The Masters has come and gone, and now it’s time to start moving towards the U.S. Open in June. The week at Augusta wasn’t as compelling as the past couple have been, but the action was still a lot of fun to watch. Phil Mickelson just keeps on proving he is no fluke in the major championships. Lefty has picked up three of the last nine majors, and he will probably win a handful more before his playing days are done.
Tiger struggled a little with his putter over the weekend, but he still finished in a tie for third. It must be nice to struggle and still have a chance to win on any given week. I was happy that Tiger didn’t win another green jacket, mostly because I told everyone he wouldn’t. He still played well from tee-to-green, and he beat the hell out of my pick for the week, David Toms. So I’ll shut up now as far as The Masters goes.
The 2006 season is in full swing now that the first major championship has passed. At this time of the season, most of the great golfers have staked their claim in a couple big tournaments. However, there are a few big-time golfers that haven’t really played worth a darn so far. It’s a little shocking to see some of the names struggling to get out of the gate.
All of these golfers mentioned below finished in the top-18 on the PGA Tour money list last season and are currently ranked outside the top-50 on that same list. Whether or not they will get things straightened out, that remains to be seen. I’m going to talk a little about their respective struggles so far and offer up some predictions for the rest of 2006.
Chris DiMarco
What a difference a year makes for one of golf’s best. This time last season, Chris DiMarco was on top of everyone’s list of favorite golfers after his gritty performance at The Masters. On top of that, DiMarco sunk the winning putt at last year’s Presidents Cup and seemed to be destined for great things in 2006. Unfortunately for the University of Florida alum, things haven’t been so smooth this season.
Chris DiMarco hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since the 2002 Phoenix Open, and I’m not certain that streak will end for awhile. DiMarco did pick up a victory overseas earlier this year, but that still didn’t do much for his career or confidence obviously. DiMarco has only one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season, and that was at the Accenture Match Play Championship (T9). He missed the cut this past weekend at Augusta, where he has played very well the past few seasons.
The 2006 season won’t get much better for Chris DiMarco. He is having a hard time keeping the ball in the fairway, which isn’t a good thing for a short hitter. Also, DiMarco is ranked 90th in putting, and that’s unlike him. Chris DiMarco plays off emotion more than most golfers, and that doesn’t bode well for the near future. He will have a hard time making the Ryder Cup team and will force Tom Lehman to waste a captain’s pick on him. In other words, it won’t be a good year for Chris DiMarco fans (me included).
Padraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington is another golfer that started off very well last season. He picked up his first victory on American soil at last year’s Honda Classic and went on to finish 14th on the PGA Tour money list. Right now, Harrington is ranked well outside the top-50 on the money list. It’s been a surprise to me because I really expected him to start great in 2006.
Padraig had a good showing earlier this season at the Accenture Match Play Championship, finishing in a tie for fifth. Outside of that event, however, Harrington has had a tough time on American soil. The Irishman showed signs of life at The Masters this past weekend before faltering on the weekend and finishing in a tie for 27th.
Harrington has only played in six events on the PGA Tour in 2006, but it’s still odd to see him ranked so low on the money list compared to where he usually is at this time of year. He will get things going in the near future and will be in contention in a few big tournaments later this season. In the end, however, I don’t see Harrington winning a PGA Tour event this season or finishing in the top-30 on the money list.
Bart Bryant
Bart Bryant surprised the golf world last year by winning the Memorial and Tour Championship. He also finished ninth on the PGA Tour money list in the process. As good as this Texan played last season, he has played that much worse so far in 2006. It got even worse this past weekend after a missed cut at The Masters.
Bryant started off the season with a ninth-place finish at the Mercedes Championship, but it’s been downhill from there. In fact, his best finish since then was a tie for 20th at Bay Hill. That finish was mixed in with a couple missed cuts at the Sony Open and Doral.
Like I mentioned above, I was surprised at how well Bart Bryant played last season. He came out of nowhere and made a statement to golf fans everywhere. He has been a late bloomer the past two seasons, so the best of 2006 could still be in the cards for Bryant. That being said, I think it’s going to be a struggle for the Texan all-season long. He will struggle to finish in the top-75 on the PGA Tour money list and won’t even come close to an event win.
Fred Funk
Fred Funk is one of the most likeable guys on the PGA Tour and for great reason. I enjoy watching how much fun he has on the golf course every week. The good news aside, Funk is having a rough time so far in 2006. By this time last season, Funk already had a Players Championship win to his name and was well on his way to finishing 11th on the PGA Tour money list.
Fred Funk gave his “Funks’ Punks” hope at this year’s Players Championship before sliding down the leaderboard on the weekend. He only has one top-10 finish, and that came at Bay Hill. He had a tough time with the lengthened Augusta National, missing the cut when things were said and done.
I haven’t ever been a huge Fred Funk fan, but it was nice seeing him play so well last season. In a Thrash Talk last December, I stated Fred Funk would struggle in 2006, and so far I have been right on the money. He is ranked outside the top-60 on the PGA Tour money list, and things won’t get any better this season. The next time Fred Funk will have considerable success, he will be playing against Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson, etc. on the Champions Tour.
Sean O’Hair
Sean O’Hair didn’t really make his mark until the Byron Nelson Championship last season, but he wasn’t expected to start that late in 2006. O’Hair had a great season in 2005, winning the John Deere Classic and finishing 18th on the PGA Tour money list. Currently, O’Hair is outside the top-100 on the money list and has had his fair share of struggle so far this season.
O’Hair’s best finish this season was a tie for 17th at the Accenture Match Play Championship. That event aside, he has missed half his cuts. Those missed cuts include this past week at Augusta. I think Sean O’Hair has “star” written all over him, and I think he will get things going in the right direction very soon. That’s what I’m hoping for at least. He hasn’t driven the ball well, putted well, etc. You name it, and Sean O’Hair hasn’t done it very well in 2006 (except missing cuts of course). Here’s to hoping he snaps out of his slump really soon!
The Final Say
Only three months or so of the 2006 PGA Tour season is in the books, but it’s never too early to pick out a handful of golfers struggling with their respective games. Like I mentioned above, all of these golfers could break out in the next couple months and have a great season. However, that won’t be the case. Some of these golfers haven’t showed signs of positive play all year, and it’s going to be an uphill battle for those select few.
There are some top-10 golfers that have struggled as well, including Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, and Adam Scott. I almost included these three, but they have at least shown me signs of great play early in the season. If they are still struggling in a month or two, I’ll write a Thrash Talk about them. They are on Mr. Thrasher’s radar screen as we speak.
That’s all I have to say this week. It’s your turn to tell me what you think. Who has surprised you the most with their shaky play so far in 2006? Also, will they get things going in the next few months? Finally, do you think any of the guys I listed will get things straightened out and have a great 2006? If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in the Tour Talk forum. Thanks for reading Thrash Talk and have a great week!
Photo Credits: © Unknown, AP.