Wednesday 15 October 2014 11:22, UK
The 2015 PGA Tour season is underway, but which golfers should make a splash over the next 12 months? Sky Sports expert Rob Lee offers up some names...
You may not know the name Tony Finau yet but you soon will do.
Tony is in his mid-20s now but I first saw him when he and his younger brother, Gipper – and also the legend that is Bill Murray – were invited to play in Sweden by Jesper Parnevik about six years ago.
I believe Finau has toned down his hitting and started to focus more on the scorecard, rather than the macho ‘How far can I hit it?’ sort of thing.
I’d heard Tony could hit the ball a long way but, blimey, he was like a rocket off the tee! Seriously, he could whack the ball stupidly far.
Back then he had already four-spot qualified for an event in America – which basically means he finished in the top four in a Monday qualifier to reach a PGA Tour tournament – so we knew he could play a bit.
Finau lost his way after that following the tragic death of his mum in a car accident in 2011 and he muddled around for a while on Mini Tours in places like Canada.
But he got himself on the Web.com Tour last year, won in California over the summer, and managed a tie for 12th in last week’s Frys.com Open.
I believe he has toned his hitting down a bit now, perhaps because he is looking to keep the ball in play and focus more on the scorecard, rather than the macho ‘How far can I hit it?’ sort of thing.
That should bode well and I am looking for big things from Tony this season – as well as another 25-year-old.
Rickie Fowler was one of the stars of 2014, finishing in the top five of each of the four Majors, but it’s about time his big-stage attitude and big-stage game was backed up with regular wins.
Fowler had a lot of stuff going on last year with his swing remodel and his transition from show pony to serious player, but he has done all the donkey work now and must have his eyes on Majors.
Rickie played some wonderful links golf in horrific conditions at Royal St George’s in 2011 and ran Rory McIlroy all the way at Hoylake this year, so we know he is a potential Open Champion.
I also remember him shooting 79 in the first round of the 2010 Open at St Andrews and then bouncing back to post scores of 67, 71 and 67 over the next three days.
With St Andrews hosting the Open in 2015, he must fancy his chances of coming out on top.
The most important thing for Rickie, though, is to win something – you can’t say he should collect a Major as there are so many variables and only four of them a season, but I’d be amazed if he didn’t win two events and either claim or go close to claiming a Major, in 2015.
At the other end of the age spectrum – sorry, Lee! – I am backing Mr Westwood to shine.
Lee’s decision to move lock, stock and barrel over to the States hasn’t really paid off just yet and he has not been at his vintage best this year, but I have seen enough to suggest he can fire back.
He had a really good time partnering Jamie Donaldson at the Ryder Cup and, like Finau, finished 12th at the Frys.com Open, plus he ripped the ball quite beautifully when I saw him out on the range at The Open Championship in July.
As a regular watcher of golf, I can tell when a guy is close and we should not write off a man who used to be World No 1 and who has won 40 professional tournaments.
Lee is fit and healthy, so there is no reason he can’t have an Indian summer to his career and achieve new things, namely winning the Major that has so far eluded him.
When Westwood was at his pomp, he was attritional rather than molten hot – he used to wear down the golf course and the field by smashing it down the fairway and keeping his ball under control.
Those brilliant drives and clever iron shots are still in Lee’s armoury, so he still has lots to offer.
One more name for you keep an eye on over the next 12 months in America is Ryan Palmer, who ended last season fantastically to finish high up in the FedEx Cup standings.
Ryan is 38 years of age but should have the best campaign of his life now after getting that self-belief that you cannot find in a jar but which comes from competing with the world’s best.
I think Palmer, who is a great wind player and can bowl putts in from all over the place when he is on, has had his ‘Eureka!’ moment.
I am going for Alexander Levy at the Volvo World Match Play Championship. He is very impressive out on the course and won last week’s Portugal Masters by three strokes from Nicolas Colsaerts.
However, that event was reduced to 36 holes because of the inclement weather so I think Levy will be desperate to prove he can be the man over a longer period. He is also not that long removed from the amateur ranks, where they play regular matchplay golf.
I’d also say Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson are worth backing, as Victor made it all the way to the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in February before losing to Jason Day, while Jamie looked right at home in the Ryder Cup.
Over in Hong Kong, I am plumping for Colsaerts, who will be able to nudge and nurdle his way around with irons and not use his driver. The Belgian is playing nicely and as he is 58th in the Race to Dubai he will want to cement his place in the top 60 ahead of the DP World Tour Championship.
Plus, in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, it’s Brooks Koepka. I think he will really catch the eye this season having become more of a world player after a stint in Europe. Brooks did pretty well at the Frys.com Open last week to finish eighth and a title is around the corner.
