Look forward golf things in 2010 Beginning

In two days we can snuggle up inside and get swept away to the Hawaiian islands where it'll be sunny and in the 80s for the first tee shot of the 2010 PGA TOUR season.

We're already looking forward to so many things in 2010 beginning season, but we'll just let you in on our top 10:

1. The surprises. It's what we don't know that always intrigues us. Someone -- usually a few someones -- pop up out of nowhere and get our attention. It might be a Y.E. Yang or Angel Cabrera or Lucas Glover. It could be a revealing moment from Henrik Stenson or a blast from the past from Greg Norman or Tom Watson. It might be a face we don't yet know, but will be around for years to come.

2. The early season elbows. With Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on the sidelines, the next few weeks aren't for the timid. A great start could lead to a great year. Or a breakthrough. Or a chance to throw yourself headlong into the Player of the Year race seriously early. It all starts with the 28-player , winners-only SBS Championship field. Yes, it's limited, don't think a guy like Geoff Ogilvy or Stewart Cink isn't ready to go. It could be the perfect springboard for another major year. It's also a chance for the young-uns like Nick Watney and Ryan Moore to set the tone for top-10 seasons. Just who'll be in form? We don't know. And that's the best part. Waiting to see who'll step up.

3. Tiger. We don't know when he'll be back, but when he does return, it'll be game-on. He won't play until he's ready and, make no mistake, he's still the best player in the world.

4. Phil. He finished an emotional season with a pair of exclamation points. He'd love to go heads-up with No. 1, but since that won't happen early, the world will be Phil's stage, probably starting at Torrey Pines. Even with Dave Stockton righting his putting woes, Phil is still the best roller coaster-ride in the game. That's why we love him.

5. The Masters. There's simply nothing like that first peek at the tree in front of the clubhouse and Amen Corner every year. Or the magic that always unfolds and the roars that are inching their way back. Or the final round and that back nine that always seems to giveth and taketh away. Just ask Phil who saw jacket No. 3 slip away last year. Or Kenny Perry who thought he'd finally found the major he lost earlier in the decade. No predictions other than this: it'll be awesome to see Arnie and Jack standing on the first tee to open the tournament. It'll be this generation's blast from the past. Mine was seeing Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead standing there in 1984. If Tiger's there, it's a bonus. If he isn't ... we covered some great Masters before he ever got there, too.

6. St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. It doesn't get better than these two major venues. Call them the most inspiring places this side of Augusta National when it comes to courses and the most inspiring outside the ropes without question. Whether you're winding your way down 17 Mile Drive, walking the Monterrey Peninsula's craggy coastline or sipping coffee or staying warm at the Hog's Breath Inn in Carmel, Pebble is breathtaking. And St. Andrews? There's the castle ruins, the bottle dungeon, the the narrow wynds (Granny Clark's Wynd is my favorite), the graves of both old and young Tom Morris, the amazing history of not just the game, but the Reformation and England itself. Walking to the course from your dorm room is a bonus.

7. The Open Championship. What is it about a championship that allows the 53-year-old Norman and 59-year-old Watson to turn back time and carry their golf equipment play like they did in their prime? Yes, a 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus paved the way at the 1986 Masters, but the last two Opens have blown us away. Both of them should be back at St. Andrews for another shot and we won't rule them out. Yes, Watson will need the wind to blow from the right direction, but the golf gods might allow it for a five-time Open champ. And Norman? The shoulder needs to heal, but if it does don't forget the way he played in the brutal conditions at Royal Birkdale.

8. The usual suspects. Padraig Harrington, Steve Stricker, Ogilvy, Cink, Jim Furyk, and Justin Leonard -- to name a few -- are the big names right now and we hope they'll debut in 20-10 playing like it. Guys like Sean O'Hair and Stenson are right there and we're pulling for comeback stories from Adam Scott, who finished the year on an upswing; Paul Casey, who's coming back from a rib injury; Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, who are too talented not to win more; and Sergio Garcia. Lee Westwood has worked his way into the world's top four and we'd love to see him stay there. Throw in Perry, Zach Johnson and Retief Goosen and that's a leaderboard any tournament would love.

9. The kids. So much talent, so much hype. Welcome to prime time Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa and Rory McIlroy and remember to take time to enjoy the ride. Patience is the key -- for us and for them. They're interesting, intriguing and have games with so much promise its scary. It'll be enough to just enjoy watching them grow. If they win, all the better. If they don't this year, they will for years to come. They're the real deals.

10. The Ryder Cup. It's not easy to follow up a win like Paul Azinger's team had at Valhalla in 2007. It wasn't Ben Crenshaw's miracle at Brookline in 1999, but it was big. Corey Pavin has his work cut out for him. Especially since he'll face Colin Montgomerie's team in a valley in Wales.

 

Questions about Tiger Woods in New Season