Wayne Riley
Happy New Year to everyone, and welcome to what I think could be one of the most memorable years in the history of professional golf. There will be yet more LIV drama, with the possibility of others going across to the fledgling circuit. We’ll also see what an ‘elevated event’ looks like on the PGA Tour, and if there are any developments in the American circuit’s strategic alliance with the DP World Tour. And, excitingly, alongside the Majors we have both a Ryder and Solheim Cup to look forward to. I can’t wait!
Before I get going on my start-of-year predictions, I want to talk about a few players I think will be making headlines in 2023. Adrian Meronk finished the year in 50th place on the Official World Golf Ranking and it was a massive campaign for the Pole. He won his first DP World Tour title at the Irish Open and then held off Adam Scott, one of my country’s most famous golfing sons, in the Australian Open. Those wins will hold him in unbelievable stead going forward and I expect him to make a push for the European Ryder Cup team.
That statement could also apply to Jordan Smith – a player who’s struggled with consistency during his career, but who notched nine top-tens and a victory during a stellar 2022 campaign. His 12th place finish on the Race to Dubai was his best yet and hopefully there’s more to come this year. He’s up to 78th in the world, but he’s a better player than that. As soon as he realises he swings the golf club as well as anyone else in the world, he can accomplish anything.
In terms of other rising stars to keep your eyes on, look out for Taylor Montgomery and Linn Grant. A friend who knows his stuff told me a few months ago to track Montgomery and he’s shown great promise since then. He had eight top-tens in ten starts on the Korn Ferry Tour to secure his PGA Tour card for 2022-23, and he’s already registered six top-25 finishes – including a third at the Fortinet Championship – in seven PGA Tour events.
Grant, meanwhile, became the first lady to win on the DP World Tour at the 2022 Scandinavian Mixed, and she won four times in her debut LET season en route to claiming the Order of Merit title. I played a round with her in Sweden a couple of months ago and she’s one of the best female golfers I’ve ever seen. She’s a Major Champion and Solheim Cup star in the making, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind.
I’m also expecting big years from Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose. Spieth was knocking on the door a lot last year and I think he’ll be back in the world’s top five before too long. Rose has a huge golfing resume, and even though he’s fallen to 73rd in the world, there were some positive signs at the end of 2022 and he looks to be swinging it well again. It’s a big three months for Rose as he needs to get back into the world’s top 50 to secure a Masters invite.
So, who will win golf’s big events in 2023? Shockingly, I’ve got Rory for The Masters. He finished last year with that holed bunker shot and I think he’ll carry that momentum over and get off to a flying start. It’s his time. I like Spieth for the US PGA, Xander Schauffele for the US Open and Rory again for The Open. He secured the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and he will thoroughly enjoy returning to Hoylake.
If you’d have asked me the day after Whistling Straits who will win the 2023 Ryder Cup, I’d have said that Europe don’t have a prayer. Now, I’m starting to eat my words. It’s going to be a lot closer than people think as the European team is really trending in the right direction. Plus, America haven’t won on European soil since 1993. I think it will be a cracker. As for the Solheim Cup, I suspect Europe will win for a third consecutive time. Suzann Pettersen will be a great captain and the American team looks a little too top-heavy for me. But what do I know! Let’s see how this all plays out…
“The Ryder Cup is going to be a lot closer than most people think”