Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com. This week we discuss Tiger Woods’ 2020 debut, Brooks Koepka vs. Bryson DeChambeau, and the Tour’s new pace of play policy…
Tiger Woods will make his 2020 PGA Tour debut this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, at Torrey Pines. Woods had an up-and-down-and-up 2019, winning the Masters, then cooling off for much of the season, before a fall surge saw him win the Zozo Championship in Japan and put on a ball-striking clinic during a 3-0 run at the Presidents Cup. Woods is now ranked 7th in the world. Will he finish the 2020 Tour season higher or lower in the world ranking? And why?
Sean Zak, senior editor (@sean_zak): I think Tiger progresses in 2020. The more we learn about 2019, the more it seems like his body wasn’t totally right during the summer. If he’s all there, it’s fair to expect more consistent play all year. No post-Masters lull; actual contention at another major. Kinda like 2018, but with another win.
Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): If he stays healthy, plays all the majors and cherry picks his traditional favorites, I think we’ll see him creep another spot or two higher. None of which will really matter in our Tiger-watch. We’re watching for the majors, and I believe he’ll get another of those.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer: I don’t think Tiger had an up-and-down year. I think that’s what his golf is going to be like now. He’ll contend far less often, and he’ll win far less often, but he has shown he can still win when the moon and stars align. Point being, there’s not much upside, but if he can stay in the top 20, that’s a great accomplishment and that could include a win.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): What Tiger has working against him is a limited schedule — he may play just a dozen times — but what he has going for him is that he remains among the most consistent performers in the world. I’d say he ends the year as World No. 5.
This time last year most of you esteemed pundits were saying that Woods would likely have a nice week at Torrey, but none of you picked him to win. Said Dethier of Woods’ odds, “I think Tiger belongs somewhere behind Justin Rose, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, but not like — way behind.” How about this year? Given his hot play at the end of 2019, should Tiger be the favorite to win at Torrey?
Sens: Given Tiger’s recent form, and his history at Torrey, I’d tweak Dethier’s prediction from last year and say he belongs right about in the same odds as any of those guys.
Zak: Rory McIlroy is the favorite to win any event he plays, and rightfully so. When he’s playing (like this week), Justin Thomas is next. I’ll put Tiger right behind both of them, so he’s among the favorites, but not THE favorite.
Dethier: Solid analysis, Dethier! I think that was true at the time but he’s crept up a bit. Zak’s right.
Bamberger: If the rough is anything like it was last year, I’d put his chances to win at close to zero. If he plays through a cold fog, lower yet.
