As the new year begins, we stop reflecting on the year that was and look forward to the year that will be. Our experts predict on the Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy battle, how many times Lexi Thompson will win and who will win the Ryder Cup at Medinah in September.
1. From your beat (or interest), give us one thing you expect to see.
JEFF BABINEAU, editor: Luke Donald will win a major. It’s amazing how this guy continues to fly under the radar, even after his incredible accomplishments of 2011, when he won money titles on both sides of the pond. He needs to be a little more consistent with the driver, but Donald's short game simply is too world-class to let him exit 2012 without his first major trophy.
JEFF RUDE, senior writer: Tiger Woods hoisting two or three trophies and contending at the Masters.
JIM McCABE, senior writer: Playoffs in the Masters (Phil Mickelson vs. Tiger Woods) and Open Championship (Lee Westwood vs Rory McIlroy).
JULIE WILLIAMS, assistant editor, Golfweek.com: I spend a lot of time writing (and talking) about Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, but believe me when I say these players are the real deal. Ariya (16) won the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2011 and Moriya (17) was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. This summer, I predict one of the girls will win the Women’s Am. I won’t go so far as to say it will be an all-Jutanugarn final, but wouldn’t that be something?
JAMES ACHENBACH, senior writer: The Masters, having been stretched to maximum length without actually redesigning the golf course, announces its endorsement of a shorter golf ball.
RYAN LAVNER, assistant editor, Golfweek.com: An absolutely epic NCAA Championship. The venue is spectacular (Riviera CC, in Pacific Palisades, Calif.). The list of contenders is long (starting with No. 1 Texas). And UCLA (with No. 1-ranked amateur Patrick Cantlay) is playing six miles from campus. Should be great theater.
CRAIG HORAN, managing editor: Here's hoping 2012 brings less course closings and more rounds played — everywhere. Let's get the green-fee rates in line so we can see players lined up on the first tee.
ALEX MICELI, contributing writer: Tiger will win. It seems improbable that Tiger won't win in 2012, but not a buyer on one of them being a major.
ASHER WILDMAN, video personality: Texas to dominate men's college golf. The Longhorns were impressive all fall, and the big question in the spring will be how many more times can they win? I'll say at least three.
NICK MASUDA, director, Golfweek.com: Tiger, Rory, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald will all win in the first three months of the season, creating a buzz around the game of golf that will help TV ratings, website traffic and golf stores alike.
RON BALICKI, writer: I think UCLA's Patrick Cantlay will win either the NCAA or the U.S. Amateur Championship – heck, maybe even both.
LANCE RINGLER, writer: I expect to see the trend continue with a non-favorite winning the men's NCAA Championship.
MARTIN KAUFMANN, travel editor: Some cash-strapped local governments, prodded by large budget deficits and pressure from fiscal conservatives, will do what was once unthinkable: sell their municipal courses to private operators. These companies will, in turn, agree to set affordable green fees, which they can do because of their lower cost structures.
GENE YASUDA, business editor: An image makeover for golf. What we all know can be a maddeningly difficult game will increasingly be promoted as a FUN and friendly game for all ages. Industry leaders desperate to halt slumping participation will encourage everyone to play more sensibly by following efforts such as Tee It Forward, which urges golfers to move up and play tees best suited for their abilities. A chance to play faster and increase enjoyment. It's a win-win.
BETH ANN BALDRY, senior writer: Look for Yani Tseng to continue where she left off … winning. Lexi Thompson might get more attention when the LPGA comes back to the U.S. next spring, but Tseng will remain the hottest player in golf.
ALISTAIR TAIT, writer (Europe): I expect European Tour members to fall off the major pace in 2012. Europeans have won six of the last eight majors. It's going to be hard to maintain that pace in 2012.
