There’s a PGA Tour charter flight that will leave Las Vegas after the CJ Cup and it will head for Tokyo, taking some of the “name” stars to Japan to compete in the Zozo Championship next week.
After that, it will be break-time, vacation-time for a lot the Tour’s high-profile players. You may see a few of them in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Championship that wraps up that tour’s season.
On our side of the pond the schedule goes: Bermuda (10/28-31), Mayakoba (11/4-7), the Houston Open (11/11-14) then the cross-over and 2021-ending RSM at Hilton Head (11/18-21). After that, the DP World closes the European Tour season the week of November 18.
So let’s take a look at some stars and what needs to happen for them in 2022.
Dustin Johnson: The world’s No. 2 didn’t notch a PGA Tour victory for the first time in more than a decade. With 24 wins, D.J.’s a lifetime Tour member and headed for a Hall of Fame career. With only two majors, he needs to step up and win at least two more or he will be viewed as an underachiever. At age 37, he’s in magnificent shape and the next five years should afford him a lot of chances to fatten up that wonderful resume. But D.J. needs to putt better in 2022.
Collin Morikawa: At age 24, this young sensation needs to keep doing what’s he doing. He’s already equaled D.J. in the majors department — more coming.
Justin Thomas: With 14 wins and one major and now Bones Mackay on the bag for 2022, J.T. needs validation in the majors. One just isn’t cutting it for a player with his talent level.
Xander Schauffele: Sorry but Olympic Gold Medals are not majors and going into 2022, he’s neck-and-neck with pal Patrick Cantlay for that unwanted title: “Best Player In The World Without A Major Championship.” Needs to drive the ball better at crunch time to break through and get that first major. He’s praying they don’t ban the “arm-lock” putting method.
Patrick Cantlay: Cantlay’s approaching the age of 30 and is finally coming into his own. It would be a surprise if he DIDN’T win a major championship in 2022. Right now he’s tied with Xander for — you know what — Best Player In The World Without A Major Championship.
Bryson DeChambeau: This guy will grow on you if you give him a chance. With eight wins and a major, all he needs to understand is that come crunch time in majors, he should not over-analyze. Needs to get rid of that “paralysis through analysis” stuff that overtakes him too often. He was totally in his element at the recently-completed Long Drive Championship and hopefully he’ll compete again next year in that event and it will be televised. Bryson needs to figure out how to make his game fit Augusta National.
Jordan Spieth: He’s back. Jordy’s back, getting his swagger back on, focusing on keeping that tee ball in the fairway. That putting gift is generational and Jordy needs to buckle down, win the PGA Championship and complete the Career Grand Slam. He’s 28, time is on his side.
Rory McIlroy: Rory slipped from No. 4 in the world rankings in 2021 to No. 14. Not good. Until Rory dials in his wedge play, he’ll struggle. He recently drew backlash on social media. Rory simply said that when he plays his best — he’s the best in the world. Problem is we haven’t seen his best in a long time. He’s a win short or lifetime membership on the PGA Tour (has 19, needs 20) and has four majors — but is a Green Jacket shy of that special Career Grand Slam. He’s getting better but still lacks consistency. Needs to play his way back into the top 5 in the world.
Brooks Koepka: We now know who the “bad guy” is in that Koepka-DeChambeau pseudo-feud. Yes, Brooksie. This guy obviously thinks quite highly of himself after those comments he made to Golf Digest in the now infamous Brooksie’s Poolside Chat. Fifteen majors? Well, ask Tiger how tough it was to get to 15 and to quote that old political line: “We know Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka is no Tiger Woods.” Eight Tour wins, half are majors. He had a great two-year spurt. Given the talent level around him, he’ll have to take himself to yet another level simply to get to double-digit majors. That means he needs to have what amounts to at least two or three Hall Of Fame-worthy careers. At age 31, it might sound like time is on his side but given that he’s the most injury-prone player among the top stars, well, the spotlight’s on you — Brooksie.
Jon Rahm: We’ve waited to mention the world’s No. 1. He’s beginning to discover how good he really is but you wouldn’t know it from the way he’s played over in his home country of Spain the last two weeks. Shows he’s human. Needs to add another major in 2022.
Scottie Scheffler: Time to stop talking about “potential” and win a PGA Tour event sooner than later. One of those guys who should win every year.
Sam Burns: Probably the most under-rated young star. He’s already notched two Tour victories to Scheffler’s zero. Should play his way onto the next Ryder Cup team.
Rickie Fowler: Needs to end that head-scratching slump. Needs a win in 2022 to validate his comeback. Simple as that.
This list could go on and on. But these are some of the most high-profile guys on today’s PGA Tour.
And yes, one final guy, THE guy — Tiger Woods. The golf world will go bonkers when Tiger Woods returns to competition.
It’s looking more and more like that’s a situation of When, rather than If.
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
Lot of big names.
Most those guys are cruising along bit by bit adding to their resumes.
Rory has some interesting quotes saying he thinks 3 wins these days is like incredible right now because of the level of competition. The fact is 3 is big because there is a whole lot of parity or mediocre elite play in golf; as in a bunch of guys not great enough to win more than 3.
A lot of these guys are amazing but let’s be real, none are at Jack or Tigers level in their primes; heck they are not even at Vijays level; and others in history as well.
They are all great players but they all lack consistent greatness for one reason or another; many of those reasons are described above by Tom.
The reason no one wins 5 or more anymore is not because no one is good enough right now. That’s the truth. No one has that extra level of physical, mental and work ethic prowess combined like the truly dominant players in history.
But the big question mark story from all that name dropping is Fowler. Can he get back? The experts say the more time passes the harder it gets. Rickie needs to get back on track ASAP. It’s reassuring Butch agrees with tillerys work with Ricky.
Similar to Fowler—but Much less interesting— is Scottie shefflers search for his first win. He is flirting with being pestered with the questions of when he will win; which is always a huge distraction which only makes winning harder.
Not sure how many players before Scottie have played a Ryder cup without a win on their resume. Ryder cup picks have proven to help struggling tour winners get back to on track; not sure it works quite the same for guys whom have not won yet. Scottie has a brighter spotlight on him now; we will see if he can handle that extra heat as he continues his pursuit for his first pga tour dub.
Tom Edrington
Baxter. I will second every one of your observations….