10 Predictions for the Upcoming Decade

[iacas]

you are forgetting sergio garcia and alviro quiros

Pretty sure they count as "white." Sergio is "Spanish" but that's white... just as people from France or Germany are "white." Which is a dumb name anyway - black people aren't black and white people aren't white. But I digress...

Put another way, Spanish != Mexican. And yes, Lorena Ochoa would't count as "white" unless someone's really stretching.

[Chilli Dipper]

My 2 cents on the Old Guys winning a major thing. The older gen. players are giving up way too much distance to the younger, stronger, and more flexible up and comers. I know long play isn't everything, but it's hard to be a winner where your on the green in 2 on par 4s and the young guys are driving them and par 5s are long par 4s for them. The 8000yd. course will be a product of this. New equipment and training techniques are pressing these old dudes via warp speed to the Chamoins Tour. No new record will be made here. 95% sure....

I'm going to disagree with that. The advances in equipment and fitness are helping the older players extend their competitive careers much more than they are allowing the younger players to overpower everyone else.

[Acropo]

I'm going to disagree with that. The advances in equipment and fitness are helping the older players extend their competitive careers much more than they are allowing the younger players to overpower everyone else.

I think you're right, especially on the equipment side.

Also, the Open (British Open if you MUST, though that's not what it says on the trophy ) is a curious one, because it's a links course. If the ground is baked hard - like Hoylake in 2005 - the challenge is stopping the ball, not making it go a long way. If the wind blows then accuracy is at even more of a premium. Mind you - the 17th (the Road Hole) is being lengthened in order to return it to its old terrifying character. A lot will go wrong on that hole - we'll see more people in the greenside bunker (which is a pig to get out of). Par 4 will be a good score, every day. But I still believe we'll see a couple of veterans making a run at St Andrews.

[iacas]

Also, the Open (British Open if you MUST, though that's not what it says on the trophy

And the U.S. Open trophy doesn't say "U.S. Open" on it either, so there.

It says "United States Golf Association" and then "Open Championship."

[lcfd42]

Don't get me wrong guys the old guys can play, but there is a "senior" or Champions Tour for a reason. We do change as we age. As for equipment, the new tools do help the older players; though at the same time the youger players excel faster since the better equipment helps accelerate through learning curves. Players in sports today are much different than they were just 10 years ago. Things guys were praised for years ago, for what is just expected performance now. I would love to see another run like Tom Watson made, but I really don't see it anytime soon. Now with Tiger out, things will be even more tight between the younger guys. We may need to warn the guys on the Champions Tour of Tiger"s retun in 2022 or so (Ha Ha).

[Acropo]

And the U.S. Open trophy doesn't say "U.S. Open" on it either, so there.

Yuss, I know! The Auld Jug says The Golf Champion Trophy, which is why it goes to the Champion Golfer of the Year! (Unless someone has photographic evidence to the contrary...)

[sean_miller]

Yuss, I know!

So, based on what's engraved on the trophy . . . there's only one "Open Championship" and it's not the British.

[Elvisliveson]

I'm going to disagree with that. The advances in equipment and fitness are helping the older players extend their competitive careers much more than they are allowing the younger players to overpower everyone else.

Winning old has more to do with nerves and putting touch than anything else.

I don't buy the fitness argument. Julius Boros was pretty rotund when beat a jacked Arnold Palmer in the 68' PGA. It was because he had a very calm demeanor and could sink the slick 5 footers when he had to. For example, he he couldn't reach the 72nd hole because he didn't have the distance, but got up and down, whereas Palmer hit an incredible 3 wood from 240 yards out in the rough to 8 feet, but blew the putt.That's what it comes down to. Conversely, Kenny Perry lost the Masters last year because of an admitted twitching that took place in one of his hands during a relatively easy pitch shot on the 71st hole. During the playoff, the younger Cabrera kept getting up and down to stay alive while Perry couldn't drain the winning putt. Professional golf tounaments, especially these days, are decided most often by the player who has the better short game that week. Younger guys almost always have the nerve to play the deft shots where the olders guys don't.

[Acropo]

So, based on what's engraved on the trophy . . . there's only one "Open Championship" and it's not the British.

The Trophy is awarded to the winner of The Open Golf Championship, as it has been since dinosaurs roamed the Earth - or rather, when the clubs at St Andrews, Prestwick & Musselburgh agreed to sanction/organise it. Whichever was later.

BTW - do you know whose name is first on the list of winners?

[iacas]

The Trophy is awarded to the winner of The Open Golf Championship, as it has been since dinosaurs roamed the Earth

A) That's off topic. C'mon, a little dalliance was fine...

B) You're the one who brought up the "what's written on the trophy" bit. You lose. Let's move on. We have our Open Championship, you have yours. Neither is on topic.

[BallStriker]

My own 10 fearless predictions for the upcoming decade....


1. Tiger Woods will finish the decade with a total of 21 major titles.

2. Sergio Garcia will finish the decade just as he started it, major-less.

3. John Daly will tragically pass away.

4. There will be a GolfChannel2 (and the Golf Channel will unveil a website that doesn't completely suck).

5. The active player at the end of the decade with the most majors other than Tiger Woods will be Geoff Ogilvy.

6. There will be a trend moving toward providing more PGA Cards for finishers on the Nationwide money list and less from Q School.

7. Michelle Wie will win no less than 4 majors, and will not play in a PGA Tour event.

8. John Feinstein will actually write a good book about golf.

9. Boo Weekley will eat himself off the Tour.

10. BallStriker will sadly end the decade without breaking par, despite having no less than 8 chances to hole a birdie putt on the 18th to go under.

[Acropo]

A) That's off topic. C'mon, a little dalliance was fine...

Righto!

Leave for another thread and 5.5 months (and counting...)

[lumpuckeroo]

1) I will pay taxes
2) I will get older

[sean_miller]

1) I will pay taxes

The glass half full version:

1.) I wil be employed 2.) I will be alive 2a.) To golf is to live - living takes money - golf on!!

[rjdunne]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/...me=sobel_jason

I agree with this one - Pros are getting more health conscious with each year and the mental game, or having mental fortitude, seems to be a key differentiator in some players... so its fair to say the older players will continue to be just as competitive. Also, golf can be a game of luck (weather, the course conditions, the luck of a lie, etc) so its bound to happen again.