D.J. PIEHOWSKI, social media coordinator, Golfweek.com: From my junior golf beat, I predict that a fully-healthy Gavin Hall will rise to the top of the Golfweek Junior Rankings for the first time. The lefty from New York was hampered by injuries last year, but broke through for his first big win at the Junior Players at TPC Sawgrass. From the professional beat, I'll make the same prediction I made last year – that Phil Mickelson will not win in 2012. I would have been correct last year had it not been for a nice weekend in Houston.
2. Who will win more in 2012: Tiger or Rory?
BABINEAU: Tiger. Rory knocked on a lot of doors in 2011 but won only twice. Getting the job done on Sunday is still something the uber-talented 22-year-old is trying to sort out. He probably needs to do a little less globetrotting, too, in order to be at his best more often. The "other" guy in this equation knows how to win. He just needs to play a little more and get more comfortable with the new swing. But in the heat of Sunday, Woods still is more comfortable in the setting than anyone else, and that makes a big difference.
RUDE: Rory. Until further notice, he's the better player at the moment, although Woods' head is getting clearer by the week.
McCABE: If you’re counting PGA Tour events, Woods will hold a 2-1 lead. But worldwide wins? The edge goes to McIlroy, 3-2, who will also out-major Woods, 1-0.
WILLIAMS: Rory. Tiger isn’t getting any younger.
ACHENBACH: Golf is now a world stage. Lee Westwood outpaces everybody else in 2012, winning on both sides of the Atlantic. Tiger and Rory go winless in the United States, although both triumph in Europe. Tiger, reacting to overwhelming fan acceptance, announces his intention to play a world schedule in future years.
LAVNER: Tiger and Rory will each win three times worldwide. We’re left to debate whether that’s disappointing.
HORAN: Tiger will win three times (one major), while Rory will have two wins (one major).
MICELI: Rory, just by sheer appearances. McIlroy has a better chance to win and win multiple titles, but I just believe he is playing better than Woods.
WILDMAN: Tiger. If he can start to get his confidence back then that could be a scary thing for everyone else.
MASUDA: Tiger, but it'll be a slugfest. With Rory committing to playing more in the States and Tiger likely to play 15 to 18 events, we may see each contend for 6-8 titles, but I think Tiger is finding his groove. Look for at least one major win for Woods, likely at Augusta.
BALICKI: I feel Tiger has put the bulk of his problems behind him and is ready to play some serious golf. No he won't be as dominant as he once was, but I think he will win more than Rory this coming season.
RINGLER: Tiger Woods. Woods closed the year with a glimpse of the past. If he is just half the player he used to be - it will produce more wins than McIlroy.
KAUFMANN: Tiger wins more than Rory. As much as I dread the return of a Tiger-centric PGA Tour, he appears to have regained his form and he still has more horsepower and moxie than any of his contemporaries.
YASUDA: After two years of self-inflicted misery on and off the course, Woods wants – correction – needs redemption. Woods' resolve to win remains unmatched; he'll top McIlroy.
BALDRY: Tiger. Did you see that look on Sunday at Chevron? He's back. A win at Augusta would really get the golf world in a tizzy.
TAIT: Tiger and Rory will win exactly the same number of tournaments in 2012, two each.
PIEHOWSKI: Whenever Rory hones his killer instinct, he will be a force on Sundays, but I'm not sure 2012 will be the year that happens. Maybe it's the Chevron hangover, but it seems like 2012 is the year of the Tiger.
3. How many wins will Lexi Thompson have on the LPGA tour?
BABINEAU: Three. Say hello to the LPGA’s new locomotive. With a full-time playing assignment, she’s going to quickly jump into the LPGA’s upper echelon, and that’s a good thing. Somebody out there needs to emerge to challenge Yani Tseng’s dominance.
RUDE: Three. Should make Yani Tseng sweat now and then, at the least.
McCABE: One. And while that may sound like a small number, it will improve her total to three as a professional — and she’ll only be 17.
WILLIAMS: Two, but neither will be a major.
ACHENBACH: Michelle Wie graduates from Stanford, has a breakout year (as in breaking out of college), dominates the LPGA Tour. Lexi Thompson runs into the teenage jinx, fails to win.
