The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 29 December 2009 / 1 Comments

The Punter highlights five players he fancies to bag at least one win across the pond in 2010...

The constant theme of the 2009 US PGA Tour season was the age of the winners. Experience was everything and, with that in mind, four of the five players I'm tipping for success in 2010 are no spring chickens.

It's predictable that I expect Phil Mickelson to win but he's still well worth highlighting because he often does so at a value price. He doesn't always appear convincing and usually gives the layers a chance. Indeed, he's thrown away some golden opportunities but you can always lay off plenty if your nerves aren't strong.

With Tiger Woods leaving the way clear for the foreseeable future, Lefty could have a stellar year. He turns 40 the day before the US Open starts at one of his favourite courses, Pebble Beach, and I can see him giving himself a fantastic present by finally nailing the one he really wants.

Phil could be off and running way before that though. He's always been a player to concentrate on in the first few months of the year and if he does get his schedule started early don't be afraid to follow him.

Best chance in 2010 - Any events entered in February.

Zach Johnson was successful twice last year and could quite easily have won another couple. But every week he seemed to go off at a very competitive price. It's almost as if nobody can quite believe what a quality player he is. It was a bit of a shock when he won the Masters in '07, and although he won the AT & T Classic just a month later, it took him a good year to acclimatise to his new status of Major winner. I think he's well and truly adjusted now and can definitely see him winning again in 2010.

He's at his best when there's an emphasis on accuracy over distance but he could pop up just about anywhere and if there's one player you could back blind week after week and end up in the black, it's Zach.

Best chance in 2010 - Hawaii Open in January.

Justin Leonard really should have added to his tally of 12 PGA Tour victories last year. He was in the thick of it at the Texas Open and the Frys.com, and he thought he'd won the final event of the season, the Children's Miracle Network Classic, but his birdie putt on the final hole somehow stayed above ground and he was eliminated at the first play-off hole.

The signs were there though; Justin's back in form and his career could well enjoy an Indian summer. He's another player that regularly appears generously priced and he could well be worth following in 2010.

Best chance in 2010 - St Jude Classic in June.

The only youngster in my five is big hitting Nick Watney. He led for the first time in the whole event on the 72nd and final hole of last year's Buick Invitational to secure his second PGA title, but more impressive was the way he went toe to toe with Mickelson at the CA Championship at Doral just over a month later, eventually losing out by a solitary shot after a titanic final round struggle.

As is often the case with big hitters, he's not the most accurate off the tee but his game's most damaging weakness is his putting, but it is improving, year on year. A further improvement in 2010 could see him contention a lot more regularity.

Best chance in 2010 - AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.

My last pick is another veteran in Jeev Milkha Singh, who scraped his way onto the 2010 Tour by earning just enough cash to finish in the top 125 on last year's money-list, from just 15 starts.

Jeev has played and won all over the world and a victory on the biggest Tour there is would cap a fantastic career. He's a speculative shout but he's a great putter and he may just nick one at a decent price.

Best chance in 2010 - Turning Stone Resort Championship in August.

A couple of others I fancy will have a decent 2010 are Steve Stricker and Michael Sim, but whether they're going to start at big enough prices to follow is another matter.

I also have to give a mention to Ben Crane. His stats are so strong that it's hard to envisage him not contending a few times.

Comments (1)

1. BARRY | 05 January 2010

   Rory mc Ilroy to lift a major this year and beat tigers record for being the youngest to win a major.COME ON RORY.!!!

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