Thanks to two days of rain at the Viking Classic, Dean Wilson has gotten more face time on pgatour.com than he received prior to Thursday.
Shouldn't Brett Favre be the official sponsor of the Viking Classic? (rimshot)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Top Ten Professional Golfers Under 25
The focus of the Frys.com Open was the emergence of youth on the PGA Tour, a needed spotlight for the post Tour Championship events, where kids in their early 20s with nothing to lose can play anxiety free golf. As homage to a final round which included a hole-in-one and a ball jump out of a water hazard, my Top 10 Professional Golfers under the age of 25. Just missing the list are Dustin Johnson and Michael Sim (both 25).
10. Tony Finau (21) – Currently on The Big Break, averages @ 330 yards off the tee.
Prediction: Two wins on PGA Tour
Comparison: JB Holmes
9. Pablo Martin (23) – Won the Estoril Open de Portugal in 2007, becoming the first amateur to win on the European Tour.
Prediction: Three wins on European Tour, one WGC win, one Ryder Cup
Comparison: Luke Donald
8. Shane Lowry (23) – Won 2009 Irish Open in a playoff over Robert Rock (great name). Currently 190 in the WGR.
Prediction: Five wins Worldwide, two Ryder Cups
Comparison: Darren Clarke
7. Rickie Fowler (20) – All-everything from Oklahoma State, NCAA Player of the Year as a freshman. Lost in playoff @ Frys.com Open to Troy Matteson. While others see a perfect pedigree, I see him being somewhat undersized, and possessing a swing with too many moving parts.
Prediction: 10 PGA Tour wins, one Major, Four Ryder Cups
Comparison: Hal Sutton, Fred Couples
6. Jason Day (21) – Won the 2007 Legend Financial Classic on the Nationwide Tour, becoming the youngest winner of a Tour-sponsored event. Has played the last two years on the PGA Tour.
Prediction: 12 PGA Tour wins, one Major, Three President's Cups
Comparison: Jim Furyk, Tom Kite
5. Ryo Ishikawa (19) – Four wins on the 2009 Japan Golf Tour, youngest player to reach the Top 50 on the WGR (36).
Prediction: 20 wins worldwide, two Majors, Eight President's Cups
Comparison: Sandy Lyle
4. Matteo Manassero (16) – Youngest winner of the British Amateur, played with Tom Watson and Sergio Garcia in the 2009 Open, finishing T13 (Sunday 69).
Prediction: 15 wins worldwide, two Majors, five Ryder Cups
Comparison: Bernhard Langer
3. Jamie Lovemark (21) – Won NCAAs as a freshman @ USC, lost in playoff @ Frys.com Open to Troy Matteson. Fundamentally sound (simple) swing and height (6’4”) accentuates length off the teem
Prediction: 10 PGA Tour wins, 3 Majors, multiple Ryder/President’s Cups
Comparison: Nick Price, Ernie Els
2. Anthony Kim (24) – Hard to believe AK isn’t 25. Already a 2 time Tour winner and Ryder/Presiden’t Cup stalwart.
Prediction: 12 PGA Tour wins, 4 Majors, multiple Ryder/President’s Cups
Comparison: Raymond Floyd
1. Rory McIlroy (20) – Won the 2009 Dubai Dessert Classic on the European Tour, solid showings in Majors, WGC events. Swing is both powerful and accurate.
Prediction: 30 wins Worldwide, 15 PGA Tour wins, 5 Majors, 10 Ryder Cups
Comparison: Nick Flado, Phil Mickelson
10. Tony Finau (21) – Currently on The Big Break, averages @ 330 yards off the tee.
Prediction: Two wins on PGA Tour
Comparison: JB Holmes
9. Pablo Martin (23) – Won the Estoril Open de Portugal in 2007, becoming the first amateur to win on the European Tour.
Prediction: Three wins on European Tour, one WGC win, one Ryder Cup
Comparison: Luke Donald
8. Shane Lowry (23) – Won 2009 Irish Open in a playoff over Robert Rock (great name). Currently 190 in the WGR.
Prediction: Five wins Worldwide, two Ryder Cups
Comparison: Darren Clarke
7. Rickie Fowler (20) – All-everything from Oklahoma State, NCAA Player of the Year as a freshman. Lost in playoff @ Frys.com Open to Troy Matteson. While others see a perfect pedigree, I see him being somewhat undersized, and possessing a swing with too many moving parts.
Prediction: 10 PGA Tour wins, one Major, Four Ryder Cups
Comparison: Hal Sutton, Fred Couples
6. Jason Day (21) – Won the 2007 Legend Financial Classic on the Nationwide Tour, becoming the youngest winner of a Tour-sponsored event. Has played the last two years on the PGA Tour.
Prediction: 12 PGA Tour wins, one Major, Three President's Cups
Comparison: Jim Furyk, Tom Kite
5. Ryo Ishikawa (19) – Four wins on the 2009 Japan Golf Tour, youngest player to reach the Top 50 on the WGR (36).
Prediction: 20 wins worldwide, two Majors, Eight President's Cups
Comparison: Sandy Lyle
4. Matteo Manassero (16) – Youngest winner of the British Amateur, played with Tom Watson and Sergio Garcia in the 2009 Open, finishing T13 (Sunday 69).
Prediction: 15 wins worldwide, two Majors, five Ryder Cups
Comparison: Bernhard Langer
3. Jamie Lovemark (21) – Won NCAAs as a freshman @ USC, lost in playoff @ Frys.com Open to Troy Matteson. Fundamentally sound (simple) swing and height (6’4”) accentuates length off the teem
Prediction: 10 PGA Tour wins, 3 Majors, multiple Ryder/President’s Cups
Comparison: Nick Price, Ernie Els
2. Anthony Kim (24) – Hard to believe AK isn’t 25. Already a 2 time Tour winner and Ryder/Presiden’t Cup stalwart.
Prediction: 12 PGA Tour wins, 4 Majors, multiple Ryder/President’s Cups
Comparison: Raymond Floyd
1. Rory McIlroy (20) – Won the 2009 Dubai Dessert Classic on the European Tour, solid showings in Majors, WGC events. Swing is both powerful and accurate.
Prediction: 30 wins Worldwide, 15 PGA Tour wins, 5 Majors, 10 Ryder Cups
Comparison: Nick Flado, Phil Mickelson
Friday, October 23, 2009
Up and Down
An interesting E (70) for Kevin Streelman @ the Frys.com Open. http://bit.ly/1nEe6w.
I'm surprised he didn't withdraw, or break any clubs.
I'm surprised he didn't withdraw, or break any clubs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)