Predictions for 2016 golf season
The New Year’s resolutions have been made and, in many cases, broken already.
You’ve also no doubt heard countless predictions for 2016 on subjects from politics to entertainment to sports.
Well, buckle up, here’s another set of predictions. I’ll spare you my viewpoints on politics and entertainment and will concentrate instead on golf.
Ready?
n Since Adam Scott broke through as a major champion in the 2013 Masters, he has won two tournaments, one later that year and one in 2014. Hardly the sort of results you’d expect from a super-talented golfer with a swing that is the envy of anyone who picks up a club.
Things are about to get much tougher for the Aussie, who is the poster child for those affected by the ban on anchored putting strokes that went into effect Friday.
Scott went to the long putter because he wasn’t very good on the greens with a regular putter. Now he has to go back to that putter.
It’s going to be a long year for him. Don’t expect him to be a factor, especially in the majors.
n Rory McIlroy will complete the career grand slam this year. He won the U.S. Open in 2011, the British Open and PGA Championship and will be very tuned in when he arrivals at Augusta National Golf Club in April. He’s even added a couple events early in the year to enhance his chances of being ready to get his green jacket.
n Golf’s return to the Olympics this summer will turn out to be a ho-hum, large waste of time. Do you really want to sit around in the middle of the summer watching a group of the best players in the world play ANOTHER 72-hole event? They can talk about the thrill of representing their countries and that’s nice.
The ruling bodies can trumpet the idea that this will grow the game and that’s bull. If that were the case, the game would be growing each week on the PGA Tour.
And then, of course, the organizers of the Olympics did nothing to add any interest to the golf that will be played. Match play, anyone? Maybe some sort of mixed event with the women of the LPGA?
A big swing and a miss.
n It’s probably too easy to think about things this way, but the PGA Tour is set up to have a spectacular, superstar-dominated year. With Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, McIlroy and Rickie Fowler playing the way they did last year (except for McIlroy who was injured), some jaw-dropping golf could be in our future.
Even if it happens the young guns don’t play up to their level of a year ago, it sure will be fun watching them try.
n As is always the case when the U.S. Open comes to a course once every 8-10 years, most of the field has little or no knowledge of that course. When our national championship comes to Oakmont Country Club in June, that will very much be the case.
None of the Big Four played there in 2007 when the historic layout was brutally unforgiving and Angel Cabrera won at 5-over par. That quartet, as well as many others in the field, have heard all the horror stories, probably looked at some video of previous championship at Oakmont and have talked to the veterans who have played there.
None of that will matter until they stick a tee in the ground and experience what OCC is all about.
The question will soon start to be asked on a regular basis: What will win the Open this year?
At Oakmont, the answer is a very simple one: If it’s dry, hard and fast, five-over (or higher) could easily be the winning score. If the course is wet, even-par might get it done.
This, however, is for sure. It will be a very enjoyable week of golf for the 25 or 30,000 fans who’ll be on the grounds each day.
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Do you have an interesting story about your club or course or an individual who has done something special, let me know. Send your story ideas to mike.dudurich@gmail.com.