5 bold predictions for the 2017-18 PGA Tour season
There's no time off for the PGA Tour, with the 2017 FedEx Cup playoffs finishing just two weeks ago, the 2017-18 campaign launched this week at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif.
Here are five bold predictions for the upcoming season:
Career grand slam
Jordan Spieth missed his initial opportunity at the career grand slam in August at the PGA Championship, but he's not the only player with a chance in 2017-18. Rory McIlroy will have the first chance to join the exclusive club at The Masters in early April, while Phil Mickelson is next up at the United States Open at Shinnecock Hills. McIlroy has finished in the top 10 at Augusta National the last four years, while Mickelson has a T4 and a solo third in both trips to Shinnecock.
U.S. finally wins in Europe
It hasn't happened since 1993 at the Belfry in England. That was the last time a U.S. Ryder Cup team claimed the biennial event on European soil, when captain Tom Watson led the Americans to a 15-13 victory over the European squad. The new, young American crop absolutely annihilated the Internationals last Sunday in New Jersey, and will only be better when the event takes place in Paris.
Multiple 1st-time major winners
These 11 players have never won a major championship, but all have the skill, mental game, and experience to claim one of the big four trophies this season.
| Player | World Rank | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Rahm | 5 | 22 |
| Rickie Fowler | 8 | 28 |
| Matt Kuchar | 12 | 39 |
| Alex Noren | 14 | 35 |
| Paul Casey | 15 | 40 |
| Marc Leishman | 16 | 33 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 17 | 26 |
| Patrick Reed | 20 | 27 |
| Kevin Kisner | 24 | 33 |
| Daniel Berger | 25 | 24 |
| Thomas Pieters | 33 | 25 |
A sub-60 round
The "perfect round" in golf occurred five times in the last two seasons between the PGA and Web.com Tours. Jim Furyk and Stephan Jager each shot 58 in 2016, while Justin Thomas, Adam Hadwin, and Sam Saunders achieved the feat in 2017.
Tiger Woods plays a full schedule
This could be a stretch, but after the 41-year-old posted a video of a full swing on Saturday, Woods is certainly progressing since undergoing back surgery in April. The last time Woods entered more than 10 events in a season was 2015, but hasn't played a full PGA Tour season since 2013 when he won PGA Tour Player of the Year.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)