Here’s to Rory Rahm & Tiger
My wishlist for 2018 on the greens
HAPPY New Year? It certainly will be for golf if the following wishlist for 2018 is granted.
With the European Tour preparing to kick off its Desert Swing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, anticipation is building for what the months ahead may bring.
Personally, I’ll be crossing my fingers and hoping for... RORY BACK TO HIS BEST
By his own high standards last year was a shocker for Rory McIlroy – on the course, at least – with zero wins, no serious Major challenge and ending the year outside the world’s top 10.
His decision to shut down his competitive schedule after the Dunhill Links in October was a wise move with his focus fixed on the long game. By taking an extended rest he could allow his body to heal the lingering legacy of the stress-fractured ribs that had niggled him all year. The chance to revive and rebuild.
On January 18 we’ll get our first indication of how beneficial the prolonged break has been when he tees it up in his comeback event in Abu Dhabi.
Don’t expect him instantly to rocket his name back to the top of the leaderboards – but then again don’t be surprised if he does. A SCOT IN THE RYDER CUP
It would require a blistering start to the early part of the season to rocket one inside the world top 50. But if one of Jock Tamson’s bairns can get on a roll early and maybe even knock off a big finish at the Majors it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
On the PGA Tour Martin Laird showed some promising signs of a man convinced his game is stronger than it was when he was inside the top 30. But if anyone is to do it, my money is on Richie Ramsay to follow up his best season on the Euro Tour. MORE PLAYERS PENALISED SHOTS FOR SLOW PLAY
It’s the only way we’ll ever get the snails to pick up the pace. It’s all very laudable of the Tour to trial the new Shot Clock Masters in Austria in June, where players will be timed on every shot. But that’s no more than a gimmick if it doesn’t lead to a cohesive across-the-board approach to stamp out slow play every week.
To do that you’ve got to hit them in the one place that hurts the most – right in the scorecard. JON RAHM TO TAME THE BEAST BEFORE RYDER CUP
One of the enduring memories from the US Open at Erin Hills, Wisconsin, came two days before Brooks Koepka held aloft his first Major trophy.
It was the sight of Rahm going tonto in front of his bewildered playing partners. Slamming his wedge to the ground, kicking it, then picking it up to slam it into the turf again for good measure. Thumping his putter into the 14th green then stomping on to the 15th tee where he punched a sign.
No wonder the rookie of the year later described his meltdown – by no means his first offence – as “deeply embarrassing” and vowed to win his “constant battle” to control his emotions. He’ll need to before he steps into the cauldron at Le Golf National in September. There, more than any other stage, emotions are amplified 10 fold so his first taste of the action will be as much a test of temperament as talent. ANOTHER SUCCESS AT GLENEAGLES
Four years on from the Ryder Cup, Gleneagles will roll out the welcome mat in August when the European Team Golf Championships takes place.
In a revolutionary new format, Europe’s best men and women will compete together in a team event that should generate a fresh spark of interest and give a timely boost to the women’s game ahead of the Solheim Cup coming to the same turf in 2019. TIGER A MAJOR PLAYER
It would be a sporting fairytale for the ages. From a fallen idol, barely able to walk after a fourth bout of back surgery. From the dishevelled mess in police mugshots after he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of the strong painkillers he had been relying on to help him through the recovery.
From Tiger Woods at his lowest ebb to once again being crowned a Major champion – a full 10 years since his 14th and last triumph at the US Open? What a story that would be. And what a boost it would be for golf ’s profile to have a revived Tiger back hunting down Jack Nicklaus’ record tally of 18 Major titles.