ESPN predictions for who will win the 2022 Players

Tiger Woods has described the rehabilitation process from his single car accident as “more painful than anything I have ever experienced,” in his first interview since suffering major leg trauma in his February crash. Speaking to Golf Digest, Woods said recovery from comminuted open fractures to both his tibia and fibula bones in his right leg, “has been an entirely different animal” to that of numerous injuries in the past. Woods provided no update on a possible return to golf, instead focusing on just getting around without the use of crutches. Social media posts recently revealed he is no longer in walking boot. “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy. I do my routines every day and am focused on my No. 1 goal right now: walking on my own. Taking it one step at a time,” he told Golf Digest. The 82-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time FedExCup champion has undergone five back surgeries and multiple left knee surgeries in the past and as such is no stranger to rehabilitation procedures. For the complete story, click here.

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After a short offseason, the 2017-18 PGA TOUR season begins this week at the Safeway Open in Napa, California. The season-opener will also mark the beginning of a new journey for the latest class of Web.com Tour graduates as they kick off their TOUR careers at Silverado Resort and Spa. After putting in countless hours – and years – these rookies have finally reached the biggest stage in golf, and they’ll be primed and ready to start making a name for themselves on TOUR. In the past few years, rookies have had an immense amount of success in the fall portion of the wraparound season, and with the talent level found in the incoming rookie class, 2017-18 is sure to be no different. Which PGA TOUR rookies are best positioned to make an impact as the 2017-18 season progresses? Here are the top 10 first-time Web.com Tour graduates to watch out for on TOUR this season. 1. Peter Uihlein. Son of Wally Uihlein, chairman and CEO of the Acushnet Company (the equipment manufacturer that owns Titleist), golf is practically engrained in the 28-year-old. While in high school, Uihlein earned Rolex Player of the Year honors with the American Junior Golf Association twice, becoming just the fifth person in history to win multiple times. The phenom went on to attend Oklahoma State University, where he competed on a winning 2009 Walker Cup team and became the fourth player in school history to win the U.S. Amateur. The Massachusetts native spent time as the top-ranked amateur in the world and was the recipient of the 2011 Ben Hogan Award. Uihlein was named the European Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2013 after picking up a win and eight top-10 finishes in his first season. A fifth-place finish at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open earned him a spot in the Shell Houston Open, where he finished 23rd. The two finishes were enough to earn him a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals, where he eclipsed Ryan Armour for a victory in his first start on Tour (at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship). The former Cowboy has proved time and time again that he has what it takes to succeed, and the TOUR will just be another stage for him to showcase his talents. 2. Keith Mitchell. The 25-year-old University of Georgia alum has the power it takes to drive the ball on any stage. Mitchell finished the 2017 season with an average driving distance of 321 yards (the fourth-longest on Tour) and was in the top 10 in all-around stats. The Tennessee native amassed six top-10 finishes on the year, including a T3 finish at the News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot. After finishing the Regular Season at No. 26 on the money list, Mitchell went on to capture two sixth-place finishes in the Web.com Tour Finals and earn his first PGA TOUR card. Mitchell’s first TOUR appearance came in March 2017, after Monday qualifying for the Valspar Championship. He finished T11, which points to a bright future for Mitchell, who is in prime position to continue the legacy of Bulldog success on TOUR. 3. Sam Ryder. The Stetson University alum became the first Hatter to win on Tour when he blitzed the field at the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers en route to an eight-stroke victory.  