin
These three players will look to have a strong start to their year.

2012 PGA Tour Prediction Summary

Here are the links to my 2012 PGA Tour Predictions in order

2012 Major Championship Predictions:
http://ahintz2golf.blogspot.com/2011/12/early-2012-season-predictions-major.html

2012 PGA Tour Predictions:
Part 1:
http://ahintz2golf.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-pga-tour-predictions-part-1.html

Part 2:
http://ahintz2golf.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-pga-tour-predictions-part-2.html

Part 3:
http://ahintz2golf.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-pga-tour-predictions-part-3.html

Part 4:
http://ahintz2golf.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-pga-tour-predictions-final-wrap-up.html

Tell me what you think and if you agree or disagree!
And don't forget to vote on the poll at left! That will help me taylor this blog to the readers.

And follow me on Twitter: @ahintz2

2012 PGA Tour Predictions Final Wrap Up

Well, we have made it to the latter portion of the PGA Tour Season.  Many players are competing for a FedEx Cup Playoff birth, while others are struggling to keep themselves in the top 125 of the money list.

WGC Bridgestone Invitational
Firestone Country Club once again plays host to the PGA and World's best players the week before the PGA Championship.  The field of 72 players is as elite as it gets.  Last year, Adam Scott won with Steve Williams on the bag, and started the major feud between Tiger Woods and Williams.  Ryo Ishikawa and Rickie Fowler competed until the end.  To play well at this tournament, you have to hit the ball long.  It is one of the longest, straightest golf courses on tour.  The winner needs to hit the ball as long as possible, but stay in the fairway.  Driving distance is key to winning the Bridgestone.

Winner: Tiger Woods: Who else, but the man who has won here 7 times.  This golf course is like home to Tiger Woods.  Coming off a couple difficult finishes in this tournament, he gets his mojo back and takes home the championship.  With improved driver play and a hot putter, Tiger rolls the field.

Contenders: Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson: Adam Scott and Tiger Woods duel down the stretch, which is the first time both players are grouped in the final pairing since the caddy change.  Phil Mickelson comes in after a break from golf after the Open Championship and has a great week before the PGA Championship.

The Barclays Championship--First Leg of FedEx Cup
The field of 125 is finally set for the FedEx Cup playoffs.  The Barclays comes to Bethpage Black State Park Golf Course for the first time.  This venerable golf course that has hosted numerous US Opens is a beast of a layout.  Chances are the course will play easier than USGA set-up, but will still be a stern test for the field.  Expect some of the best players in the world to have a great week here.  Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald come to mind.

Winner: Sergio Garcia: The once proclaimed "next greatest thing" returns to form on the PGA Tour to claim his first win for a while.  Sergio finally gets his putting going, and the course plays right into his hands with long, dogleg holes.

Contenders: Luke Donald, Lucas Glover: What tournament that Luke Donald plays is he not a contender?  Look for his ballstriking and putting to overwhelm most of the field and give himself a shot to win.  And do not count out Lucas Glover, on his first return to the course since winning the US Open in 2009.  He has a resurgent week and finished high on the leaderboard.

Deutsche Bank Championship--Second Leg of FedEx Cup
TPC Boston is once again the host of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the traditional tournament of Labor Day weekend with the unique Monday finish.  The field is trimmed to 100 players.  This is one of the more exciting layouts on the PGA Tour, where scoring is possible, and fireworks can happen.  Look for defending champ Webb Simpson to once again compete for the title, as well as Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood.

Winner: Lee Westwood: Westwood gets another win in America and solidifies his spot near the top of the FedEx Cup playoff list.  His superb ballstriking and driving allows him to go for flags all day long and shoot a very low score.

Contenders: Webb Simpson, Tiger Woods: Webb Simpson continues his strong play at TPC Boston, and has a finish near the top of the leaderboard.  Tiger Woods returns to TPC for the first time in a couple of years, and has a strong finish to make himself a contender for his third FedEx Cup title.

BMW Championship
The BMW Championship comes to Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana in 2012.  A new site for the tournament means new challenges for the 70 who have made it this far.  Look for Steve Stricker to have a pretty big gallery near his home state of Wisconsin.  Also, expect the trio of Euros Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, and Luke Donald to have strong weeks.  But my winner is

Winner: Ian Poulter: Ian Poulter finally gets a stroke play win in the US.  His strong driver play helps him earn a bid into the Tour Championship.  Coming off a strong end to 2011, he wants to end 2012 even stronger.

