Brandel Chamblee, an analyst for the Golf Channel, played professionally for 15 years and won more than $4 million before he moved to the TV booth in 2004. So, when he says that he thinks Tiger Woods will struggle with his swing, he has the experience to know.
On location in Hawaii for last week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Chamblee took a few minutes to talk about the 2012 season, which includes stops at Augusta National for the Masters on April 5-8, and the Tour Championship at East Lake on Sept. 20-23.
The season continues with its first full-field event at the Sony Open in Hawaii, which starts Thursday and features several players with ties to Georgia, including Troy Matteson, Cameron Tringale, Brendon Todd, and Chris Kirk, among others.
In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chamblee offered a surprising choice for a player to watch this season and criticized a decision made by a former Georgia Tech golfer. Questions and answers have been paraphrased.
Q: Will Tiger Woods win a major this year?
A: He's the best bet to win a major of every player in the world. I've said, and continue to say, that the majors don't match up great for him. He didn't play well at Olympic when the U.S. Open was there before. He was playing the best golf of his life and didn't play well at Lytham when the Open Championship was last there. He doesn't play Pete Dye courses well, and that's where the PGA is this year [at The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, S.C.].
I say it’s unlikely, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there late Sunday at the Masters, but I think he’s still struggling with his swing.
I will say this, he’s the only guy on Sunday who plays with no past and no future. He’s the only one that plays in the moment. That’s why he’s won 14 major championships and makes it far more likely he will win another.
Q: If not Tiger, then who could win the majors?
A: Lee Westwood, in the last three years has finished in the top three in every major championship. Even at 38 he has all the talent and skill that any 23-year-old would want. He should be emboldened by the [Angel] Cabreras and the [Phil] Mickelsons, who won championships in their late 30s.
Rory McIlroy is an obvious. And Sergio Garcia was one of 11 players who made the cut in every major. On the European Tour, he led in scrambling and was top 15 in putting. He’s such a phenomenal ball-striker, if I described the scrambling and putting without the name, you would say no question he’s got a chance. ... I can’t wait to watch Sergio this year.
Q: Who else could surprise?
A: From the U.S. side, there's a good 10 players in their 20s you have to look at. Keegan Bradley is one of them. You'd expect a guy who can drive the ball like he does and make putts to not go away or suffer a sophomore slump. His swing is very similar to Bill Haas'; both put the clubs in good spots at the top so that they can work the ball either way.
Their performances in 2011 will go a long way toward convincing both of them that they can do even more in 2012. Neither would surprise me if they won a major this year.
Nick Watney put too much pressure on himself in 2011. He could bounce back.
Q: Who could be the biggest disappointment?
A: I still think Phil Mickelson, on paper and what he's done, has a chance to win another major, but the fact he putted so poorly in 2011 and, regardless of what he says about the condition of his arthritis ... you have to worry about his future. Hopefully, he's around on the Tour for 10 years, but I have big questions about him.
Everyone’s looking at Tiger saying he could win 10 times this year. I think he will struggle with his golf swing and his tee shots for most of 2012.
Darren Clarke, and I say this jokingly, could be as big as a sumo wrestler by the time the British Open rolls around. And why not? He worked so hard and won the most important major to him.
You never know what Ian Poulter is going to give us. It’s a Ryder Cup year, so I hope plays well. He adds to the animosity that pervades the Ryder Cup. I hope he’s there.
Q: What about local players like Stewart Cink, will he bounce back?
A: Stewart Cink made a mistake when he switched from Butch Harmon. That's one of the mind-blowing things from the past couple of years. You win a major and worked so hard to get to a particular spot and you switch direction. I'm blown away by that. I have no idea why he made that decision. He went from being one of the best players in the world to being an afterthought. He's too good to be struggling. It was a great relationship. Guys switch coaches so much in this game looking for something they'll never find. Too many let great be the enemy of good.
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