2010 Golf Season Preview

Do you want to know what happens in this year’s golf season? Go and place your bets now because I’ve seen the future and it reads like this:

My tongue in cheek preview of 2010, the Chinese year of the Tiger!

Jan

After a top ten finish at the Bob Hope Classic and leading by one going into the final day in the San Diego Open at Torrey Pines, Rory McIlroy’s putting will let him down, going into the final four holes and will eventually lose in a playoff to Mr Happy Jim Furyk. The Irishman’s good couple of weeks though make him a revelation stateside.

Paul Casey, back from injury successfully defends his Abu Dhabi Championship in.....well Abu Dhabi.

Feb

The world’s top golfer’s flock to the Californian coast for the AT&T Pebble Golf National Pro-am, the venue for this year’s US Open.  European confidence is high for the second major of the year as Padraig Harrington grits his teeth in more ways than one, to win by two shots from Y.E Yang. There is not one American inside the top ten. Closest is Zach Johnson in 12th after a closing 64.

Lee Westwood returns to Dubai and wins again in the Desert. The Worksop pro claims the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and say’s that his game is very ready to win a major this year.

The world holds its breath to see if Tiger returns for the World Golf Championship – Accenture Match play Championship. CBS Network claim he is registered for the tournament but more weekend stories are printed,  shockingly in the ‘News Of The World’ more ‘infidelities’ and pictures of Erin skiing again this time in her native Sweden prove too much for the world number one who retreats back to Mark O’Meara’s house to eat more pizza. To rub salt in his wounds Tigers bitter enemy, I mean friend Phil Mickelson beats Geoff Ogilvy 5&4 in the final.

Mar

Ian Poulter is three ahead with three to play in the Honda Classic, but chokes it and loses out to Kenny Perry. Poulter blames the press and the cameraman on the 18th after he gave him a barrage of abuse in a Monty like strop. Poulter’s playing partner Rocco Mediate just smiles for the crowd and pulls his trousers up even further.

The world can finally breathe again as Tiger returns at the World Golf Championship at Doral. Cheered onto the first tee by his native Floridians Tiger leads from day one to win by eight shots.  With just his Nike sponsor in sight, Tiger thanks his friend Mark, and his mum and dedicates the win to Erin and makes a plea live on ABC to come back to him. Stevie Williams is just happy to be back working.

The aptly named European Tour plays its first tournament in Europe, three months in. Miguel Angel Jimenez delights local fans with a one shot victory at the Andalucian Open.

Apr

With one eye on the Masters, top names turn out at the Shell Houston Open, to fine tune their game. Vijay Singh wins and says he is looking forward to adding another major to his collection.
The Tiger train marches on back to back victories come at the Transitions Championship in Florida and then at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, oh in Florida, how he loves the sunshine state.

Amazingly, America has forgotten his troubles and welcomes him back to Augusta. His incredible return continues as he claims his fifth green jacket beating Lee Westwood by one. Westwood says he just didn’t have the luck on the back nine and if a few more putts had dropped the things would be different, but insists his game is ready to win a major.

May

Westwood answers his critics in typical style with back to back wins on either side of the Atlantic. First claiming the Spanish Open by a record nine shots and then gets the biggest win of his career by taking the ‘fifth major’ the Players Championship at  TPC Sawgrass. Two behind with two to play, Westwood birdies 17 and 18 to pip ladies favourite Camilo Villagas to victory, after he found water at the famous 17th island hole.

One of the Molinari brothers wins the Italian Open. Monty has yet to decide which one but both will feature at the Ryder Cup and form an unbeaten pairing.

A new look Wentworth unveils itself for the BMW PGA Championship. Peter Alliss will upset someone on BBC’s coverage if they still have it and mention 78 times that Ross Fisher and Ernie Els have house’s overlooking the course. Angel Cabrera launches a 400 yard drive down 18 and eagles the last to win.

Jun

The Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village will give Mr Consistent Steve Stricker his first win. After 12 top ten finishes this year already, the forever young Stricker thanks big Jack who is waiting for him just off the 18th green and gives him a big bear hug (no pun intended)

Big name Americans choose to stay and play in the States rather than play in the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor ahead of the Ryder Cup. American captain Corey Pavin insists his stars come over – they don’t – but we do get hopefuls Boo Weekley, Lucas Glover, Bubba Watson and Davis Love III. Virtual unknown Rhys Davies claims victory making him a cert for October’s showdown in the Valley.

Pebble Beach is looking blustery for the start of the 110th U.S Open. Scoring is low and conditions are tough. The epitome of cool Reteif Goosen is in the final group with Chris DIMarco. Shigeki Maruyama, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Stewart Cink are all within a shot of the lead but it is the South African Goosen who holds on to claim his third U.S Open crown. Tiger finishes 9th after opening with a 77. Westwood is once again defiant and says he will win the British Open.