Contenders: Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods: Expect all three of these players to have an excellent chance of winning the FedEx Cup come the Tour Championship.

The Tour Championship
The Tour Championship returns once again to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.  This tough layout challenges the strongest field and best golfers in the world.  I expect the tournament to come down to the tough par 3 18th finishing hole.  The three golfers who I expect to have a legitimate shot at winning the cup are:

Luke Donald, Tiger Woods, and Lee Westwood

The Winner of the Tour Championship and Therefore the FedEx Cup Playoffs: Lee Westwood: Westwood finished his strongest year of his career just shy of his 40th birthday.  With a couple playoff wins, he holds off Tiger Woods in second place and Luke Donald in third place.

Final FedEx Cup Standings:
1. Lee Westwood
2. Tiger Woods
3. Luke Donald
4. Webb Simpson
5. Rory McIlroy
6. Ian Poulter
7. Phil Mickelson
8. Nick Watney
9. Sergio Garcia
10. Bud Cauley


Next time we visit the 2012 Ryder Cup teams, with predictions of team members, and the final outcome.

Until Then,

Hit Em' Straight

2012 PGA Tour Predictions Part 3

Ahh, the middle of the summer swing on the PGA Tour.  These are the events where the majors are on everybody's mind.  There are four strong events between the US Open and the Open Championship.  Many of the top players play at least 2 of these, if not 3.

Travelers Championship
The first event after the US Open is the Travelers Championship.  Defending champion Freddy Jacobson returns to seek his second win on the PGA tour.  Other players who will probably play in the event are the likes of YE Yang, Webb Simpson, Bud Cauley, and others.

Winner: Bud Cauley:  The youngster who earned his tour card without going to Q School earns his first win on the PGA Tour here in Connecticut.  I believe he will contend for a spot on the Ryder Cup team and is the most promising young player in the US outside of some of the Amateurs.  I believe the US has some strong golf ahead.

Contenders: YE Yang, Fredrik Jacobson:  These are two of the best putters on the PGA Tour.  If Freddy has his irons going, he is a strong contender for the win, and if YE can get the ball close, he will be in it for the long haul.


AT&T National
The AT&T National returns to Congressional after a one-year hiatus due to the US Open.  "Tiger's Tournament" as it was once called still draws a monster field.  Defending champ Nick Watney returns to the site of his best win to date.  And look for Rory McIroy to return to the site of his first major championship victory.  And you can never count out a healthy Tiger at Congressional.  This event will probably be his only between the US and Open Championships.

Winner: Rory McIlroy:  Rory returns to the site of his record-breaking US Open victory and slams the field again.  His strong play will carry over into the Open Championship and the week before in England where he probably will be playing.

Contenders: Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood:  Two of the strongest competetors in the game, both players look to fine-tune their game for the year's third major.

The Greenbrier Classic
One of the newest tournaments on the PGA Tour has started to draw some of the big names in golf.  Look for Phil Mickelson, Aaron Baddeley, and Adam Scott to all play well here.  I also expect Rickie Fowler to compete.  And you can never count out the venerable Tom Watson, at the tournament that sponsors him.

Winner: Aaron Baddeley: If Baddeley plays in this event, I have no reason for him not to win.  He is the best putter on tour and strikes the ball as well as anyone.  And on this short course he should not be in trouble off the tee.  Look for this to catapult him into a strong Open Championship.

Contenders: Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry: I believe Perry will play in this event and will have a strong showing.  I think he wants to win on the PGA tour before he retires from golf.  And this may be his last good season to do so.  And Phil returns to this course looking for a better result than last time.

John Deere Classic
The only name that should come to mind when thinking of the John Deere Classic is Steve Stricker.  He seems to play his best golf at this tournament every year.  I fully expect him to run away with it again this year

Winner: Steve Stricker: No explanation needed

Contenders: Bud Cauley, Louis Oosthuizen
Bud will continue his strong play at this tournament.  And Louis returns to his "non-major" major, because of his family ties to farming.  He would love more than anything(except another major) to win this event.  And he will be right up there when the weekend ends.

That's it for now, more predictions to come later, and then a wrap-up post.

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Hit em Straight!

2012 PGA Tour Predictions Part 2

After coming off the Masters in early April (see my earlier post for the Major Championship predictions and coverage for 2012), the season finally kicks in to full gear.

