5. Phil Mickelson. The lefty known as Lefty (I smell writing award for this sentence!) was overshadowed, once again, by Tiger last year. I look for him to bounce back with his best year. He'd just started working with Butch Harmon when he won the Players Championship on a course that had never suited his errant driver. Mickelson wiped out his summer by over-practicing in Oakmont's thick rough and hurting his wrist, but he outdueled Tiger in Boston on Labor Day weekend and looked sharp. More time with Butch is only going to help. Mickelson will win multiple times in '08.
6. The FedEx Cup. The first run-through had the facade of being a success, but that was because all four tournaments were exciting on their own, and Tiger was in the mix in three of them. There will be a break in the format this year — it won't be four weeks in a row. There's an off week, plus the Ryder Cup. Given that, look for Woods and Mickelson and possibly others to still skip one of the four events. Look for the Tour to up the points awarded in the playoffs in the next month or so to encourage more movement in the standings. The verdict? The FedEx Cup won't get as lucky with the winners this year. Look for a letdown in the buzz factor.
7. The Ryder Cup. The Euros have dominated this event because they've had a better team (that is, more players in better form) and better camaraderie featuring inspirational captains (Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer) or one-of-the-guys captains (Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam). In Paul Azinger, the Americans have someone who's a little of both. He also changed the selection system to improve his chances of getting players who are playing well leading up to the Ryder Cup instead of guys who played well 12 months ago. In Nick Faldo, the Euros have a non-people person who has already alienated some potential team members and may not be an inspirational figure. The team could be missing Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie, whose games were in serious decline in '07, and if so, their leadership would be missed. The Americans aren't going to win the Cup back until their three big guns — Woods, Mickelson and Furyk — show up with their A-games. But this year the talent, the captain and the selection process add up to a great opportunity.
8. Young guns. Anthony Kim was the most impressive Tour rookie last year. He's long, he ranks high in greens hit and putting, and he makes tons of birdies. His air of confidence rubbed some fellow pros the wrong way, but the fact is, he's got talent. He'll win in '08, more than once. Two Aussies bear watching. Nick Flanagan, the former U.S. Amateur champ, won three times on the Nationwide Tour in 17 events. He won't be an Amateur champ who flops. Jason Day, who turned 20 in November, is a wunderkind. He was sixth in driving distance on the Nationwide Tour and ninth in putting. Who wins on the PGA Tour? Blasters who can putt. That's Day. Look for him to keep his card. Another player with long-term potential is Alejandro Canizares, son of Jose Canizares, a former Ryder Cupper. He made a clutch short putt on the final hole to survive Q-school. After that, no putt he faces on Tour will carry so much pressure.
6. The FedEx Cup. The first run-through had the facade of being a success, but that was because all four tournaments were exciting on their own, and Tiger was in the mix in three of them. There will be a break in the format this year — it won't be four weeks in a row. There's an off week, plus the Ryder Cup. Given that, look for Woods and Mickelson and possibly others to still skip one of the four events. Look for the Tour to up the points awarded in the playoffs in the next month or so to encourage more movement in the standings. The verdict? The FedEx Cup won't get as lucky with the winners this year. Look for a letdown in the buzz factor.
7. The Ryder Cup. The Euros have dominated this event because they've had a better team (that is, more players in better form) and better camaraderie featuring inspirational captains (Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer) or one-of-the-guys captains (Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam). In Paul Azinger, the Americans have someone who's a little of both. He also changed the selection system to improve his chances of getting players who are playing well leading up to the Ryder Cup instead of guys who played well 12 months ago. In Nick Faldo, the Euros have a non-people person who has already alienated some potential team members and may not be an inspirational figure. The team could be missing Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie, whose games were in serious decline in '07, and if so, their leadership would be missed. The Americans aren't going to win the Cup back until their three big guns — Woods, Mickelson and Furyk — show up with their A-games. But this year the talent, the captain and the selection process add up to a great opportunity.
8. Young guns. Anthony Kim was the most impressive Tour rookie last year. He's long, he ranks high in greens hit and putting, and he makes tons of birdies. His air of confidence rubbed some fellow pros the wrong way, but the fact is, he's got talent. He'll win in '08, more than once. Two Aussies bear watching. Nick Flanagan, the former U.S. Amateur champ, won three times on the Nationwide Tour in 17 events. He won't be an Amateur champ who flops. Jason Day, who turned 20 in November, is a wunderkind. He was sixth in driving distance on the Nationwide Tour and ninth in putting. Who wins on the PGA Tour? Blasters who can putt. That's Day. Look for him to keep his card. Another player with long-term potential is Alejandro Canizares, son of Jose Canizares, a former Ryder Cupper. He made a clutch short putt on the final hole to survive Q-school. After that, no putt he faces on Tour will carry so much pressure.
