The 2012 European Tour season is off and running, with three tournaments already having been played. This week marks the start of the European Tour Fantasy League for 2012 (I have no idea why they choose to start the Fantasy League at the fourth tournament of the year, but that’s a whole different issue), with the first counting event being the Abu Dhabi Championship. So with the ‘start’ of the new season in mind, I make my predictions for the year, including what I believe will and will not happen, and what I would like to see during the 2012 golfing season.
What I would like to see in 2012:
o Ernie Els qualify for The Masters. As of today, he is ranked 57th in the world and has not yet qualified for The Masters. I would then like to see him go on and win the green jacket, securing lifetime exemption at The Masters.
o And how about Ernie winning the US PGA in August to make it a career Grand-Slam?
o Thomas Aiken play well enough to end the year inside the top 50 in the world, and qualify for the 2013 Masters
o A major victory by Luke Donald and Lee Westwood
o A victory by Team Europe in the Ryder Cup
o A clean sweep of the majors by members of the European Tour
o A return to form by Tiger Woods – his presence is always good for the game
o At least one major victory by a South African during 2012
Predictions for 2012:
o Winner of The Masters: Alvaro Quiros, otherwise Rory McIlroy
o Winner of The Open Championship: Thomas Bjorn, otherwise George Coetzee
o Winner of the Ryder Cup: Team Europe, by a victory margin of two points
o Winner of the 2012 Race to Dubai: Rory McIlroy
o World Number 1 at the end of 2012: Rory McIlroy
o There will only be one US winner of a major this year, as was the case in 2011
o 2012 will not be the year that either Luke Donald or Lee Westwood wins their first major
o Thomas Aiken will play well enough in 2012 to move into the Top 50 in the world, and qualify for the 2013 Masters
o George Coetzee will play well enough in 2012 to move into the Top 50 in the world, and qualify for the 2013 Masters
o George Coetzee will win his first tournament on the European Tour
o Tiger Woods will win just one tournament worldwide in 2012
Here’s hoping for another enjoyable year on the European Tour. I look forward to working again as a TV scorer for the 2012 DP World Championship, Dubai at the end of the Race to Dubai.
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