RBC Heritage
Probably one of my favorite courses is Harbor Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island.  This course is not too long and plays pretty tight.  I think that this course is one of the last traditional courses left on the schedule.  Nothing too frilly or fancy, just a good, tight, old-fashioned course.  I think that we will see a few of the bigger names here the week after the Masters.  I think Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose will all be competitive at this course.  And maybe you'll see Luke Donald and Anthony Kim fulfilling sponsors obligations and playing at the course of one of their main sponsors.

Winner: After a tough 2011, I think Furyk will bounce back with a strong win here at Harbor Town.  He's won this tournament in the past, so he knows how to get it done.  And I think the belly putter will really help him improve his putting in 2012.

Contenders: Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose: These are two players who always seem to play well right around this time.  Look for Fowler to come out strong and with his streaky putting, have a great chance to win.  Also look for Rose, who is always in play off the tee, to excel in this tight golf course.

The Wells Fargo Championship
Quail Hollow is another favorite stop for many players on tour.  Coming the week before The Players, many top pros will be in the field.  The course is always in beautiful shape and plays in perfect conditions.  I believe Adam Scott and Martin Kaymer will be in play for the win, as well as defending champion Lucas Glover, and Tiger Woods always seems to play well here.

Winner: Adam Scott builds off a strong 2011 with his first win of 2012 the week before The Players.  This win will propel him to a strong start and maybe come home with a major before the year is up.

Contenders: Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer: Tiger always brings his A game to Quail Hollow, and with a healthy return to golf, look for him to return strong to this tournament.  After failing to crack the top 70 last year at Quail Hollow, Kaymer will look to gain revenge on the course and possibly take home his first win since 2010 PGA Championship in the USA.

The Players Championship
Ah, TPC Sawgrass.  You cannot make up a top 18 holes in the world without including #17.  It's only a pitching wedge, but can have some of the highest scores of any hole on the golf course.  With the probably return of Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood to The Players after a year hiatus, this will once again be the strongest field in the world.  With previous winners Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, and others regaining their form, the tournament will be hotly contested.  But there always seems to be a surprise contender, like Paul Goydos, Tim Clark, and KJ Choi.  Which is why I am picking,

Winner: Ryo Ishikawa.  I feel like the youngster from Japan will have his first win on US soil at this event.  Coming in to a year with fewer distractions (earthquake and tsunami) will pay dividends for the young man.  And he will pass Adam Scott as the youngest champion at this event.  His length off the tee and accurate iron play will help him win his first PGA Tour event.

Contenders: Lee Westwood, KJ Choi.  The Players Championship has become an international showcase in the last couple years.  Look for Westwood to have a strong tournament on a course that suits his game.  If he can make a few putts he will be right on top of the leaderboard when the week ends.  And KJ Choi will once again be in contention during his title defense.  The steadiest player on the PGA Tour, Choi will have no problem sticking with the big guns once again.

The Memorial Tournament
Another one of the big events on tour, The Memorial Tournament pays tribute to host Jack Nicklaus' illustrious career in his home state of Ohio at Muirfield Village.  Players flock to the tournament with one of the strongest fields outside the majors and WGC events.  Look for defending champ Steve Stricker to have another good week.  And Rickie Fowler has played well here the past few years.  And you can never discount Tiger when playing in Jack's event.  But the person I think will win this event is

Winner: Dustin Johnson.  After a struggle in 2011, Johnson will come out and take this event.  Two weeks before the US Open, his game will be in top form.  And a reunion with caddie Bobby (not the singer) Brown will show Johnson it is his Prerogative to win again (ha ha ha).  And he'll take the strong play into the US Open.

Contenders: Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose: A previous winner and a previous runner up in this tournament, these two players have had their A game all of 2012 so far.  And they both will show they can win at this golf course.  Both players will be right at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the week.


Well, that brings us to the halfway point in the season, the US Open.  After the US Open, I believe the FedEx cup standings will look like:

1. Dustin Johnson
2. Phil Mickelson
3. Tiger Woods
4. Webb Simpson
5. Luke Donald
6. Rickie Fowler
7. Rory McIlroy
8. Lee Westwood
9. Justin Rose
10. Nick Watney

Look for the Euros to move up later in the summer as they play more events in the US.  And Tiger will start to play more as well, so look for a fight to the finish.

Stay tuned for more and more 2012 PGA Tour predictions!

Til Then, Hit em Straight!

2012 PGA Tour Predictions Part 1

So over the next couple days I am going to be posting some of my predictions for the 2012 PGA Tour season, with money list top 5, winners at large tournaments, FedEx Cup winner, and other predictions that I feel are worthy.  If you all have any other ideas or disagree with me, let me know!


Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines
With Tiger Woods opting to play in Dubai instead of at Torrey Pines, the field looks wide open for the best American golfers.  Most Euros I presume will also be at the Dubai event, so look for the young guns on the PGA tour to shine.  But don't count out Phil Mickelson at a course where he always seems to play well.  And with the length of the course, I expect Bubba Watson to contend and have a chance to defend his title.  The only thing that would make this tournament better would be to scrap the North Course all together and play only at the South Course.

Winner: Phil Mickelson: Phil always seems to play his best golf in the months leading up to Augusta.  After a decent rest break, Phil will be pumped up to show the youngsters that he still has game.  With hopeful increased confidence back in the putting, I think Torrey Pines will be a good springboard for a successful 2012 for Phil

Contenders: Bubba Watson, Nick Watney: If both players enter, which I presume they will (Watney is a California boy), their length will pay off huge on this course.  Look for Bubba's momentum to continue at Torrey and Watney's continued consistent play will put him in contention.

WGC Accenture Match Play
One of my favorite events of the year.  The players return to The Ritz-Carlton GC at Dove Mountain, a course the players seem to love.  Luke Donald returns to defend his title, presumably as the #1 player in the world.  But look for Tiger Woods to regain some of his matchplay magic from a few years ago.  Also, you cannot count out Ian Poulter in a matchplay event.  And some of the young players will have the tenacity and aggressiveness to win at this form of golf.  I expect this to be one of the hardest fought WGC Matchplay events ever.

Four Semifinalists: Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy
Finals Match: Tiger Woods vs. Ian Poulter
Third Place Match: Luke Donald vs. Rory McIlroy

I believe this will be the location of Tiger Woods' first PGA Tour win since 2009.  He showed his singles play prowess with a convincing win over Aaron Baddeley at the President's Cup in extremely windy and tough conditions.  Tiger's game seems to be coming around, and he should be at his best coming in to this event, after contending at Dubai in the prior weeks.  Ian Poulter will give Tiger a run, but I think Tiger will pull it out.  Donald and McIroy will play a very exciting third place match, and I think Donald will win this one.

WGC-Cadillac Invitational at Doral
Probably my favorite regular tour stop, the Blue Monster at Doral is a test for all of the pros.  This is the second WGC event of the season, which means the field will probably be the best so far in 2012.  The course plays pretty long, so look for the longer hitters to have better luck.  But to win here you have to hit the ball straight, with water lurking on a majority of the holes.  I expect Nick Watney to contend and possibly defend this tournament.  I also expect Alvaro Quiros, after winning the Race to Dubai's final event at a similar course, to have a good chance as well.  And Lee Westwood should be right up there as well.  A dark horse contender would be Steve Stricker (if you could call him a dark horse).

Winner: I believe Alvaro Quiros will win his first event on American soil here at Doral.  His game fits right into this course.  While he hits the ball a mile, he still manages to keep it in play a lot.  After winning the final event on the European Tour in 2011, he should have loads of confidence coming into 2012 and I expect him to have a big year.

Contenders: Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker: Both players have their strengths and weaknesses.  I expect Westwood to keep the ball in play and still hit it out there long.  And Stricker's putting can keep him in any tournament.


Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The final premier event before The Masters in early April, Arnie's tournament usually draws one of the better fields on the PGA Tour.  Look for Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia to be the two biggest names in European Golf at this event.  I expect a lot of the other players to stay in Europe.  The most consistent golfer at this event over the years has been Tiger Woods.  The course seems to suit his style perfectly.  But what about with his new swing?  Other players to look out for here include Rickie Fowler and rookie Bud Cauley, who I am expecting a lot from this year.

Winner: I have to go with the man Tiger Woods on this one.  Who else has won this tournament more times than him?  I also expect his confidence and swagger to be back after an earlier win this year.  Look for him to run away with the event.

Contenders: Rickie Fowler, Bud Cauley: I expect Rickie Fowler to get his first win this season en route to a Ryder Cup year.  And it may just happen right here at Bay Hill.  And Bud Cauley has one of the best games coming out of college in years.  He just signed a deal with Audemars Piguet, who only sign the best of the best.  Look for him to have a shot at winning his first event here, if not earlier in the season.

Other Winners of Note before the Masters
Here is a few golfers I expect to have a win before the Masters:

Luke Donald
Rory McIlroy
Mark Wilson
Bud Cauley
Nick Watney

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Stay tuned for more predictions!

