While we are in the grip of a major storm up and down the east coast of North America, and a deep freeze across much of Canada, the winners of 2017 get to take their families on a two week vacation, with a little golf mixed in for Dad starting today on the Plantation Course in Kapalua for the Sentry Tournament of Champions followed by first full field event at the Sony Open next week on Oahu at the famous little Waialae course.
While 2018 actually began with the wrap around part of the season last fall, this for most casual golf fans marks the beginning of 2018, and there is a lot to look forward to as usual.
It was no surprise that Tiger has announced he will begin his return at Torrey Pines in February at the Farmers, where he has won 8 times if memory serves me, including his amateur career. I, along with everyone else in the golf media will be covering it all the way, but as always my coverage will not be all Tiger and to hell with the rest, the game has gone on without him and will continue after, although we all know what a huge shadow he throws into the mix this year.
Majors : As always the Masters kicks off the majors April 5-8 with Sergio Garcia defending. Jordan Spieth is one of 3 players trying to win the career Grand Slam, ( Rory, Masters,) Phil (US Open) and Spieth (PGA Championship) and his record at Augusta in 4 outings (T2,win,T2, T11) so he'll start as the bookies favourite, but remember Dustin Johnson fell down the stairs here last year derailing his season, but is back healthy again.
The US Open is at Shinnecock Hills in New York State on June 14-17 and big hitting Brooks Koepka will defend.
The Open is at Carnoustie on Scotland's NE coast July 19-22 with Jordan Spieth defending and of course the weather will prove to be a deciding factor.
How about this for a story. Lets say Sergio Garcia who lost in agonizing fashion in a playoff to Paddy Harrington there in 2007, and who has ten T10 Open finishes in his sparkling career, wins it for his 2nd major and as a present for the new son/daughter who will be with him by then.
The PGA Championship will be played in Missouri, August 9-12 at the venerable Bellerive CC outside St Louis where Justin Thomas will defend and where 7 of the last 8 winners have been first timers, for whatever that's worth.
Ryder Cup: This year it will be played at Le National, outside of Paris, France September 28-30 and Jim Furyk will captain the defending champion USA Team which is full of young guns like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka along with Dustin Johnson and great pros like Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler.
The USA team has turned to a committee including Furyk, Tiger, Phil and Davis Love to come up with the game plan which has seen them win the last two, and they will be formidable again this year.
However Thomas Bjorn and his European squad have a lot to prove and he has a roster that has no slouches in it either, led by Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, young guns Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Paul Dunne, and oh yes remember a guy called Rory McIlroy.
USA will begin as heavy favourites, they are on a roll including the Presidents Cup where many of their guys also play, and always win.
There is much more at stake of course including our 7 Canadians this year, so I'll be back with you here as always and will also return with my analysis on TSN 1290 radio with Rick Ralph amongst other stations.
All the very best for 2018 to everyone, it will be a blast both off and on the course !!
Bryan Angus
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