A look at the 2007 real and fantasy golf season
Let’s take a peak into golf’s crystal ball for 2007, and handicap a few players for your fantasy golf team.
Look for a break through year from Paula Creamer on the LPGA Tour and for Michelle Wie to win an LPGA event. Lorena Ochoa will likely win the money title, but look for an all out battle with Annika Sorenstam, as she tries to regain her top spot.
Michelle Wie is creeping up on her 18th birthday which will allow her to play on the LPGA tour. Look for her to focus on that tour this year, not the PGA events. Hopefully she’ll have “understanding” teachers at her new school, Stanford University.
On the PGA Tour, I’m picking Vijay Singh as your leader for 2007. Vijay sounds dedicated to being on top this year and loves to play a lot of events.
Tiger will play his typical short schedule and with his wife expecting a child mid-summer, we may not see him very much in ’07.
As I write this, Jim Furyk is ranked #2 in the world and I see this iron-man being perfect for the new PGATour/FedEx schedule. Look for a very strong season from Furyk. Look for David Toms to stumble this year. Toms changed his equipment contract and had just an “OK” 2006.
For a long shot on your fantasy team, take a look at John Merrick. John has had a variety of successes and this past year he earned an exemption through the Nationwide Tour with a 21st place finish. He then went to the PGA Tour School to improve his position, and finished a very impressive 4th.
I’m predicting that the “son of the Walrus”, Kevin Stadler, will have a big year in 2007. He is exempt on the PGA Tour thanks to his 12th place finish on the Nationwide Tour. He has also has won overseas and seems fearless when he’s “in the hunt.” In 2006, he won the Johnnie Walker Classic on the European Tour. With the new changes on tour and all the big money, watch for players who are in a lot of events to do well. Stadler will have an advantage over other newer players on tour.
One more player I have liked for a long time is Englishman Justin Rose. He finished the year with a victory overseas and appears to be ready for a breakthrough year. At the 2006 year end, Rose was the next player in line to get a Masters invitation. Look for a couple of early good finishes to get him that spot at the Masters.
Several of the golf web-sites have fantasy golf leagues you can enter. They are fun and will keep up your level of interest, while watching golf on TV. Have fun and good luck!