Ryder, who ranked first on Tour in total driving, played consistently throughout the season, notching 10 top-25 finishes. The Florida native came close to securing his PGA TOUR card last season but credits his additional year on the Web.com Tour with getting his game to where it needed to be. Now that he has the confidence to back his talent, expect Ryder to tackle the TOUR with the same gusto he used to tackle the 2017 Web.com Tour season. 4. Tom Lovelady. It’s hard to ask for a better rookie year on Tour than the one Tom Lovelady had. The 24-year-old University of Alabama graduate finished first in birdie average and putting average, picking up five top-10 finishes along the way. Lovelady will be joining roommates Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley on TOUR, both of whom experienced success in last year’s PGA TOUR season. Having familiar faces around should work in Lovelady’s favor, who admitted to struggling with doubts about his game at the beginning of the season. A mindset change mid-season freed Lovelady up to play to the level he’s capable of, which should translate into a strong rookie season on TOUR. 5. Marty Dou. The 20-year-old became the first Chinese-born player to capture a Web.com Tour title when he won this year’s Digital Ally Open. Before playing on Tour, Dou competed on PGA TOUR China, where he recorded four victories in 2016 to capture the Order of Merit. Dou will be joined on TOUR by fellow countryman and Web.com Tour graduate, XinJun Zhang. Look for Dou to continue to his record of success on the TOUR stage.  6. Austin Cook. The University of Arkansas alum played with incredible consistency over the course of the 2017 Tour season, missing only six cuts in 24 events. The 26-year-old made a brief appearance on TOUR in 2015, where he recorded five top-25 finishes. His past accomplishments on TOUR should allow him to feel comfortable and confident as he begins his rookie campaign. Don’t be surprised to see Cook in contention very early on. 7. Denny McCarthy. After locking up his card via the Web.com Tour Finals, McCarthy will join his fellow Class of 2011 members on TOUR. The University of Virginia alum had an incredibly successful amateur career, especially in his home state of Maryland, where he won two Maryland Opens and two Maryland Amateurs. He also played alongside fellow Web.com Tour graduate Beau Hossler on the U.S. Walker Cup team in 2015. The 24-year-old’s short game was his biggest asset in the 2017 Tour season, and he finished the season second in putting average, putts per round, and birdie or better conversions. McCarthy amassed five top-25 finishes in the last three months of the season, so expect him to continue to ride that wave of momentum as he enters his inaugural PGA TOUR season. 8. Lanto Griffin. Few people have proven that they can thrive under pressure quite like Griffin. The 29-year-old became the first player since 2004 to win on Tour after making the cut on the number when he picked up his first title at the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation. Griffin’s win came via an uphill, 20-foot birdie putt in a playoff against fellow graduate Abraham Ancer. Griffin finished at No. 22 on The 25 and finished inside the top-20 in three of the four Web.com Tour Finals events. The Virginia Commonwealth University alum has a never-say-die attitude, which should work in his favor on the PGA TOUR. 9. Conrad Shindler. The Texas A&M University alum picked up his first Web.com Tour title at the Rex Hospital Open, where he defeated former PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Chesson Hadley in a playoff. He went on to finish the season with an under-par scoring average, picking up four top-10 finishes along the way. The 29-year-old is close friends with PGA TOUR and major winner Todd Hamilton, whose advice should help Shindler acclimate quickly to his new stage. 10. Aaron Wise. As a sophomore, the South Africa native helped lead the University of Oregon to its first team NCAA Championship, going 3-0 in match play and also earning an individual title. The 21-year-old won the 28th annual Air Capital Classic Supporting Wichita’s Youth in landslide fashion, setting a tournament record for margin of victory after claiming the title by five strokes. Wise proved he had what it takes to go low that week, finishing with a tournament total of 21-under 259. Wise has shown that his youth isn’t an issue and he should be primed to continue the PGA TOUR’s current trend of young winners.

