First business at hand for 2019: Our best wishes for a happy and healthy year and another great golf season as we enjoy the frustrations of our own games then take time to check out the guys who do it so very well week-in and week-out. Here are 10 players to keep an eye on in 2019:
Tiger Woods: Eldrick is always the 10,000-pound elephant in the room. He still drives the ratings needle like no one else. His 80th win in Atlanta was one of the memorable moments from 2018 but everyone now turns their attention to see what he can do in 2019. His schedule will be shorter, more compressed, as will those of many of the name players. He’ll most likely go into The Masters in April as the favorite or co-favorite. Heck, they made him the favorite when his game was still off kilter. Does he have another win in him this season and more important, he proved he could get right in the hunt last year at Carnoustie — does Tiger have another major in him and could we possibly see him win one in 2019. He’s just turned 43.
Brooks Koepka: With two under his belt from last season and three wins in his last six major championship appearances, you wonder if Brooks can continue that kind of performance in the majors this season? Remember, he didn’t get to play in The Masters last year due to injury. We want to see what his power and touch can produce at Augusta National come April.
Bryson DeChambeau: Easily golf’s most fascinating character. He’s proven there is an alternate way to play this great game. Everything he does is outside the box. It’s worked incredibly for him. With four wins in calendar year 2018, the only guy to do that, it’s now up to Bryson to show he can be a big factor in the majors. No reason he shouldn’t. This guy comes in as one of our most intriguing players for 2019 and keep in mind that this is only his third full season on the PGA Tour.
Jordan Spieth: Talk about someone desperately in need of a comeback? Last season was one Spieth would like to forget. It appeared that he basically forgot how to putt and when Spieth cannot putt well, he becomes pretty ordinary, ordinary enough that he went the entire season without a win and didn’t make it to East Lake for the first time in his career. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back.
Rickie Fowler: Can the 30-year-old Rickie play better than the Rickie in his 20s? So much potential but our definition of potential is this: “Potential means that right now you suck.” And it basically sucks that Rickie has yet to win a major. Can he end all of that now that he’s hit the big three-oh?
Xander Schauffele: This young player just keeps getting better, which is what the goal is out there. He was right in the thick of it at Carnoustie and don’t be surprised if he somehow manages to win a big one this season. That’s the next progression for a guy who keeps progressing.
Tony Finau: Time for the Big Cat to go out, break out and win a bunch of tournaments. Simple as that.
Cameron Champ: This young man is perhaps our most intriguing player on the PGA Tour. He didn’t waste any time getting that victory in the cross-over season. Yes, he’s the longest of the long but he also has remarkable touch and a really, really good putting stroke. The sky’s the limit for this guy, really. With time and experience, we expect him to break into the top 10 in the world. Currently ranked 92nd. Watch him climb the rankings this season.
Tommy Fleetwood: With the rock-star hair, the Englishman is one of golf’s most recognizable players. He’s risen to No. 12 in the world now he needs to show that he can take a spot in the top 10 and he’ll have to play better in the big events to do that.
Francesco Molinari: The Open champion is going to be seen more this season on the PGA Tour. Does he have enough game week-in and week-out to be a factor over here? He’s got a lot of game and added more distance off the tee in 2018. Can he continue to improve?
Those are our 10 guys to watch. There are so many storylines to be written. And things will heat up quickly. Tiger comes out in a few weeks at Torrey Pines then we prepare for the march to Augusta.
Should be a great ride this season.
Happy New Year!
