Season Preview: 2013

The turn of the New Year brings with it something that golf fans yearn for during the relatively short but seemingly endless off-season: a diverse schedule of global tournaments to satisfy the whim of the most avid supporter of the sport. 

The 2012 golfing season was unquestionably one of the most exciting in recent golfing times. Rory McIlroy won five times around the globe – including a record-breaking eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship – and proved he is comfortably better than anyone in the world when he finds his best form. Two of the game’s most exciting young stars, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, won their first major titles, and Ernie Els turned back the clock to claim his second Open Championship when, just a year ago, the prospect of another major seemed as unlikely as Europe’s final-day Ryder Cup comeback.

Englishmen, including WGC-Cadillac champion Justin Rose, moved into three of the top five positions in the Official World Golf Ranking. South Africans, including four-time European Tour winner Branden Grace and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, reinforced their position as some of the world’s greatest golfing talents and 14-time major champion Tiger Woods returned from the wilderness to claim his first tour title in four years.

With the 2012 season done and dusted and the new campaign already underway, it is time to shift our focus to 2013. Will Tiger win a first major since 2008? Will any Englishmen triumph in the big four? Will any youngsters make an impression on the world stage? Below is a guide to what we might see this year, but with golf as strong as it is, predicting the future is a near-impossible practice.

McIlroy v. Woods

The much anticipated rivalry between the world’s two best players didn’t really materialise in a head-to-head sense last season. They didn’t cross paths at the year’s first three majors, and McIlroy was so dominant at the PGA that no-one could get near him. They have managed to dodge each other thus far in major competition, but that should change this year.

Woods, despite a blossoming friendship with McIlroy, must be smarting. For so many years, he was the dominant force in world golf. Even when he fell off the radar during 2010 and 2011, you sensed he didn’t see Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood or Luke Donald – all of whom reached world number one – as legitimate contenders to his throne. The situation is different with McIlroy, though, and, as such, you can expect to see Woods, a born winner, come out with all guns blazing this season in an attempt to reclaim his position atop the world rankings.

In 2013, the friendship, camaraderie and complements may well be toned down as Woods – a man with an overriding desire to be the best – attempts to plot his way back to the summit of the world game. It is inevitable the pair will clash at some stage in the not too distant future, and when they do, it will mark the start of a genuine rivalry that could go on for the next 10-15 years. It is impossible to predict who might come out on top, and players such as Oosthuizen and Rose have the aptitude to be right up there with them, but next season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Woods and McIlroy started to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack at the summit of the world game.

The English quartet

Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter are four of the best players in the game, and I’m convinced at least one will win a major this year. It will be a more pressing concern for Westwood, who turns 40 in April, but if he returns in 2013 with an improved putting stroke, he’ll be in great shape. Rose, similarly, needs to improve his putting, but he has the long game (number one in Greens in Regulation on the PGA Tour in 2012) and the scrambling touch to succeed. What’s more, his come-from-behind victory against Phil Mickelson in the Ryder Cup will give him the belief and mental strength that was perhaps previously lacking.

Poulter and Donald, despite their relative lack of distance from the tee, both have the games to win one of golf’s big four. But, as with any major, it will come down to a bit of luck and everything clicking into place at the right time. I’d expect all to be multiple-winners on tour in 2013, I think Rose has a great chance of winning the PGA Tour Money List and I strongly believe that at least one will record a maiden major in 2013. We also mustn’t forget about a resurgent Paul Casey, who recorded four consecutive top 10s at the end of 2012.

In the wider European context, Nicolas Colsaerts, Martin Kaymer and Peter Hanson – all of whom have taken up permanent membership on the PGA Tour – will also enjoy success this season. The German looks set to surge up the rankings after a difficult 12 months, Hanson has performed adeptly in the US and Colsaerts showed his aptitude for golf in American with a strong showing at the US Open and a tremendous debut performance at the Ryder Cup. On the European Tour, also keep an eye on the Scandinavian duo of Kristoffer Broberg and Espen Kofstad. Broberg recorded four victories in six weeks on the Challenge Tour in 2012 and sits third in the 2013 Race to Dubai after two events. Kofstad won the San Domenico Grand Final en route to completing the 2012 season atop the Challenge Tour rankings.  

Rest of World

Golfers from the ‘rest of world’ category are poised to make quite the impression this year. Charl Schwartzel - who has already won on the European Tour this season - and Louis Oosthuizen both have flawless golf swings, and seem to be in contention every week. I’d be shocked if both don’t record multiple victories in 2013. Adam Scott is another who has a near-perfect golf swing, and the Australian will return refreshed in 2013 with the knowledge that his game is comfortably good enough to win a major. If the two South Africans and Scott don’t win a major or a WGC in 2013, it would be a huge surprise.

I’m also expecting a significant amount of Korean success this season. Sang-moon Bae showed glimpses last season, most notably at the WGC-Accenture Matchplay, and Seung-yul Noh is a prodigious talent with a brilliant golf swing. Furthermore, K.J. Choi and Y.E Yang will be determined to come back strong after lacklustre campaigns in 2012. At the less experienced end of the spectrum, South African George Coetzee and Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa look set to record their first respective victories on the European and PGA Tours. 

Americans

There are so many Americans who are perfectly placed to enjoy a fine 2013, but Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley are three that are worthy of further discussion. Johnson’s enormous length, improved short game and excellent temperament, coupled with his past performances in the big events, suggest he is ready for the best season of his career. Fowler has all the shots, and his confident putting stroke, proficient long game and memories of PGA Tour success mean he, too, should have the best season of his young career.

Bradley has the stomach for a fight and the all-important capacity to play his best golf with immeasurable pressure on his shoulders. In 2012, he won his first WGC to go along with the 2011 PGA Championship, and he led the PGA Tour in the all-around ranking. There is no weakness in his game, and in 2013 expect to see him winning at least one big tournament and improving upon his current world ranking of 13^th. In terms of youngsters, look for Luke List and Luke Guthrie – who both enjoyed great success on the Web.com Tour in 2012 – to make an impact on the PGA Tour in their rookie seasons.

Predictions

The Masters: Rory McIlroy – I can’t see him missing out on a major in 2013 and his game is perfectly suited to Augusta.

The US Open: Justin Rose – He has the game to win a major and the US Open is most likely, given his  proficient driving and impressive greens in regulation statistics.

The Open: Schwartzel/Oosthuzen/Grace – I think a South African will prevail at Muirfield this year. Oosthuizen won in 2010, and Grace took the Alfred Dunhill Links last season – his fourth win of 2012.  

PGA Championship: Tiger Woods – It won’t be long before Woods wins a 15^th major, and if he rediscovers his legendary putting touch, it could well happen this season.

PGA Tour Money List: Justin Rose

FedEx Cup Champion: Rory McIlroy

Race to Dubai Champion: Louis Oosthuizen

Photo Credit: Keith Allison - http://www.flickr.com/people/keithallison/