Planet Golf — 08 January 2014 by Bob Sherwin
Ten most compelling 2014 players

When it comes down to the players to watch for on the PGA Tour this season, go with the usual  suspects.

And perhaps one or two unusual ones.

As the first full-field tournament is set to begin Thursday in Honolulu, the Sony Open, let’s look at 10 players who will be among the most interesting and compelling to follow this season. These 10 likely will not all finish among the top 10 in points and prize money – most will – but they will gather their own interest as the summer progresses.

Of course, just to spoil it, there is no drama as to who is No. 1. The same guy who’s been No. 1 since the 1990s, Lindsey Vonn’s boyfriend (above).

Here’s quick look at who I think will be guys to watch for various reasons in 2014. They are:

  1. Tiger Woods: He won five tournaments – three more than anymore, $8 million – $2 million more than anyone, and was Player of the Year. But no major – now not one since 2008. Another wasted season. He’s 37 and . His Bear Pursuit continues. We’ll all be watching.
  2. Henrik Stenson: Won the year-ender in the U.S. and European Tour. How do you top that? Long hitter, good putter, always in contention.
  3. Brandt Snedeker: Could have had a spectacular season without being sidelined with a March rib injury. Still won twice, $5.3 million and was third in the FedEx. Loaded up for 2014.
  4. Adam Scott: A first-time winner (Masters) with expectations to follow up with more success. He’s is in his prime and ever since his Tiger’s old caddy, Steve Williams, has been on his bag Scott has been broken through into the elite class.
  5. Chris Kirk: Had 11 top 25 finishes in 2013 – and a win already in 2014. He has two wins, two seconds and $6 million in cash, mostly in the past three years on the circuit. He’s coming on.
  6. Justin Rose: Like Adam Scott, a first-time major winner (U.S. Open). Born just 14 days apart from Scott, Rose has climbed to a new level of recognition and expectations. He’s 33 and in his prime.
  7. Rory McIIroy: Wherever he plays, he’ll be under scrutiny. Why the decline, Nike or Wozniacki? Can he find his magic again? Also, like Dustin Johnson, has the distraction of a wedding to plan with The Woz.
  8. Jordan Spieth: May be the best young player to hit the Tour in a decade. Working with sponsor’s exemptions last season, the 20-year-old had a win, three seconds, nine top 10s and won $4 million. A future star.
  9. Dustin Johnson: Has more raw ability that just about anyone and is beginning to harness his head into a consistent winner. Should be a major winner. Brain likely will be scrambled a bit in late summer as he approaches his marriage to Paulina Gretzky, daughter of the Great One. She is, too.
  10. Jason Day: The 26-year-old Aussie can pound the ball, 16th in driving last year, with a nice touch around the greens. He’s gaining tournament confidence and coming into his own.

CUSP: Guys who also might leave a mark in 2014 include: Billy Horschel, Nic Colsaerts, Matt Kuchar, Bill Haas, Keegan Bradley, Kevin Streelman, Ryan Moore, Jason Dufner, Harris English, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood, the best current player never to win a Major.

 

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Bob Sherwin

Bob grew up in Cleveland, an underdog city with perennial underdog teams, and that gave him an appreciation and an affinity for the grinders in golf, guys such as Rocco Mediate, Jhonattan Vegas and star-crossed John Daly. This is the 53rd year for Bob as a sportswriter, the first 34 working for newspapers throughout the west, Tucson (Daily Star), San Francisco (Examiner) and Seattle (Times), and the past 19 years as a freelancer. He has covered just about every sport, including golf tournaments, Tucson Open, Bing Crosby/AT&T Pro-Am, the 1998 PGA Championship, the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, the 2010 U.S. Amateur the 2015 U.S. Open and the annual Champions Tour Boeing Classic. He also writes articles for Cascade Golfer Magazine and Destination Golfer. For most of his 20 years at the Seattle Times his primary beat was the Mariners. He then picked up Washington men's basketball in the winter. He also was the beat writer for the Sonics, including 1996 when they played the Bulls for the NBA title. After a lifetime hacking on public courses, he finally gave in and joined a country club in 2011, Aldarra near Seattle. Despite (or perhaps because) of his 14 handicap, he won the 'Super Senior'' (65 and older) championship in 2017. He has a pair of aces – 37 years apart – and in 2009 came agonizingly close to his ultimate golf goal of scoring in the 70s when he finished with an even 80. He lives in Seattle.

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