LAVNER: Two victories for the uber-talented 16-year-old. Having Yani Tseng in many of the same fields reduces Lexi’s chances of truly breaking out in 2012. Really hope I’m wrong, though.
HORAN: Two.
MICELI: Four wins. Lexi could win more and to me that would not be a surprise. She still has a bit of a learning curve on the LPGA Tour, but she seems like a fast learner.
WILDMAN: Two. She knows how to win, and the real intimidating thing about her is that she'll only get better over the next few years.
MASUDA: Four. She looks legit, has a fantastic attitude and might be the shot in the arm that the LPGA really needs. A rivalry between she and Yani would be fun to watch.
BALICKI: While very talented, she is still young and learning. However, she has proven she can win against the best and I think she will get at least three victories and a good chance at one of those being a major.
RINGLER: Two. The youngster is too talented not to find at least a couple of victories and will be in the hunt for several others.
KAUFMANN: 2 wins for Lexi. I always say: When in doubt, choose talent over experience. At 16, she easily ranks among the five most talented LPGA players.
YASUDA: Having earned the youngest-winner-on-tour title on two continents, Thompson already has proved that she's a professional closer. More confidence + loads of talent + youthful ambition = 2 LPGA victories.
BALDRY: Two. Don't expect the 2012 LPGA schedule to be much heavier, so two victories would be huge. (Plus Yani will win more than her fair share.)
TAIT: Lexi Thomson will win three LPGA events in 2012.
PIEHOWSKI: I'd like to say Lexi Thompson will start running away with tournaments and save the LPGA, but she still has to contend with Yani Tseng, who won what? 35 times last year? I say Lexi wins once in 2012, still a hefty accomplishment for someone who still can't vote.
4. Who will win the Ryder Cup?
BABINEAU: Europe. Never before has a European team had so many high-caliber talents vying just to get onto the 12-man squad, so depth will be a huge plus. Just making the team will mean a huge shot of confidence. And with Westwood and Donald leading the way, and Jose Maria Olazabal at the helm, Europe has the experience and leadership needed to keep its grip on the trophy at Medinah.
RUDE: United States. Home soil. Woods looks good. Yanks do win this thing now and then.
McCABE: Walter Hagen will roll over in his grave to think a Chicago kid via England, Luke Donald, will lead the European conquest at Medinah.
WILLIAMS: The U.S. Hard to overlook the home-course advantage.
ACHENBACH: The deeper, more talented, more resilient team wins. That would be Europe. Bring back Paul Azinger!
LAVNER: It’ll be close at Medinah, but the European team is way too deep.
HORAN: U.S. captures the Ryder Cup on home soil.
MICELI: USA. Playing in the U.S. at Medinah is clearly an advantage. The team will look a lot younger and the experience that the U.S players have had both in Wales and in Australia will make a difference.
WILDMAN: Europe. They just always seem to want it more than the US.
MASUDA: US wins. First, it is home-course advantage. Second, I think Tiger's resurgence and players like Gary Woodland and Keegan Bradley will provide a spark in September.
BALICKI: Hey, I'm a Red, White and Blue guy, so I'm going with an American victory in the next Ryder Cup.
RINGLER: USA. The young American stars will continue to shine.
KAUFMANN: The Euros will have a difficult time coping with a talent infusion of top young Americans and a hostile crowd that will make even Northwestern grad Luke Donald want to flee the Windy City.
YASUDA: After hearing how Euro players are ruling the world, Americans should have plenty to prove. Throw in the fact that it's a home game at Medinah... U.S. wins.
BALDRY: US wins. It's a long time til late September, but the storyline many would like to see is America's youth prevailing in the singles session. Led by Keegan Bradley, of course.
TAIT: Europe wins Ryder Cup 15-13.
PIEHOWSKI: Despite adopted Chicagoan Luke Donald playing in the Windy City, I believe the Americans will get their revenge on the Euros at Medinah, winning the Ryder Cup.
