The third major of the golf season is upon us, and it's time to thank ESPN for its extensive coverage of the event. Golf remains a terrific game, a game unhindered by free agency, revenue sharing, or long-term guaranteed contracts. If players miss the cut, they miss the cut. If they lose their tour cards, they lose their tour cards. No lawyer or agent can save them. Golf has no problem with competitive parity. With Tiger Woods on the decline, temporarily at least, anybody can win. However, some can win easier than others. Predictions for the top twenty finishers at Royal St. George's follow.
First, Americans will be troubled as usual by the howling winds, intermittent rains, cavernous bunkers, and rolling fairways. I give Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson credit for just showing up. John Daly will be happy that he's golfing in a town called Sandwich. Well, he'll be golfing for two days, anyway. Americans who should score better include Nick Watney, Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, and the ageless Tom Watson.
Who will finish in positions six to twenty? In no particular order, here are the names as this reporter sees it: Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Charl Schwartzel, Angel Cabrera, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Steve Stricker, Ernie Els, and Bernhard Langer (top finisher of the over-50 set).
Who will finish in the top five? A longshot could get hot for four consecutive days and surprise everybody. It has happened at other majors recently. However, this reporter views the names Lee Westwood, Jason Day, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, and Rory McIlroy as those most likely to succeed on the links course. Unfortunately, no American made that shortest of short lists. One can only hope that the prediction is wrong.
Enjoy the tournament!
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