Camilo Villegas 2012

Well, I think it is time that I write a piece on my favorite golfer, Camilo Villegas.  2011 was a year full of expectation for Camilo.  He was coming off another top 30 year on the money list and a win in 2010.  His work ethic finally seemed to be paying off.  However, Camilo switched club companies in 2011, going from Cobra, with whom he won 3 events in 3 years, to TaylorMade.  Villegas became the face of the Burner line of clubs.

Starting 2011, Camilo got off to a rough start with a disqualification at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.  His struggles continued with numerous missed cuts and withdrawals through his first 10 or so events.  His highest finish throughout that stretch was a 30th place at the Memorial hosted by Jack Nicklaus.  He missed the cut in 3 of 4 majors, with The Masters being his only play on the weekend.  He only finished 49th there so it wasn't much of a success.

Finally, Camilo had a top 10 finish at the St. Jude Classic, where he came home 3rd.  However, that good play was followed up with 5 missed cuts out of 6 tournaments and a 71st place finish.  Camilo took a few weeks off and came back to play at the Wyndham Championship, taking 9th place and squeaking in to the FedEx cup playoffs.  The first playoff event, The Barclays, Camilo finished 6th and moved on to the Deutsche Bank.  He came home with a 25th place finish to make the BMW, where he earned another 6th place finish.  This was not enough to make the Tour Championship or the President's Cup team, but Villegas was able to take 4th place at the CIMB Malaysia event, which is Co-sanctioned by the PGA and Asian tours.  The strong play at the end of the year propelled Camilo to 1.2 Million in earnings, and had him finish with 5 top tens for the season.

With strong play down the stretch, look for Camilo to come out in 2012 swinging.  I fully expect him to contend for wins early in the season and regain the form that saw him climb into the top 20 in the world rankings.  There is no one who outworks "El Hombre Arana" off the course, so he will be in top shape starting right away this season.

My Predictions
Wins: 1-3
Top 10: 8-10
Money List: Top 20
FedEx Cup: Top 15
World Ranking: Top 20
Major Championships: 1-2 Top 10s

2011 PGA Player of the Year

At the end of every PGA Tour season, the tour heads get together and select one player as the PGA Tour Player of the Year.  Usually, there are only one or two players who are heads above the rest of the field.  This usually makes the decision pretty darn easy for the selection committee.  However, this year is different.  There is no clear-cut winner of the award.  There are 5 players who won 2 events, and more who could be considered in the running.  So who is it gonna be?  And who are my top 5 contenders?

1. Luke Donald
World #1 Luke Donald had about as good of a year on the PGA Tour as you can have.  Winning twice, including the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, as well as 14 top 10s including two majors, he has the resume for success.  Donald also led the PGA Tour in money winnings.  His scoring average was 69.7, which puts him in the upper class as well.  There is really nothing in his stats to hurt him in his quest.

2. Webb Simpson
Webb Simpson finished runner-up in the money winnings to Luke Donald by the smallest of margins.  2011 was his break-out year on the PGA Tour, finally winning 2 events, including the Deutche Bank Championship, the second leg of the Fed-Ex cup.  Simpson finished with 12 top 10s and with a scoring average of 69.2, a full half stroke better than Luke Donald's.


3. Nick Watney
Nick Watney was another breakout star on the PGA Tour this year, finishing only behind Donald and Simpson on the money list.  He too won 2 PGA Tour events, the prestigious WGC Cadillac Invitational at Doral, as well as the AT&T National event which is hosted by Tiger Woods.  Watney finished with 10 top 10s, and had a scoring average of 69.6.


4. Keegan Bradley
The only 2011 Major Champion on the list, Rookie of the Year frontrunner Keegan Bradley had another breakout year.  He not only won the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, but also the HP Byron Nelson Championship earlier in his rookie year.  Along with the two wins, Bradley finished with 4 top 10s and a scoring average of 70.6.  His up-and-down play may hurt him in the end.


5. Bubba Watson
Bomber Bubba Watson is the final player I have in the running for the PGA Player of the Year award.  Watson won twice this year, including the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.  Watson finished with only 3 top 10s and a scoring average of 70.6.  His weak finish of the 2011 season will probably hurt him.


So who is my choice?

Luke Donald has been the most consistent player in the world this year.  After winning the PGA Money Title, he also has a chance to wrap up the European Tour Order of Merit (or Race to Dubai as it is now called).  Very few, if any, professional golfers have had the opportunity to win both of these in one year.  That is why I am choosing Luke Donald as the 2011 PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Make your decision here with this poll.  Results will be posted in a couple days

Poll: Who Should be player of the year?

