2014 PGA TOUR Preview

There may be snow on your lawn but true golf fans know there’s plenty to be excited about in this time of year…especially with the new PGA TOUR season kicking off right after the New Year in Hawaii (not to mention all that shiny new golf swag Santa left under the tree).

Both old and new faces on TOUR have worked hard in the short off-season to prepare their game, minds, and bodies to compete at the highest level.   So, here’s a breakdown of what’s to come this season and who is on Golficity’s list of “who to watch in 2014.”

PGA TOUR Update

With the new wrap-around season underway, a few low-key tournaments are already in the books, allowing players like Jimmy Walker, Harris English, and Ryan Moore to jump out to an early lead in 2014 FedExCup points.   Their late 2013 fall series wins have provided a much-needed head start as they shift their focus to the warm, windy coastlines of Kapalua, HI in less than two weeks.

Tiger Watch: Is 2014 the Year of the Major Victory(s)?

In a recent letter written by Tiger Woods on TigerWoods.com, the 14-time major champion expressed his optimism for the 4 majors that will be played in 2014.  In his statement Tiger said, “I’m really excited about the major championships next year. I’ve won at three of the four venues — Augusta National, Valhalla Golf Club and Royal Liverpool — and on Pinehurst No. 2 (U.S. Open), I’m trending the right way, having finished third and second. But I still need to practice, work, grind, and prepare, and have my game come together those four times a year, and I hope that will happen.” Tiger is recovering from knee surgery and corresponding rehabilitation, and claims that he will be putting the sticks on the shelf for a while to be with his children during the holidays, as well as to focus on helping his girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn prepare for the Sochi Olympics.  All this while building his new course, El Cardinal at Diamanté Cabo San Lucas, which is starting to grow grass and should be ready in the next 18 months.

We think Tiger will be right in contention for a major this year.  The 14-time major champ certainly has what it takes to win at this year’s venues if he stays healthy and can keep his focus as the season progresses.  2013 saw Tiger grab some key wins early in the season but struggle during his major appearances.

Photo via TigerWoods.com

Fantasy Golf Preview

For all you fantasy golf nuts out there, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be bringing you our second-to-none fantasy golf picks again this year.  In 2013, our fantasy team picked a whopping 38% of the winners, with an additional 40 second place finishes selected, and an impressive 3 out of 4 majors won (we even had Henrik Stenson winning the FedExCup Playoffs).  Needless to say, we the bar is set pretty high after 2013 but our staff has made it a personal goal to step our game up even further this year.

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For all you early birds out there, sign up today for our exclusive fantasy golf predictions and use discount code 2014PREVIEW to receive 20% off your 2014 subscription (offer expires January 31st, 2014) .

Looking for a place to play fantasy golf in 2014?  We recommend the following for the best user experience and prizes:

• PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf
• GOLFZING
• Yahoo! Fantasy Golf

Golficity’s “Who to Watch in 2014” List 

• Keegan Bradley:  Keegan is a true warrior on the course with all the passion and composure of a champion.  When Keegan brings his towering swing to the field, it’s hard not to pick him.  His strong play in 2013 brought him seven top 10 finishes (5 of which were top 5 finishes) and spot on the United States’ winning 2013 President’s Cup Team.  Although he wasn’t able to add a tournament win to his resume in 2013, Keegan has shown consistent improvement since kicking off his PGA TOUR career by claiming the coveted Rookie of the Year title back in 2011.  Overall, we like his chances for one or two wins this year.
• Matt Kuchar:  Kuch proved to be a big fantasy points earner in 2013, finishing the season with 8 top 10s and two wins.  In the last 4 seasons the ultra-reliable Kuchar has thirty seven top-10s and another thirty top-25s and we expect to see more of the same in 2014.  If he gets off to a hot start, we could even see Kuch grab some early W’s and perhaps even a run at the green jacket in April.  He’s the 7^th best golfer in the world according to the World Golf Rankings, and it’s for a pretty good reason.  Simply put, look out for Kuch in 2014.
• Henrik Stenson:  Last season Stenson got hot when it mattered most.  Although he only has four career PGA TOUR wins, two of them came during his dominant FedExCup playoff run, closing him out on top and sealing the deal on a $16,388,230 season (which includes his $10 million dollar FedExCup winnings).  In all Stenson grabbed six top 3’s in 2013 and kept the momentum rolling right into the World Tour in Dubai where his final round 64 clinched him win the $1.333 million dollar first prize.  Saying Henrik is hot right now would be the understatement of the year, the question is whether or not he can carry it into 2014.  We think he can so long as he stays healthy.  Oh by the way, he won ‘Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year’ in 2013 as well, adding to his already overflowing new trophy case.
• Tiger Woods:  Tiger is coming off of his best season in a while.  With 5 PGA TOUR victories, 6 total top-2 finishes, and a reclaimed world #1 status in 2013 it’s safe to say that Tiger is back to being the TOUR’s biggest threat.  The 37 year old Woods clinched PGA TOUR Player of the Year status in 2013 and set yet another milestone by winning five times in one season for the 10th time in his career.  With 79 total career wins, Woods will enter the new season just three wins shy of Sam Snead’s all time PGA TOUR record of 82 wins.  We think he wins a major this year, and our prediction will be the US Open – on a course he’s never won on.
• Adam Scott: The Masters champion really made a name for himself in 2013.  Scott won twice on TOUR last year and had six top-10s, bringing home just shy of $5 million in 2013 earnings.  Adam continued his hot play into the off-season, finishing runner up to Rory McIlroy in the 2013 Emirates Australian Open.  The guy has what it takes to win majors, WGC events, FedExCup Playoffs…you name it.  Watch out for the 33 year old Aussie, 2014 may just be his year to dominate.
• Bonus Picks:   Keep an eye on guys like Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker in 2014.   Speith, who won Rookie of the Year last year, and was nominated as a Captian’s pick to the President’s cup, really looks like he can make a name for himself on TOUR in 2014.    Walker, already in the lead in FedExCup points with his win at the Frys.com Open, has made four cuts in four events played in the new 2013-2014 schedule and we don’t think he’s done yet.

Don’t forget to treat yourself to a Golficity Premium Membership to get access to our exclusive Fantasy Golf Predictions and private Facebook discussion group, as well as other members-only golf instruction articles, equipment and apparel discounts, and much more.  Best of all, you’ll get all of these great features for only $29.95 per year, and let’s be honest, you probably lost more than $29.95 in golf balls alone last year, so why not try to win it back with premium fantasy golf picks.

Top 10: Players to Watch in 2014 on the PGA TOUR

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What are your predictions for the 2014 PGA TOUR season?  Let us know by leaving us a comment below.