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Reactions: Tiger, Tiger, Tiger... Your predictions about the upcoming yearPosted: Friday January 07, 2000 07:34 AM
What's ahead for Golf in the next 12 months? You gave us your predictions and surprise! Most of them revolve around Tiger Woods. Some of the most interesting responses follow:
I believe that Tiger will have a great year once again. Sergio, Sergio, Sergio is what I think the announcers will be saying at one or two of the majors. Duval and Monty will still be the best players never to win a major, and Jack will come back for a thrilling victory at the Masters and Tiger will win the U.S. open and the Brtitish Open and Sergio will steal the crowd's heart once again at the PGA Championship, but this time he will win it!!
Tiger will still be hot and I mean HOT. Sergio Garcia will still be in contention and a little maturity will rally bring out the best in him in the coming year.
Tiger will break his own record for tour victories in a season and on the money list. He is headed for an unstoppable streak that will put him indelibly in the record books as one of the all-time greatest golfers in the world.
I hope that next year will be the year that Colin finally wins a major, though Tiger will probably stay on as world near No. 1. A big outsida name will be Lee Westwood, who's been a top player for a number of years now and I think he will win a major next year. Let's also hope that David Duval comes back strong and gives Tiger a good match for the number one spot.
Golf will continue to expand worldwide with more international players coming to America because of the money. Tiger Woods will have another great year because he is head and shoulders above the rest of the tour in pure golfing talent. A bad week for him is finishing in the top five. Sergio Garcia will be a great player but he will only push Tiger to a higher level. If he stays healthy, Tiger could match Nicklaus' record in the majors. The Senior PGA Tour will benefit from the arrival of Watson, Kite and Watkins, but there will still be a few of the relatively unknowns pros who will make a splash like Fleisher, Doyle and Quigley. Finally 2000 is shaping up to a banner year for the TV golf nut with more and more tournaments and events to watch.
I think that Tiger will win his third and fourth major. Justin Leonard will win the British again. That David Duval will again challenge Tiger early in the year and then lose focus. I would like to see Fred Couples back to championship form and maybe win one more major.... Stranger things have happened. Most importantly I can't wait to get it started.
I think that the elder statesman will come forward in the upcoming year on the PGA tour. Even though there are plenty of youngsters that will shine or continue to shine, the veterans have been out of the spotlight for far too long. Someone like Norman, Price or Tom Lehman are due for a good year. Look for Brad Faxon, who lead the PGA in putting again, to turn some head if his mind is back into the game.
In the year 2000 we will see Tiger Woods reload his weapons and challenge the other players to play at his level. The only reason for Tiger Woods to be dethroned in the coming decade would be if he chooses to retire. He has more talent than any other pro I've seen - current and past.
I think the world has yet to witness the real Tiger Wood. What we witnessed in 1999 was just the tip of the iceberg. He is going to mature in all aspects of his game and become awesome. As for Garcia, one doesn't see the hunger for victory seen in Tiger when he won his last Amateur title. I watched that tournament. I saw fire in Tiger's eyes that I don't see in Garcia today. Tiger carries a burden that Garcia is exempt of... to prove that golf has no colour. The next exciting golfer will emerge from Africa, South Africa most likely. We are hungry out here, you know! America will remain supreme because of their passion to compete fairly. However, there aren't many young golfers in heat zone. This could affect golf in the U.S of America.
Granted, Sergio has the talent to be a great player but has not really proven himself. Only time will tell. On the other hand, Tiger has proven himself. I expect that Tiger will have another great year in 2000. I believe he will win at least another major and may even break Byron Nelson's steak of winning 8 tournaments in a row next year. No one (including Sergio) has the talent and abilities that Tiger Woods has. The question is... does Tiger want it bad enough? Tiger has the ability and talent to re-write golf History. If Tiger keeps his ball striking ability at the same level in 1999 and learns to become a 'good to great' putter, there is no telling what he can accomplish! I am looking forward to the year 2000 and watching these two great players go head to head!
Phil Mickelson will become the next dominating player by winning both the MASTERS and the US OPEN in the year 2000!!!!
I look for Mark Calcavecchia to have a great year. As you know, he finished out of the top 30 this year. Calc is usually a very consistent player. I look for him to return to his consistent form if he can get the putter working.
Don't be surprised if Tiger breaks Nelson's 11 straight wins. Hell, don't even count out a major sweep! It's only fitting that the new millennium begins with a bang.
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