Early 2012 Season Predictions--Major Championships

Well, now that most of the events for the 2011 season are in the books, with only the European Tour's Race to Dubai event left, what better time to start predictions for next year.

The first major of the year, the Masters, is, of course, played at famed Augusta National Golf Course.  The course will be in pristine condition like always and the field will have just as much fun and enjoyment playing it as always.  Defending champion Charl Schwartzel will be headlining the strongest field in golf, with major hopefulls Lee Westwood and Luke Donald vying for that elusive major championship.  Rory McIlroy will be back at the site of his 2011 final day collapse hoping for a change of fortune.  With one major already under his belt, you can bet he'll be ready for that final day.  And you can never count out Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods at Augusta.  Tiger seems to be on the upswing, winning for the first time in over 2 years at the Chevron World Challenge.  And with Phil you can never discount him at the Masters.  My Predictions:

Winner: Tiger Woods
Contender: Rory McIlroy
Dark Horse: Hunter Mahan


The US Open is returning this year to the Olympic Club in San Fransisco, CA.  The Olympic Club last hosted the US Open in 1998, where Lee Janzen took the title.  I really do not see Janzen being a repeat winner.  The course will not be one of the longer courses to be played for a US Open, but you can bet the greens will be cut like ice and the rough will be ankle high.  And after Rory McIlroy tore apart Congressional CC, you can bet the USGA wants to regain its status as the toughest golf tournament in the world.  Look for scores to hover around the even par range.  I am guessing that accuracy off the tee will be paramount at this tournament.  My Predictions:

Winner: Luke Donald
Contender: Rory McIlroy
Dark Horse: KT Kim

The Open Championship is returning this year to Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Course in Lancashire, England.  This course is the site of David Duval's only major triumph back in 2001.  The unique course begins with a long par 3, the only Open site to do so.  The course will play right around 7100-7200 yards.  Defending champion Darren Clarke will try to rekindle the magic, but do not expect much.  Tiger Woods returns to play in an Open Championship for the first time in a couple years.  Rory McIlroy will play a style of golf that he does not enjoy.  And Lee Westwood vies for his first major championship after Luke Donald wins the US.  My Predictions:

Winner: Lee Westwood
Contender: Tiger Woods
Dark Horse: Sergio Garcia

The final major of the year comes to Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah, South Carolina.  This is the first PGA Championship to be held at the Ocean Course, although the course hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2007.  Expect the course to play long, over 7400 yards.  At this time of year the weather will be hot and sticky in this part of the country.  I expect length off the tee to be paramount to winning this tournament.  Defending champ Keegan Bradley will hope to conjure up the good play that has seemed to elude him the last couple months.  Look for the bombers to take over and win.  My Predictions:

Winner: Dustin Johnson
Contender: Nick Watney
Dark Horse: Adam Scott

Well, that's all for now.  Read and post your predictions here and let's see who comes out on top at the end of 2012!

Golf Silly Season

Well, it's that time of the year where players start to change bags and companies try to snag the next big thing.  So who are the golfers who are gonna change bags this year? My predictions:

Rickie Fowler: Titleist to Puma/Cobra.  
This one is almost assuredly a done deal by most accounts out there.  And is pretty obvious.  Cobra is trying to go all-in with their new club line-up and who better to advertise their line than the poster-boy of Puma Golf himself.  Look for this deal to be a 10-13 club deal with a possibility of going all-Cobra.  There is a rumor out there that Cobra will be coming out with a new line of putters as well.

Keegan Bradley: Cleveland to Callaway
Callaway is probably looking for someone in the younger generation to start playing their clubs.  And Keegan Bradley fits the bill nicely.  Who else is there out there who is a young major champion?  And he has the game to continue to play at major-championship level.

Charl Schwartzel: Nike to Callaway
This one may be a stretch, but Callaway seems to like to give club deals to South African major champions (see: Ernie Els, Gary Player, Trevor Immelmann, etc).  Schwartzel is one of the young guns on tour, and unlike Immelmann, looks to have the game to continue to compete at the highest of levels.

Ian Poulter: Cobra to Titleist
Another stretch here, but with Rickie Fowler moving to Cobra and becoming "the man", Ian Poulter may want to move to a different company.  Cobra would be putting their money towards someone who is lower in the rankings and has fewer worldwide wins than Poulter.  I could see him making the move to Titleist.

Any others that you can think of? Post and leave comments.  I will be updating this list as more information and rumors come out.