TG Blog: Wolstenholme’s predictions for 2011
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Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you enjoyed a well earned rest over Christmas and you are ready for what should be a great year in golf. I have decided to offer my predictions on what may happen for the following year and who will be taking the spoils at the end of it. I don’t expect everyone to agree with my thoughts but I hope you find them interesting.
Race to Dubai winner
I think Martin Kaymer, Edoardo Molinari, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen and possibly Paul Casey all have a decent chance of scooping the trophy. With Lee Westwood concentrating on securing a Major he might not play as many events as the others, and therefore might miss out on the Order of Merit this year. This might also be true of some of the other usual suspects, particularly if they play quite a bit in the States. I will put my neck on the line though and go for Kaymer to retain it.
Major winners
I think we will see two winners from the European Tour and two from the US and the rest of the world.
Westwood winning a major
God, I hope he does but still not completely convinced as he’s now thinking about it too much… perhaps he wants it too much as well? If I were him I’d just play and see what happens without thinking or wanting it too much. He’s a truly world class player now so he has everything in his armory to win, but so far hasn’t had the luck so I hope he does achieve it this year.
Tiger in 2011
If he wins a Major in 2011 I think it’ll be the Masters. And if he wins the Masters he might also win another, but I think he’d take any one of the Majors this year to build on for the future. However, I think it might be a while, perhaps next year, until he captures another. If he doesn’t secure another Major in the next couple of years, then perhaps he never will again. But ‘never’ is a stark word and perhaps too final a condemnation in golfing parlance, particularly with the inner talent possessed by Tiger!
Emerging talent for 2011
I think that Pablo Martin, Charl Schwartzel, Edoardo Molinari and perhaps Rhys Davies could all prosper, maybe Matteo Manassero too could do well this year. I think that Justin Rose could do very well again too, so watch this space as they say, as we could really see some exciting fireworks from him in 2011! I would say the ones to watch in America would be Rickie Fowler, Jeff Overton and Dustin Johnson.
GB&I’s chances of Walker Cup success?
I think GB&I will win the Walker Cup pretty comfortably, certainly by 3-4 points anyway. The course is right up our street, we have a very good man as captain and some very good and experienced players in the side.
European Senior Tour Order of Merit
Boonchu Ruangkit for me is the favourite. Barry Lane, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle are the other main contenders I think, but there are so many other great players who will be playing full time like Sam Torrance, Gordon Brand and Bill Longmuir who are truly excellent ball-strikers too. And then there is me as well, of course, a BIG FAVOURITE if things go well for me off, as well as on course!
Do you agree with the predictions or do you think I have missed anybody out? I would love to hear your thoughts on the Today’s Golfer forums.
