at the Tournament of Champions. Unfortunately, the top 4 golfers in the World are not playing this week as Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, and Phil Mickelson decided that they didn’t want to go to Hawaii this week in the middle of the winter. :eek: Tiger Woods was not invited as he didn’t win anything in 2010 as per requirement, but chances are he would not have been there either.
Things to watch in 2011.
Can new #1 Lee Westwood hold on to his top ranking? Westy really has not won a whole lot of tournaments in the last few years but he has played consistently well, and a near lock to finish in the top 5 in every tournament he enters. He plays primarily on the European Tour and is scheduled to make his 2011 debut in the Middle East in a couple of weeks. I look for him to win his first major at the US Open or British Open this summer.
Can #2 Tiger Woods regain winning form and dominate Golf once again. He showed some late season form but literally choked down the stretch in his own tournament early last month, the last time he played. I think he will regain the #1 ranking, but not any time soon. The same formulas that kept him atop of the rankings for so long in 2010 will weigh him down like a lead anchor in 2011. He will have to play extremely well, to overcome that baggage. His first tournament should be later this month in San Diego. I think he will a couple of times this year, but will not be dominant as in years past
IMO, the next player to become #1 is currently ranked #3, Martin Kaymer. He won 4 times in 2010 including the PGA Championship. He also plays primarily in Europe and his secheduled to play in the Middle East in a couple of weeks.
Phil Mickelson is ranked #4 and is trending much worse, much like Tiger Woods. He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last summer so his health is a question mark. After a remarkable win at the 2010 Masters, he was only in serious contention for a win one other time. I would not be surprised if 2011 is his last full season on Tour and announces a semi-retirement sometime this summer.
My early season picks (2nd pick) to win the majors:
Masters: Dustin Johnson (Tiger Woods)
US Open: Luke Donald (Lee Westwood)
British Open: Lee Westwood (Paul Casey)
PGA: Jim Furyk (Steve Stricker)