[ VIEWPOINT ] TOUR TALES & TRUE

Grant Dodd
prophecies that everyone can take to the bank. Therapy, and the blind optimism inherent to pro golfers lend me the assurance that only bad luck stopped me the first time around. So gather around, ladies and gents, for here are my fearless predictions for 2012. First, and please dont sneer too loudly at the courage of my opening gambit; Tiger Woods will win

Bringing a knife to a gunfight

Watch out for the Koreans on the US Tour this season.

To ask Grant a question, e-mail us at golfdig@ newsmagazines.com.au

on the US Tour in 2012. In fact hell win more than once, and will hold down the world No.1 ranking by December. While he isnt at the peak of his powers yet, Woods showed in the final weeks of 2011 that even with a damaged body and a swing that looks methodical and at times contrived, he remains one of the finest players in the game. One of the two new Korean stars to hit the tour, Seung-yul Noh or Sang-Moon Bae, will win an event A year or so back, the phone rang. At the other end was this year. Nohs powerful ball-striking is perfectly Australian Golf Digests esteemed editor. Were suited to the extra length of US PGA Tour courses, starting a US PGA Tour golf tipping competition, he but Bae is perhaps just a touch more rounded and said. Would you like to be in it? battle-hardened. They are both unique talents in Really? You want to invite a wolf to run with a flock of their own right and it is more a matter of when, not sheep? I mean, surely my reputation precedes me, and if, they will win. that you know who I used to be? I know who plays well The average drive on the US Tour in 2011 was where. I know who yips it when hes leading, who hits it an astonishing 290 yards (265 metres). Owing to low enough to play well in the wind, who blows up when the head-in-the-sand attitude of the ruling bodies its wet. Ive got the inside mail. Been there, done it. Boss, when it comes to technology governance, this of course Ill take my spot on the starting line. But let me distance will increase yet again in 2012, and every say one final thing, so that there are no recriminations year until a decision is made to play pro events when the inevitable comes to pass: If there isnt a law with a standardised ball. The first major played on against this sort of mismatch, there should be. an 8,000-yard course wont happen in 2012, but the I want to say that I took the task very seriously. I moment draws ever closer. took into account current form, if a player had played However, we will have to wait until the end of well at a course in the past, even if they had a mistress the year for the really big story to unfold. After a in the tournaments host city. OK, on the last point, I dramatic form slump in 2012 where she claims only didnt really, but that was only because I couldnt work seven victories, Yani Tseng will seek out Sean Foley out whether it was an inhibiter or not. But all things for a swing overhaul. This sets into motion a domino considered, I was so confident Id already started effect, where Woods, resenting the intrusion, leaves working out how many bottles of Burgundy I could buy Foley for the recently retired Jim Furyk, whose with the winnings. bespoke Natural Jim swing theory has seen him Thats why it was such a surprise that the start of become the hottest golf instructor on the planet. the season went so poorly. For that matter, the middle I can only be honest and say that past the too. In fact, the end was even worse. I didnt come last, Natural Jim epiphany, Im low on inspiration. But but that was only because Cameron Daddo started 15 hang in there with me, cos with visions like this I weeks into the season and kept picking Lorena Ochoa. can feel my little 10-year slump coming to an end. In But just to show that Im not bitter, or scarred, punting, form is temporary but class is permanent. Im going back into the fray this year with a set of Boss, leave a spot for me Im back!

46

/ march 2012

ROBERT L ABERGE/GETT Y IMAGES