Author Archives: Bryan

Phil Mickelson 2014 PGA Tour Player Preview

Phil MickelsonPhil Mickelson won the tournament that no one (even himself) thought he could win, in 2013. Lefty’s victory at the British Open was huge on several levels. First, it took away the pain of losing the U.S. Open and recording a sixth runner-up finish at the event. Second, it brought Mickelson back to the forefront of the conversation as a champion rather than bridesmaid in Majors.

The 2013 PGA Tour season was a strong one for Mickelson. He won just two times (three less than Tiger), but the victories were significant. Heading into 2014 Mickelson appears ready to contend for Majors once again. Continue reading

Predicting Tiger Woods 2014 PGA Tour Season

Tiger WoodsWe’ve still got a bit of time until the 2014 portion of the new PGA Tour season gets underway. For this purpose, the focus will be on the No.1 player in the world Tiger Woods, and making a couple of predictions on where the direction of his season might go.

Let’s begin at the end, where Woods left off to close out last season. After taking the lead in the FedEx Cup Standings at the start of the playoffs, it was Henrik Stenson who captured the season-long championship. It was Woods however who won the 2013 PGA Tour Player of the Year. Woods won five times in 2013, including a World Golf Championships event. What was absent from the slew of victories was a Major Championship. Continue reading

Previewing The 2014 PGA Tour Season

PGA TourAll of the tournaments for the 2013 season (both PGA and non-sanctioned events) have been completed. This past week saw the Franklin Templeton Shootout team competition in Naples, Florida take place – won by Matt Kuchar and Harris English.

Now, players will get roughly three weeks of before the start of the 2014 portion of the season. But for the first time, the start in Hawaii will not be the official beginning. The new season began this fall and will overlap on the calendar year – different from in season’s past. That means that FedEx Cup points standings will not be at even when players tee it up at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Friday, January 3rd from Kapalua. Continue reading

Wild Finish At Northwestern Mutual Challenge Gives Zach Johnson Win Over Tiger Woods

Zach Johnson beats Tiger WoodsIt ain’t over until it’s over.

We’ve all heard that expression before, and never is there an arena that the phrase holds true than in sport. The 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge gave us one of the most remarkable finishes that we’ve seen in some time.

In the final individual stroke play tournament of the season (non-official) Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson were tied going into the final hole on Sunday. Woods began the day with a two-shot lead looking for his sixth World Challenge title (for which he is the host). Continue reading

Does Rory’s Win In Australia Spell A Comeback For 2014?

Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy won for the first time in 2013 this past week, capturing the Australian Open over home-favorite Adam Scott. McIlroy made a birdie on the 72nd hole to procure a one-shot victory. The win had to mean quite a bit to McIlroy, who had been struggling the entire year to get back to winning form.

The victory moved McIlroy up to No.6 in the world golf rankings. While still a far cry from the top-spot he held at the start of 2013, it’s a step in the right direction after failing to win on the PGA tour the entire season. Continue reading

Jason Day Wins 2013 World Cup Of Golf Amid Family Tragedy

Jason DayJason Day almost didn’t play in the 2013 ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf. Just days before, Day learned that he lost eight family members to the Typhoon that struck the Philippines.

But at the will of his family, Day participated for Team Australia with Adam Scott, and captured the individual title with a seven-foot par-putt on the 72nd hole at Royal Melbourne in his native Australia. It couldn’t have been a better ending for Day, who won for the first time in three years. Continue reading

2013 Fall Wraparound Schedule For FedEx Cup Events Comes To An End

Harris EnglishThe new wraparound portion of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup schedule came to a completion this past Sunday at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Harris English capped off the new fall FedEx Series with a victory, and as such climbed to second on the latest standings heading into 2014. English is just 27 points behind Jimmy Walker for the top spot.

The next FedEx Cup event will be held in the second week of January 2014 in Hawaii for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Continue reading

President Obama Plays ‘Caddyshack’ Course With Alonzo Mourning

President Obama And Alonzo MourningThe majority of us might remember the golf course as Bushwood Country Club, the sight of where ‘Caddyshack’ was filmed. But while Bushwood is a made up country club, the golf course that the film is based off of actually exists.

Known as the Grande Oaks Golf Club, the Miami, Florida course hosted the 44th President of the United States this past week for 18 holes. Continue reading

PGA Tour And China Golf Association Launch PGA Tour China

PGA Tour ChinaThe game of golf is becoming more international every year. The biggest growth has been seen on the continent of Asia. That has never been more evident than with the PGA Tour alongside the China Golf Association announcing the new PGA Tour China.

This was made public on Sunday following the conclusion of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai as a FedEx Cup playoff event won by Dustin Johnson. There have been several PGA Tour events and other professional golf events contested in China in recent years, spurring the growth of golf in the area. Continue reading

2013 HSBC Champions Field As Strong As Ever; FedEx Cup Points Now On The Line

2013 HSBC ChampionsIf we go by the calendar year, it’s the last World Golf Championships event for the PGA Tour. But with the PGA Tour adopting the wraparound schedule for the 2013-14 season, it’s actually the first WGC event of the new season.

The addition of the added value to the FedEx Cup points for the first time is also bringing out some of the top players in the world, which will make for a fantastic field this week in China.

There will be 78 players teeing it up at the 2014 HSBC Champions event, represented by 21 total countries for a very international affair. Continue reading