4. Is the Age of Annika over?

	Annika Sorenstam (with boyfriend Mike McGee) has one more great year left in her. Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Not quite yet, though Ms. 59 is clearly transitioning into her life after competitive golf, focusing on her golf academies and business ventures and settling into a contented domesticity with her boyfriend, Mike McGee.

I think Sorenstam, 36, has one great year left in her. She became a different player after Karrie Webb usurped her as the best player in the game around the turn of the century and I expect her to answer Lorena Ochoa's challenge in '07.

But appreciate Sorenstam now, while you still can, because she won't hang around as a ceremonial golfer. Her standards are too high for that.

5. Will any golf writer be able to use the term "Big Five" without breaking into hysterical laughter?

It's gonna be tough. Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen combined to win one Tour event in '06. Singh is approaching the precipice of the mid-40s, when performance drops off dramatically. Goosen has never been the same players since his final round self-immolation at the 2005 U.S. Open. The guy to watch is Els.

His season-ending victory in South Africa was a huge boost to his fragile psyche. Afterward, Easy even had some fighting words for Tiger, as Els said his goal is to reach No. 1 in the World Ranking. I'm not convinced he believes he can do it, but it at least sounded good. A return to Oakmont, where he broke through with his first major championship at the '94 Open, should inspire Els to reassert himself as one of the game's elite players. It's about time.

6. Can any other young players step up and pull an Ogilvy?

Adam Scott, Paul Casey and Luke Donald all roar into '07 coming off career years. They've proven themselves in every arena but the major championships. All of these guys are feeling the pressure to go to that next level.

Which one will snag a major first? My vote goes to Casey. He hits it as straight as Donald and as long as Scott, and he makes more putts than either of them. He's also got an on-course swagger that I love.

Ryan Moore showed a ton of heart and game playing through his injuries last year, and I expect him to win his first Tour event in '07 and continue his ascent, but he's still a year or two away from the big-time.

Sergio? I gave up on him years ago.

7. Will the Presidents Cup become the new Ryder Cup?

It practically is already. Lately the Prez Cup has had everything the Ryder Cup is lacking: drama, excitement, passion from the U.S. team. All that's missing is a little nastiness. Tiger making Vijay putt-out two-footers was a good start. One minor international incident to raise the intensity is all the Presidents Cup needs to get really juicy. Here's hoping, anyway.