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It Still is Tiger's Tour
Pre-season PGA Tour rankings: Golf World's top 30 for 2009
It will take more than a knee injury to bump Tiger Woods from atop Golf World's pre-season top-30 ranking. We don't expect the Great One to return until March (at the earliest), but that will give him plenty of time to regain the money title he lost to Vijay Singh in 2008.
When Woods returns, he will face new challenges and not just from the uncertainty of playing on a reconstructed knee. As it did last year, youthful energy permeates our annual list. Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas made great strides the past 12 months; Hunter Mahan was on the Ryder Cup team; and Sergio Garcia improved his putting, won the Players and climbed to No. 2 on the World Ranking. When Woods returns, this group of twentysomething stars could be his main rivals, marking the first time his greatest challengers have been younger than him.
You'll find our top 30 is sprinkled with more Americans than in the past. While many of the great world travelers (South Africa's Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman, Aussies Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy, and Europeans Garcia and Padraig Harrington) remain on the list, others such as Ryder Cup stalwarts Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald have either turned down PGA Tour membership to concentate on the European Tour's new Race to Dubai or won't play more than the required 15 events needed to maintain their tour cards. They will all play the Big Eight (the four majors, the three WGCs and the Players), but regular events should have a more domestic feel. Which is why you see some possible surprises -- Sean O'Hair and Dustin Johnson -- featured on these pages. Can they challenge Tiger in 2009? Stay tuned.
- #1 Tiger Woods
Age: 32 Joined PGA Tour: 1996
2008 PGA earnings: $5,775,000 (2)
World Rank: 1 PGA Tour wins: 65
Majors: 1997, 2001, '02, '05 Masters; 2000, '02, '08 U.S. Open; 2000, '05, '06 British; 1999, 2000, '06, '07 PGA
Defining moment of '08: The U.S. Open victory. It could go down in history as not only the defining moment of Woods' season, but even his career. How many other golfers have won a tournament, let alone a major, on a broken leg?
Why he's No. 1: Before Woods got hurt he was on the longest run of sustained greatness in his incredible career. When he returns, there are indications he'll be even better. He altered his swing while he played with the torn ACL. With a healthy knee his swing could become smoother, and he's likely to hit more fairways.
Why he should rank lower: A solid guess is he'll return at Doral, but if he spots the tour three months and the knee isn't fully recovered, he might not play enough to reclaim the money title.
Top 2008 finishes: Buick Invitational 1, WGC-Accenture Match Play 1, Arnold Palmer Invitational 1, U.S. Open 1, Masters 2
- #2 Sergio Garcia
Age: 28 Joined PGA Tour: 1999
2008 PGA earnings: $4,858,224 (4)
World Rank: 2 PGA Tour wins: 7
Majors: None
Defining moment of '08: The end of the PGA Championship. Garcia can win all the Players he wants, but the great ones define themselves in the majors. He needs to find a way to avoid the mistakes that dogged him late in the final round at Oakland Hills.
Why he should rank higher: He keeps getting better and odds are he'll learn how to claim that elusive major title. When he does -- as happened with Phil Mickelson -- others should follow.
Why he should rank lower: He is a legitimate No. 2, but he's not totally focused on playing the PGA Tour. His priorities are divided between the U.S. and Europe, and while the Race for Dubai may not keep him from playing the Big Eight and the PGA Tour Playoffs, it may keep him from the more pedestrian tournaments usually on his schedule.
Top 2008 finishes: Players 1, Barclays 2, Tour Championship T-2, PGA Championship T-2, Stanford St. Jude Classic T-4
- #3 Anthony Kim
Age: 23 Joined PGA Tour: 2007
2008 PGA earnings: $4,656,265 (6)
World Rank: 12 PGA Tour wins: 2
Majors: None
Defining moment of '08: The two victories were important statements, but Kim showcased his true potential by whipping Sergio Garcia in a Ryder Cup singles match.
Why he should rank higher: Kim will play more PGA Tour events than those ranked above him -- and as with all players when they're just starting, he's hot-wired to make money. It's hard to see him cutting back too much from the 22 tournaments he played in 2008, even if he does play more overseas.
Why he should rank lower: He has few weaknesses, but he has to truly dedicate himself to becoming No. 1, and there haven't been many his age with that mindset. Another concern: His position in the standings has gone down in the final round in the last four majors he has played.
Top 2008 finishes: Wachovia 1, AT&T National 1, Verizon Heritage T-2, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, BMW Championship, Tour Championship T-3
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