Pro Golf Now 2014 Golf Predictions
By Bryan McLean
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
If you’re a golf fan, you’re probably as sad as I am to see 2013 coming to a close. Be it Phil’s magical 66, Adam Scott’s improbable putt at Augusta or Henrik finally putting it together; 2013 was a fantastic year in professional golf. 2014 is now upon us and with the dawn of a new golf season, it seems like great timing to lock the Pro Golf Now staff into some published predictions. I asked Les and Elizabeth to go out on a limb and give some bold leaps of faith that will almost assuredly be used to mock us all unmercifully. So without further adieu, here is how the PGN staff sees the year ahead.
PGA TOUR
Masters Winner:
Bryan – Tiger Woods
Elizabeth – Phil Mickelson
Les – Zach Johnson
Non consensus here as we all pick former winners to don the Green Jacket.
U.S. Open Winner:
Bryan – Tiger Woods
Les – Henrik Stenson
Again, it’s split as Les picks the surging Swede and I take Tiger to nip Phil in an epic finish at Pinehurst.
British Open Winner:
Bryan – Graeme McDowell
Elizabeth – Lee Westwood
Les – Tiger Woods
It looks like we’ll never agree on anything here as Elizabeth and I pick the pair from the UK and Les likes Tiger to pick up his first major of the season.
PGA Championship Winner:
Bryan – Jason Dufner
Welp, I’m alone on this one. But I really like Duff Daddy to defend his title at Valhalla.
PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year:
Bryan – John Peterson
No Brainer. He was the best player on the Web.com tour not named Michael Putnam and managed a Top-5 at the 2012 U.S. Open.
LPGA Tour
Kraft Nabisco Championship Winner:
Bryan – Stacy Lewis
Elizabeth – Suzann Pettersen
Les – Ya Neon Choi
3 Major champions dot the list. Les likes Choi who’s got two top 10’s here on her resume and Elizabeth likes Pettersen to squeak one out in a duel with Lydia Ko.
U.S. Women’s Open Winner:
Bryan – Lexi Thompson
Elizabeth – Lexi Thompson
Les – Stacy Lewis
AN AGREEMENT! Elizabeth and I agree that Lexi Thompson wins at Pinehurst (I like her due to her length with the redesign). Les likes Stacy Lewis, and I can’t say I blame him as I expect her to have a stellar year.
Women’s British Open Winner:
Bryan – Lydia Ko
Elizabeth – Suzzan Pettersen
Les – Inbee Park
Our first Ko major pick is in and it comes courtesy of yours truly. Elizabeth likes Pettersen to double up and Les likes Inbee to pick up the Major that eluded her last year and to complete the Pre-2013 career slam.
LPGA Championship Winner:
Bryan – Inbee Park
Elizabeth – So Yeon Ryu
Les – Suzzan Pettersen
I reluctantly like Park to thrive on a Donal Ross design I don’t know much about. Elizabeth noted that she thinks Ryu will rise to the top of the Asian LPGA contingent and another power pick from Les in the form of the apparently popular Pettersen.
Evian Masters Winner:
Bryan – Paula Creamer
Elizabeth – Lydia Ko
Les – Shashan Feng
This is my “bold prediction” of the year. I think Creamer will win a couple of times, including a major, and make a run at POY. Elizabeth thinks this is the spot where Lydia breaks through to hold off Lexi’s hopes at a second 2014 major. And I love Les’ under the radar pick of the hugely underrated Feng.
Newsworthy Predictions
How many total wins for Lydia Ko:
Bryan -3 (with a major)
Elizabeth – 6 (with a major)
Les – 1 (no majors)
So there you have it…Les hates Lydia Ko. While of course I’m kidding, he does expect her to come back down to earth, if you can call winning only once “down to earth”. Elizabeth pegs her for a Player of the Year type of season, while I think she’ll be right there with a couple other ladies.
Ryder Cup Winner:
Bryan – USA! USA! USA!
Elizabeth – Europe
Les – United States
Les comes to his senses with a strong American selection, while Elizabeth makes her first misstep with what is clearly the wrong pick.
Story of the Year:
Bryan – Rory McIlroy returns to the top 3.
Elizabeth – NOT, Rory’s engagement, Tigers love life, Christie Kerr’s baby, or Lexi Thompson’s new Stingray.
Les – The US Ryder Cup Victory.
I honestly believe Rory will come back in 2014 with 2-3 wins and a Major, even though on a micro level, I see others winning each one. Elizabeth makes the pick of the post by taking the field in the biggest story question; a strategy that is likely to pay off as she faces much less badgering at the end of the year than myself of Les. Speaking of Les, he thinks an American victory at Gleneagles will rocket to the top of top stories of the year; lets hope he’s right, though as another European win makes this hardly even a rivalry.
So there you have it, the staff has spoken. Sometimes it was brilliant (Les, Elizabeth) and sometimes the mindless drivel of a man who doesn’t know what he’s talking about (Me). If a theme could be drawn from these picks, I’d say it’s continues dominance. Out of 9 majors picked, only 4 were selected who don’t already have one to their name (Ko, Thompson, Westwood, Stenson), and all of them reside near the top of their respective Tours already. I expect this to be a great year full of amazing drama as the talent pool on both tours is arguably as deep and competitive as it’s ever been, certainly at the same time. Enjoy 2014, and go low, everybody!