Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau are more likely to be two of golf’s primary characters once more come 2025.
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We’ve acquired questions. 2025 may have solutions. Right here we go: 25 questions for the 2025 yr in golf. And only for enjoyable let’s do it with out utilizing the phrase “merger” at any level…
INJURY DIVISION
1. Can prepping Christmas Dinner do what an overzealous police officer and each golfer on the earth couldn’t?
In different phrases: Is this what stops Scottie Scheffler? After a yr the place Scheffler grew to become a father, acquired arrested and gained 9 instances, together with the Gamers, the Masters, the FedEx Cup and Olympic Gold, is a kitchen accident sufficient to derail this runaway practice? In all probability not. However a golfer’s arms are his livelihood, and the truth that Scheffler’s beginning his 2025 with glass-shard removing surgical procedure is … not nice.
2. Which route is Viktor Hovland headed?
And I don’t simply imply which route his toe is pointing — although that’s place to start out. For a second consecutive season, Hovland arrives on the first match of the yr having simply cut up with teacher Joe Mayo. Final yr was principally disappointing; he regressed in his quick recreation, managed simply two top-10s and took 4 months this offseason to get proper and get wholesome. That offseason concluded with a damaged toe and a brand new teaching plan. Is that this a foul omen or simply what Hovland wants?
3. Did Jordan Spieth simply repair … all the things?
Generally a wrist surgical procedure is greater than a wrist surgical procedure. Spieth Nation hopes that’s the case. We haven’t seen Spieth since he bowed out within the second spherical of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in August — however maybe that is intermission earlier than a large Spiethian second act.
4. What’s subsequent for Ludvig Aberg?
He missed time this fall after a process on his knee however regarded sturdy in his two begins on the RSM and Hero World Problem. The Swedish star is already No. 5 on the earth; what does the subsequent step appear like?
5. How a lot will Tiger Woods play?
We noticed Tiger Woods alongside his son Charlie on the PNC Championship, in fact, however he urged warning. Will we see him on the Genesis? On the Masters? At each TGL match? How will he look once we do?
LEADERSHIP DIVISION
6. Who will the PGA Tour’s new CEO be?
Not simply in title however in philosophy — who will Monahan and Co. rent to push the PGA Tour ahead? And what does [gestures at entire landscape] all of this imply for Monahan?
7. Who will the LPGA Tour’s new commissioner be?
Not simply in title however in philosophy — how will Mollie Marcoux Samaan’s successor generate vital buzz for the league because it enters its seventy fifth yr?
8. Who will LIV’s new commissioner be?
With Greg Norman on the best way out — or at the least into a special function — can his successor take Norman’s ardour for the league and marry it with a extra conciliatory chapter for LIV’s future?
9. How will DP World Tour commissioner Man Kinnings steer the ship?
I believed it was attention-grabbing this fall when Kinnings stated, of the DPWT, “we actually are the international tour.” LIV has been searching for that place. The PGA Tour clearly has tournaments all over the world, too. Does Kinnings lean tougher into the strategic alliance with the Tour or decide to welcome LIV’s stars to bolster its largest occasions?
‘We actually are the worldwide tour’: Contained in the DP World Tour’s fascinating limbo
10. What is going to we see from the brand new head of the R&A?
That may be Mark Darbon, successor to Martin Slumbers. The R&A chief all the time appears like an essential compass for the sport; it’s value studying this Slumbers exit interview with John Huggan to get a way of the place and the place Darbon will sit with respect to the sport’s challenges.
MAJOR CHAMPS DIVISION
11. What is going to the sequel to Lydia Ko’s fairy story appear like?
Ko’s gold medal-St. Andrews-Corridor-of-Fame combo made 2024 robust to beat. How ’bout 2025?
12. Can Xander Schauffele end off the profession grand slam?
Okay, possibly we’re getting forward of ourselves. Maybe profitable the Masters and the U.S. Open this yr isn’t gonna occur. However what if it did?! We unpacked that on this week’s Daring Predictions episode of the Drop Zone, which yow will discover right here:
13. Simply how good can Nelly Korda get?
This yr she claimed a serious championship and 6 wins in a single seven-tournament stretch — and it nonetheless felt like a bizarre yr because of some high-profile missed cuts, a canine chew damage, you title it. Korda could not win 5 in a row once more however one way or the other nonetheless has room for enchancment in 2025.