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Here are nine tidbits from the second round of the 147th Open Championship gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom, plays to par-71 (36-35) and is hosting for the eighth time. Pain or Gain These were the top-10 selected golfers (plus one) in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO: The cut landed on 3-over-par 145 as 79 will advance to the weekend. There will not be a secondary cut. Morning rain slightly softened the brick-hard fairways but the absence of wind throughout the day was the difference. People’s Choice After posting the lowest round of the tournament at the U.S. Open (63), Tommy Fleetwood is at it again. The Englishman signed for a bogey-free 65 to post the lowest round after 36 holes. His stats give us an insight to what is and isn’t important this week. He’s found only 16 of 30 fairways (T68) but has painted 27 of 36 GIR (T4). The drought has eliminated the rough from being penal as premium ball-strikers are finding greens from places other than the sprinkler line. It didn’t hurt that he needed six fewer putts in Round 2 (32 to 26) as he leapt 47 spots to T3. Hugh Essay The American duo of 18-hole leader Kevin Kisner and 2015 Open Champion Zach Johnson sit on top after 36 holes on 6-under-par 136. Kisner could have had the outright lead but his risk was not rewarded on his final hole. Playing from the rough he went for the green but found the Barry Burn and ended up with double-bogey six. Kisner’s red-hot putter continued to behave as he took just 29 putts in Round 2 after 22 in Round 1. … Johnson is looking to become the only player in history to win the Masters and The Open Championships at both St. Andrew’s and Carnoustie. No pressure dude! Johnson followed up his very solid afternoon round of 69 with 67 in the earlier (read: tougher) rounds Friday. He’s on the wrong side of the draw and has played the final four holes in 2 under over the first 36. Impressive. Spectrum Ends Justin Rose was the only player from the top three in the OWGR rankings to survive to the weekend. He needed a birdie at the last to claim a spot and he came through to give his investors a chance. This was the second day running that he birdied the final hole but the bad news he only has one other birdie on the card. He’s nine back of the leaders as he tries to make up ground Saturday. … Rory McIlroy joined Johnson and Pat Perez (T3) as the only players to post both rounds in the 60’s. Playing from the more difficult side of the draw as well, McIlroy’s matching 69’s have him just two shots back (T6). The last time he opened with two rounds in the 60’s in a major championship he went on to claim victory. He’s my O&D this week so let’s hope this trend continues. Backing a Back-to-Back Brooks Koepka didn’t feel any love as he defended his U.S. Open crown at Shinnecock Hills last month. With his wrist injury long-forgotten and second U.S. Open crown on the shelf, that’s hardly the case this week. He’s trying to emulate Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods as the only players in the last 50 years to win the U.S. Open and The Open Championship in the same season. His 69 moved him up 32 spots to T18 entering the weekend as he’s just five back. His 10 birdies for the week are the second most but it will be the two doubles in Round 1 that keep him up at night. Swedish Fishing Gamers who kept their faith in Henrik Stenson were rewarded, barely, as he made the weekend on the number. His second round 75 included just nine of 18 GIR and produced just one birdie. He’ll need to sharpen his blades to move up Saturday. … Alex Noren held his place at T18 after even-par 71 also in the rain Friday morning. After going out in 38 on the normally easier front nine he rallied to play his last 10 holes in 2 under to break even. He finished T6 last year at Royal Birkdale for his best-ever payday in a major championship. Tiger Trails With six birdies against six bogeys Tiger Woods remains in the hunt entering the weekend six shots behind the leaders (T29). His plan to minimize the use of the driver has lengthened the course for him but he’s still T2 GIR. Gamers are still waiting for the break-out round from Woods in a major. If the weekend forecast (marginal wind) holds he’ll need it sooner rather than later if he’s going to contend. MC HOF For the first time since the 2016 U.S. Open at Erin Hills and the first time since The Open Championship in 2011 the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the OWGR will not play the weekend. Dustin Johnson couldn’t dig out after 76 in Round 1 as he would have needed to play his final two holes in Round 2 in 1 under. He closed bogey-double to comfortably miss. … Justin Thomas began Round 2 tied for eighth place but two late bogeys saw him sign for 77 to miss by a shot. This was third consecutive year he opened with a round in the 60’s and followed it with a round of 77 or worse. … The cut also claimed Jon Rahm after 69-78, Bubba Watson, Hideki Matsuyama and Sergio Garcia. Study Hall The Round 1 scoring average was 73.160 (+2.160) but Round 2 was 72.806 (+1.806) as the afternoon winds, as called for, were hardly a factor. … Fleetwood’s 65 was the only bogey-free round of the day and the event.  … Scotland’s Sam Locke was the only amateur to make the weekend and will claim the Silver Medal for low amateur. … Chez Reavie leads the field in fairways hit with 23 of 30 but won’t hit another as he missed the cut by a shot. … Danny Willett leads the field in GIR as he’s found 30 of 36 and is T14. … Tony Finau has made one more birdie than Koepka as he’s lurking at T6. … The Barbasol Championship was in a weather delay at the time of publishing. Troy Merritt (-15) backed up his 62 in Round 1 with 67 in Round 2 to lead Billy Horschel by two shots. The afternoon wave is still on the course when play resumes. 

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