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Dramatic view of Whistling Straits Golf Course and Lake Michigan, at Kohler, Wisconsin

6 Reasons to Get Excited About 2020

January 8, 2020
Premier Golf

1. Tiger Woods in Full Comeback Mode

Are you ready for Tigermania 2.0? His back is back and Tiger is on a roll. It’s going to be an absolute joy to follow him in 2020. He’ll be defending his Green Jacket at Augusta National, seeking another victory to move ahead of Sam Snead as the PGA Tour’s winningest player and angling for a spot on the U.S.A. Olympic team.

2. The Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits

It’s on American soil this time and the Americans want the Cup back after falling short in Paris in 2018. U.S.A.’s epic comeback led by captain Tiger Woods at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia should give the Red, White and Blue some momentum in Wisconsin. Yet, the Europeans will field a strong team at Ryder Cup 2020 led by Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood so get ready for some fairway fireworks at Whistling Straits.

3. The Olympics in Japan

It seems like the players are a lot more excited about the Olympics this time around so the participants will be some of golf’s biggest names. Tiger Woods has already stated it’s one of his prime goals to make the team for 2020. The golf competitions in golf-crazy Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held at Kasumigaseki Country Club, a private course in Saitama, about 27 miles from Tokyo. Founded in 1929, the course hosted the Golf World Cup in 1957. Qualification will be based on world ranking as of June 22, 2020 (men) and June 29, 2020 (women), with a total of 60 players qualifying in each of the men’s and women’s events.

4. Open Championship at Royal St. George’s

Located only 90 minutes from London, Royal St. George’s will host The Open for the 15th time. Among those who’ve hoisted the Claret Jug here are Greg Norman, Darren Clarke, Sandy Lyle, Harry Vardon and Walter Hagen. For spectators, the appeal is watching The Open on one of the best links courses in the world on the Kent coastline, enjoying sightseeing and fabulous restaurants in London and perhaps taking in Wimbledon as well. Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are the current betting favorites to win at the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.

5. U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club

The legendary Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course) in Mamaroneck, New York will host the 2020 U.S. Open Championship June 18 to June 21. The list of Winged Foot U.S. Open winners includes Bobby Jones (1929), Hale Irwin (1974) and Fuzzy Zoeller. One of the more memorable Opens at Winged Foot was 2006 when Phil Mickelson, leading by a stroke, made double bogey on the 72nd hole allowing Australian Geoff Ogilvy to claim Victory. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1923, the tree-laden West Course has many raised greens rimmed by bunkers. It’s a true shotmakers layout. While the betting lines are fluid, Brooks Koepka is currently an 8 to 1 favorite to win his third U.S. Open and Rory McIlroy comes in at 10 to 1.

6. PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park

TPC at Harding Park will mark the first major championship to be held at a TPC property. Renovated in 2005, the course was originally built in 1925 and operated as a “muni” for many years. Tall Monterey Cypress trees frame most of the holes making the fairways narrow and requiring pinpoint accuracy off the tee. Dedicated golf fans are familiar with Harding Park because of the sudden-death playoff victory Tiger Woods had over John Daly in the 2005 WGC-American Express Championship, the 2009 Presidents Cup and the 2015 World Golf Championships – Cadillac Match Play won by Rory McIlroy.