Capelle On Golf

Since Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson aren’t in the field at The Honda Classic, you can take a week off or find some other players to follow. I advise that you look for players with an intriguing story line. Categories of interest include; 1) young potential superstars, 2) seasoned players poised for a breakout, 3) comeback players and former champions fighting to stay at the top of the game. Older players with a chance at the Hall of Fame who are looking to pad their resumes are also fun keep an eye on. I looked over the players at the Honda Classic and came up with the dozen players profiled below.

Young Potential Superstars
Jason Day – The trend is looking good for this 20 year old Australian on his maiden voyage on the PGA Tour. He’s gone MC, 49t, 20t, 6 in his first four starts. He’s #132 in the World Golf Rankings (WGR), so he needs a win or a couple of high finishes to get into the Masters.
Anthony Kim – This highly touted 22 year old is in a deep slump. After a strong start in 2007, he has only one top 10 (a 3t at the Hope with its weak field) in his last 18 starts on tour. If his game doesn’t come around soon, he’s going to drop off the young phenom list. Kim is #68 in the WGR so he’s got to move up 18 spots before the week prior to the Masters to qualify for Augusta.

Potential Champions
Luke Donald – This boyish looking Englishman turned 30 in December, so he should be entering into his best years. He’s recorded two ties for third in the majors over the last three years, including a final round pairing with Woods at the 2006 PGA.
Sergio Garcia – See story on Feb. 27.
Zach Johnson – Johnson showed the kind of steady play and heart under pressure at the Masters that made him 2007’s potential breakout player. He just turned 32 like Tiger, so his best years should be just ahead. However, he seems to be on cruise control as he’s recorded only one top 10 in his last 14 starts on the PGA Tour. It’s time for Zach to get back on track.
Justin Rose – Four top 12s in last year’s majors could be a signal that this super talented Englishman is finally getting the whole package together.

Comeback Players and Former Champions
Justin Leonard – Leonard is continuing down the comeback trail following a disastrous first half in 2007 that saw him miss nine of his first 16 cuts. This year he has three top fives in six starts. He went back to his old teacher, abandoning his overly mechanical approach to the swing. Leonard flowing putting stroke is one of the game’s best.
Davis Love III – Love is on the Hall of Fame (HOF) ballot, and he’s not a bad choice based on his 1997 PGA title, 19 tour titles, and his seven top fours in the majors. Still, it would be great to see him rise up for one last big year, maybe even do an O’Meara who, at age 41, won two majors. Love is #85 in the WGR, so he’s got to hustle just to make it to Augusta. Love will turn 44 on Masters Sunday.
Ernie Els – The experts are down on the Big Easy with good reason thanks to his lackluster play this year. If he doesn’t turnaround his game soon, it could spell the beginning of the end for one of the three best players of the Woods Era. One big point in his favor: elite players like Els are capable of recovering the magic at any time. As examples, Els came close at the British Open (4t) and the PGA (3) in 2007.
Retief Goosen – This unassuming two time U.S. Open winner still has plenty of game in his late thirties as evidenced by his four top threes in the last four years in the majors. In 2007 he tied for second with Woods at the Masters. He’s off to a slow start this year, however, and was a casualty in his first match at the Accenture.
David Toms – The likable and youthful looking Toms recently turned 41, and his game is starting to show it as he has zero top 10s in his last nine starts. Though he made the HOF ballot this year, he is an unlikely choice. In fact, he is more desperate for an O’Meara like season than Love if he entertains HOF ambitions.
Mike Weir – The golf world applauded this plucky Canadian’s match play win over Woods at last year’s President’s Cup. Unfortunately, he’s done little of merit in ‘08 following a season opening 4t at the Mercedes Benz with it’s tiny Tiger/Phil-less field. Weir will turn 38 soon, so time is running short for his shot at the HOF. He needs at least one, if not two more majors to make it.