2017 PGA Tour Season Preview
By: Jeff Stewart
By: Jeff Stewart
It's another year and that means another year full of golf. This year there is plenty to talk about and plenty to look forward to. Will Rory Mcilroy complete the career grand slam? Will Phil do the same? Nobody knows, all I know is it is going to be one heck of a year!
Let's start by my picks for each major:
Masters(April 6-9, Augusta National Golf Club):
Champion:
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy will be looking to complete the last leg of the grand slam this coming April. He has made headlines with his switch to Callaway Driver, woods, and irons, Titleist wedges and an Odyssey putter. I personally was surprised by this decision because of how well he played towards the end of last season with Taylormade driver, woods, and a Scotty Cameron putter in his bag. This is clearly a move that Rory has thought out and thinks he will benefit from the most as he is not endorsed by these brands yet. I believe that he will have plenty of time to make the adjustment to these clubs by the time the Masters starts and he will run away with the tournament on Friday and Saturday. I'd also like to note that McIlroy will also be getting married in April. I think he's going to have a month he'll remember forever.
US Open(June 12-18, Erin Hills)
Champion:
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson got hot right around the US Open last year and I would expect that trend to continue in 2017. Erin Hills is a hilly course and with DJ's length off the tee, I think he will be at a great advantage. This course reminds me very much of Chambers Bay from two years ago, where Johnson finished second in the unforgettable 3 putt on 18 to lose to Speith. He has learned a lot in the last two years and can only have gotten better. He has been able to handle pressure and I think his calm demeanor will serve him well to two consecutive US Open victories.
The Open Championship(July 16-23, Royal Birkdale):
Champion:
Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler is a fan favorite and is well known for being unable to pull through and win major championships. He has finished 2nd at every major but the Masters, where his best finish was tied for 5th. Rickie has to pull through at some point. He has all the talent in the world and I think that after a disappointing US Open, he will spend a lot of time preparing for Royal Birkdale. His practice and patience will pay off in an exciting Open to remember. Rickie has only won three times on the PGA Tour a figure that is hard to believe because he is always right in contention. To go along with his first career major, I predict Rickie will win 2-3 other tournaments this year as well.
PGA Championship(August 9-13, Qual Hallow Country Club):
Champion:
Rory McIlroy
Rory is very familiar with Quail Hallow. He has won two PGA Tour events there and also finished second. Last season I had the privilege to see Rory play Quail Hallow and he absolutely tore it up and shoot 66. Had it not been for 73's on Thursday and Saturday, Mcilroy probably would've won the same event for the third time. Rory Mcilroy plays unbelievable here every year, I expect this play to continue. He will get to play his choice of clubs which will make him even more lethal than he already is at the course. I think Mcilroy wins handily for his second major of the season and his third PGA Championship.
10 Bold Predictions:
1. Tiger Woods does not win a tournament but finishes in the top 5 three times
2. Jordan Spieth struggles in the first round of the Masters and is unable to catch Mcilroy
3. Phil Mickelson finishes top 5 in two majors this season
4. Rickie Fowler is cut from the Masters but goes on to post three top tens in the following majors, including the Open victory
5. Patrick Reed leads the tour in wins
6. Jason Day struggles early on and is only able to muster one win in 2017
7. Brandt Snedeker moves into the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings
8. PGA Tour record for hole-in-ones in a season gets broken
9. Rickie Fowler blows US Open lead on Sunday
10. Henrik Stenson wins Tour Championship and FedEx Cup to unseat Rory Mcilroy
Bonus: Jordan, Rickie, Smylie, Justin have another amazing spring break that goes viral on snap chat once again
Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler is a fan favorite and is well known for being unable to pull through and win major championships. He has finished 2nd at every major but the Masters, where his best finish was tied for 5th. Rickie has to pull through at some point. He has all the talent in the world and I think that after a disappointing US Open, he will spend a lot of time preparing for Royal Birkdale. His practice and patience will pay off in an exciting Open to remember. Rickie has only won three times on the PGA Tour a figure that is hard to believe because he is always right in contention. To go along with his first career major, I predict Rickie will win 2-3 other tournaments this year as well.
PGA Championship(August 9-13, Qual Hallow Country Club):
Champion:
Rory McIlroy
Rory is very familiar with Quail Hallow. He has won two PGA Tour events there and also finished second. Last season I had the privilege to see Rory play Quail Hallow and he absolutely tore it up and shoot 66. Had it not been for 73's on Thursday and Saturday, Mcilroy probably would've won the same event for the third time. Rory Mcilroy plays unbelievable here every year, I expect this play to continue. He will get to play his choice of clubs which will make him even more lethal than he already is at the course. I think Mcilroy wins handily for his second major of the season and his third PGA Championship.
10 Bold Predictions:
1. Tiger Woods does not win a tournament but finishes in the top 5 three times
2. Jordan Spieth struggles in the first round of the Masters and is unable to catch Mcilroy
3. Phil Mickelson finishes top 5 in two majors this season
4. Rickie Fowler is cut from the Masters but goes on to post three top tens in the following majors, including the Open victory
5. Patrick Reed leads the tour in wins
6. Jason Day struggles early on and is only able to muster one win in 2017
7. Brandt Snedeker moves into the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings
8. PGA Tour record for hole-in-ones in a season gets broken
9. Rickie Fowler blows US Open lead on Sunday
10. Henrik Stenson wins Tour Championship and FedEx Cup to unseat Rory Mcilroy
Bonus: Jordan, Rickie, Smylie, Justin have another amazing spring break that goes viral on snap chat once again
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