Happy New Year! It’s Time for Golf Again!
With nine events on the January 2016 calendar, we can sit back and enjoy ourselves as the golf year begins.
We may be 90-some days away from that iconic drive down Magnolia Lane and into the lush world of fullly bloomed azaleas which is The Masters, but don’t get in a hurry. There’s some very good golf to be played between now and then.
Last year Patrick Reed, Bill Haas, Jason Day, Branden Grace, Martin Kaymer and Sei Young Kim emerged as significant players during the January events, and it would be some time before Jordan Spieth and Inbee Park and Lydia Ko joined the headliners. January is a time of fresh starts and competitive surprises.
Get out your calendar. Here’s how January 2016 is shaping up across the Tours.
January 7-10
The PGA TOUR is kicking off 2016 with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, contested at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii. Nice place to get in a few rounds of golf in January. Patrick Reed’s the defending champion but Reed will face some stiff competition from a fields of hopefuls and power players.
Read more about the preliminary field lining up for Kapalua
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The European Tour and Sunshine Tour are co-sanctioning the BMW South African Open hosted by the City of Ekurheleni at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s another nice place to play some golf. Ernie Els is hosting the second oldest national open on golf’s calendar and Andy Sullivan is the defending champ. Are you looking for Charl Schwartzl to get some revenge this year?
January 14-17
The PGA TOUR is staying put in Hawaii – do you blame them? – for the Sony Open. Jimmy Walker will defend his title at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Last year Walker notched his 2nd consecutive victory at the Sony Open. What are the odds he can make it a three-peat?
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The European Tour and the Sunshine Tour are also staying put in South Africa for the Joburg Open. Andy Sullivan is going to be a busy guy with a second title defense in as many weeks, this time at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Gold Club in Johannesburg.
January 21-24
The PGA TOUR is back on the mainland for the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. Formerly the Bob Hope Classic, this long-time TOUR staple returns to the PGA West TPC Stadium track. Do you think the pros can handle the course this year? Bill Haas, who surprised everybody – even himself – last year, is the defending champ. Who’s likely to replace him? Will both Clintons tee it up for the Pro-Am?
Read more about the PGA West TPC Stadium track controversy
The European Tour is in the United Arab Emirates this week for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Martin Kaymer’s going to try to hoist the coveted Falcon Trophy for the third time at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club but her’s going to need to deliver some fancy golf. Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler have all booked flights to the UAE for this one! Could this be the warm-up for the battle that’s certain to develop at Augusta National?
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January 28-31
The PGA TOUR is staying in California for the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego. Jason Day started his spectacular 2015 run here last year, warning the golf world of what was to come when he proclaimed that “I really want to kick butt this year” at his press conference. He certainly did just that!
Read more about Jason Day’s spectacular 2015 season
The European Tour is still in the Middle East this week for the Commercian Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. Branden Grace delivered a stunning final round last year to claim the victory and put himself into contention for some even bigger accolades as the year unfolded.
The LPGA opens its 2016 season this week at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. Sei Young Kim made Paradise Island her own little paradise last year when she claimed her first of three rookie-year victories. With a field that’s deep in talent and hungry to hoist a trophy, this season-opener promises some good golf
Read more about who to watch in 2016 at LPGA events
With nine events in January and even more on tap in February and March, the wait for Augusta National seems a bit more bearable.
Next: Meet the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Rookie Class
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