14. Bryson?
Bryson DeChambeau’s ongoing off-course reputation is difficult established truths about what it means to be a professional athlete, stuff like: do you suppose extra folks find out about DeChambeau’s home hole-in-one quest or his U.S. Open victory? However the truth that he may do each in 2024 is a testomony to his continued rise. I don’t even know what query to ask right here, so let’s simply see what DeChambeau does subsequent.
15. Simply how good will Royal Portrush be?
It’s the foremost championship I’m most excited for: I’m a sucker for Northern Eire, for Irish lore on the whole, for Shane Lowry’s return, 5 years later, for Rory McIlroy to re-enter the emotional strain cooker. Can’t wait.
RYDER CUP DIVISION
16. Will Keegan Bradley make his personal Ryder Cup workforce?
I hope so. For Keegan and for the chaos of all of it.
17. What number of LIV execs will make the Ryder Cup workforce?
There was just one LIV golfer on the 2023 Ryder Cup — American Brooks Koepka. There might be extra this time. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have since left for LIV on the European facet and others, specifically Bryson DeChambeau (and Sergio Garcia?!) might be below critical consideration.
18. Will American pay develop into a rallying cry?
The American facet’s elevated stipend has been an limitless supply of debate; will the European workforce and their touring troupe of followers use that to their benefit?
Hovland’s teaching change, Scheffler’s setback, golf’s stunning makeover | Monday End
19. How will the followers be, anyway?
A lot was manufactured from the $750 Bethpage ticket worth and the way it’ll worth out common followers. However a lot has additionally been manufactured from the unruly environment we’re sure to seek out on Lengthy Island. Can each be true? Maybe followers might be that rather more unruly as a result of they’ve paid a lot to be there? A protected prediction: pleasant insanity, with at the least one or two incidents that cross the road.
20. Can the Europeans steal one other one?
Either side has been holding serve successfully; the Individuals have now gained twice in a row at residence whereas the Europeans haven’t misplaced at residence since [checks notes] 1993. Can Luke Donald lead his squad into hostile territory and emerge with a win?
MISCELLANEOUS DIVISION
21. How a lot will we see Lexi Thompson?
Her retirement was one of many largest tales of 2024. However she additionally shied away from the phrase “retirement” at instances — and completed the yr taking part in some fairly good golf. The place will we see Lexi subsequent? What is going to she be as much as once we do?
22. What’s the story with with LIV’s Fox Sports activities deal?
That’s, the place, when and the way will we watch LIV? Getting a big-time TV deal is big for the league’s potential publicity and might be an antidote to its underwhelming rankings. However I’m curious how the media rights had been valued and the way the product might be televised — how a lot FS1 we’re getting vs. Fox, whether or not worldwide occasions might be dwell vs. tape-delayed, and many others. LIV’s rankings stay an essential subplot as varied energy brokers resolve golf’s future.
23. Will the TGL work?
Shade me intrigued. I believe this might be sneaky enjoyable and legitimately totally different; it’ll be quick, the tech appears fairly cool and there’s loads of star energy concerned — however there’s additionally a world the place it’s one thing of a catastrophe. A instantly associated query: Will the gamers purchase all the best way in?
24. Can Rory…y’know…
…win a serious? McIlroy may have 4 extra possibilities to finish his decade-long drought. Whereas it’s robust to think about him getting nearer than he acquired at Pinehurst this yr, it’s additionally robust to think about simply how good it could really feel if he acquired throughout the road.
25. Can golf proceed to develop?
I don’t imply that within the eye-rolling grow-the-game drivel you hear too usually from too many individuals. However extra folks have been taking part in golf. Extra folks suppose and speak positively concerning the recreation. There are extra choices and extra alternative ways to take part than ever. Have we peaked as a sport — or is that this just the start?
Bonus query: Who would be the subsequent visitor on Warming Up?
