January 2, 2023 3:48 pm

I’ve dusted down my crystal ball again, so let’s look forward to the new golfing year. It starts on the PGA Tour at Kapalua, Hawaii on Thursday, not a bad place to kick off if you ask me.

It will be a defining year for golf, that is for certain. The spectre of Greg Norman’s LIV Tour still hangs around like an unwanted mince pie. In mid-February, the European Tour, now the DP World Tour, will have its day in court over their intention to ban LIV defectors from playing their events. My hope is that the DP World Tour get what they want. I also hope that the essential world ranking points that LIV need for their overworked players to continue to be able to play in majors are declined to them. Those loyal to the tours that made them wealthy men, should continue to reap the rewards of that loyalty.

The 2023 season will bring us the usual fare of 4 majors in quick succession in the summer months. Then, in consecutive weeks at the end of September, we are treated to the Solheim and then the Ryder Cup. I am already planning a new sofa as that much time on my current one will render it useless.

Who will win the Majors? Well, I have said before, I am the worst pundit in the world, so please do not wager a penny of your hard earned on these predictions, but here goes. I offer no apology for not including a LIV player anywhere.

At The Masters, the official start of the season, this year I really fancy Viktor Hovland. I know I suggested he would win a major last year and he didn’t. But I am working on the theory he has a 30 year career and if I keep picking him I will be correct at least once.

The US Open is at The Los Angeles Country Club and I am sure that Max Homa is your man. He was born in the state and has won there before – The Genesis Invitational a couple of seasons ago – so loves the home events.

This may be the heart ruling the head but The Open at Royal Liverpool is going to see Rory back on the major winning train. His performances at the end of the year were top drawer and his avid stance against LIV makes me root for him even more. Go Rory!.

The USPGA is always an odd one to choose and it is often a first-time winner, which means a field of over 100 for this category. I think Sam Burns is the dark horse for me. Often in the hunt, he has visited the winners enclosure 4 times, but not for a big one, so 2023 could be his year.

I also think there will be breakthrough wins for 2 Brits plying their trade on the PGA Tour. Callum Tarren finished joint 2nd at the RSM Classic at Sea Island Georgia mid-November last year and Ben Taylor, son of Phil Taylor, an ex boss of mine.  A couple of years ago I predicted Phil  would win on the PGA Tour and he promptly lost his card. But this season he is 27th in the FedEx Cup having had a 3rd place in the Houston Open in early November. I am sure both of those guys are going to win this year and with Seamus Power of Ireland currently leading the FedEx points, that brings us beautifully to the team cup events.

The Solheim Cup is in Andalucia in Spain in September and the European ladies’ team will be as strong as ever for this match. After the thrilling 15-13 point win in Ohio in 2021, we have also seen in 2022 some spectacular wins by our ladies over in the US. Charley Hull, Jodie Ewart Shadoff, plus strong performances from Leona Maguire, Celine Boutier, Madelene Sagstrom and Anna Nordqvist guarantee a fiercely fought and exciting weekend of golf.

Then we move 1,500 miles round the Mediterranean to the Marco Simeone Golf Club in Rome the following week for the Ryder Cup. After the drubbing the European team suffered last time, they will be out for revenge and this is where Mr Greg Norman may well have done us a favour. The US team will be seriously weakened if they are not allowed to field the likes of Bryson De Chambeau, Dustin Johnson and the abrasive Patrick Reed. It should be a great event and like the ladies Solheim Cup I am going for a narrow victory for both to the European teams.

So, I hope you enjoyed my predictions for the coming season, I doubt very much that my crystal Pro V1 will be any more accurate than it has been on previous incarnations. But you never know, this could be the year, happy golfing and look forward to seeing you down the range soon.

By Jon Woodroffe – Master Professional, World of Golf London

Categorised in: Golf News, World of Golf London