Year End Thoughts

With just a week to go in the year, everyone and their grandmother (hi Grandma!) has started making their predictions for 2008 and delivering their thoughts on the year that was. Since I am terrible at making predictions (the US will win the Ryder Cup, Wie will win a major, among others), I think I will stick to thoughts on 2007.

So, now, in bullet point form, are my thoughts on 2007:

Augusta National, we now get it that all of the changes Hootie Johnson made to you still make you as relevant of a golf course as ever. Now, take the trees and rough out and let everyone have back the national treasure that is you.

Tim Finchem is still the same Commish that you and I love to poke fun at every chance we get. The most symbolic moment of the year that is a barometer on his popularity was Tiger Woods' refusal to kiss the FedEx Cup, even after telling Woods suggestively that it was a trophy that had "never been kissed."

Walter Driver is done as the President of the USGA. To illustrate how I feel, here is a picture:

Rory Sabbatini has been officially crowned the Dumbest Athlete Alive other than that tennis player that was throwing first round matches this year. He goaded Tiger at every opportunity and was rewarded each time with an ass kicking of a lifetime. His wife, Amy, may need a new shirt for 2008.
2007 .... 2008

Michelle Wie joined the list of young sports prodigies to drop off of the face of the earth because of a combination of believing the hype and parents that pushed her too far. She drove off her agent, many supporters on the LPGA Tour, and even the Sony Open has no interest in offering her a sponsor's exemption. Reports indicate she is skipping her spring semester at Stanford to focus on golf, but frankly, she should be doing anything but golf right now.

Tiger Woods obliterated everyone again in 2007 but only won a single major. He says, though, that he is finally owning his swing again and is back in top form. With the display he put on at the Target World Challenge, he may very well again be generating buzz for a Grand Slam in 2008.

Lorena Ochoa had an amazing year. She became #1 in the world a little premature because of injury to Annika Sorenstam. Then she learned to win, and win in a playoff, and choke away the first major. Ochoa lost a heartbreaker to Cristie Kerr in the US Open. Then she pulled out the first of three wins in a row at the Ricoh Women's British Open. Last, she cleared the $4 million mark with a $1 million check at the ADT Championship. Anyone going to stop her? I didn't think so.

The European Tour had a great November and December off the course with the announcement of the Race to Dubai and the richest golf tournament in the world - the Dubai World Championship. It is a move whose aftershocks and aftereffects are still being felt by the golf world. It may lead to a merger of 3 tours (at least 2) and cause all kinds of scheduling conflicts around the world. George O'Grady took a chance and it paid off for him, so far at least.

And what would a year in review be without a little introspection. Golf News Network improved its website, added this awesome blog (:rollseyes), launched a new podcast, and had well over 250,000 listeners for the year - a new record. I'm looking forward to broadcasting in video and audio in 2008 and keeping in touch on the GNN Blog.