Towards the end of June the European Tour arrives in Munich for the BMW International Open. Nick Dougherty and Martin Kaymer tussle and match birdie for birdie on the final day. It is decided in a playoff in which the German wins.

Jul

Mark Calcavecchia wins the John Dere Classic in Illinois with the European Tour at Loch Lomond for the Barclays Scottish Open in preparation for The Open.
Greame McDowell wins his second Scottish Open in three years, two shots clear from Ross Fisher.

The 139th Open Championship gets underway at the home of golf as The Open is returned to St Andrews.
There is not a dry house on the fairways as Seve says good bye to the sport, he waves to his beloved crowd as he walks up the 18th fairway for the last time on Friday afternoon. In typical Seve fashion though, he steps up and drains a forty footer for par.
The old boys give way to the young pretenders this year, no heroics from yester year to follow in the footsteps on Norman and Watson. Ross Fisher, Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kim are all in with a shout as well as stalwarts Woods and Westwood.
If only by the grace of God and a nod from Seve, finally Sergio Garcia claims his first major. In a thrilling afternoon the Spaniard shoots 64 to come from nowhere to win by one from Woods and Westwood.  Westwood say’s he could not get out of Tigers shadow but has the game to win the USPGA Championship.

Aug

Early August see’s the best players in the world compete for the penultimate World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone. Defending champion Tiger Woods will win again making him odds on favourite for the USPGA the week after. A good European showing though as five make the top ten.

Whistling Straights is this year’s venue for the USPGA and the last of the four majors. In typical tough conditions scoring only gets into red figures twice in the whole tournament. Eventually though after being so close all year Lee Westwood delights pundits with his first major win finishing on one over par, two shots ahead of nearest rivals K.J Choi, Trevor Immelman and Brett Wetterich.
There is obvious relief on the face of Westwood who says his game has been in top gear for months, he just hasn’t been able to get over the finishing line.

Sep

The FedEx cup enters its playoff tournaments. The points ranking system is the most complicated in the world to figure out so I’m not even going to attempt to explain.
Phil Mickelson wins the Deutsche Bank Championship at the TPC Boston, Tiger Woods defends his BMW Championship at Cog Hill and at the season ending Tour Championship, Henrik Stenson is the suprise winner. Needing anything better than a top ten finish, Tiger claims the FedEx Cup title with a steady fourth place finish.

In Europe September is a quiet month, Simon Dyson wins the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland and The Vivendi Trophy is a stroke play tournament for the first time in its history, Lee Westwood claims another victory at Valderrama.

Oct

Finally the Ryder Cup is upon us and what a great three days of action we will have. Monty pulls a couple of surprises when he picked his three wildcard entries. Darren Clarke and Jose Maria Olazabal return to add some much needed experience to a side full of youth and debutants including the Molinari brothers, McIlroy and Martin Kaymer. Paul Casey being the other pick after dropping out of the world ranking qualification.
No such surprises though for the Americans, big names full of experience Pavin is quietly confident. Monty goes with solid pairings on the first morning, Clarke and Westwood lead the troops, followed by Garcia and Olazabal, Harrington and McIlroy and the Molinari brothers. Europe will take a clean sweep in the morning foursomes.
Come Friday evening, Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson secure and half on the 18th after the afternoon fourballs. Europe take a 10-6 lead going into the singles. Monty sends McIlroy out first surprisingly against Tiger. Pavin will pack his top order with stars, Monty fills games 3-8 with his biggest and most experienced names thinking it will come down to one of them.
Blue is the colour on the board as McIlroy defeats Tiger 2&1 after being 2 down at the turn, then Westwood and the mercurial Garcia put in world class performances to win 6&5 and 4&2 respectively. The oldest playing in two teams eventually has the chance to win the cup for Europe, Olazabal sinks a three footer and Monty has smile on his face for the first time in years.
Final score: Europe 18 ½ - 9 ½ USA

Ernie Els wins the Alfred Dunhill links at St Andrews and whilst going unbeaten at the Ryder Cup, Ross Fisher is spurred on to defend his Volvo World Match play Championship.
The race to Dubai is counting down, first the last World Golf championships in Shanghai. An all American playoff between Defending champ Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and JJ Henry. Stricker wins on the second playoff hole to cap off a great season for him.
Lee Westwood leads the European Order of Merit going into the Dubai World Championships he is closely followed by Ross Fisher who needs a win if he is going to overtake Westwood. Neither of them win, that goes to Alex Noren but it is Westwood who once again reigns supreme in Europe. A seventh place finish secures the Order of merit.

So there you go my preview of 2010.....who knows what might happen.