With the first PGA Tour event of the new year, the Hyundai Tour of Champions, fast approaching, who are the players to look out for on the PGA Tour in 2015? The obvious candidates are there, Rory McIlory, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson to name a few but who else could shine in 2015?
The defending champion when the players meet again at the Hyundai Tour of Champions in Maui is Zach Johnson. Currently ranked 18th in the Official World Golf Ranking, Johnson has 11 tour victories to his name going in to 2015, including the Masters title of 2007. However, the American's win at the Hyundai Tour of Champions a year ago was his only PGA Tour title of 2014 and Johnson will want to improve on that this time around. Perhaps a slight improvement in Johnson's putting over the course of 2015 will be enough to make the difference, having been a little below his best over the last 12 months.
When discussing the PGA Tour, it's impossible not to mention the 14 time major winner, Tiger Woods. The American has had his issues away from the course but it's been injuries, namely to the knee and back, that have been giving Woods problems on the course. Woods completed the The Hero World Challenge, a charity tournament held towards the end of 2014 despite sickness and many people are tipping the superstar to get back to his best in 2015. If Woods can get back to competing in 15-20 tournaments over the course of the year, then it's not inconceivable to think he can become a 15 time major winner in 2015.
Another American golfer, Rickie Fowler, will surely be aiming to win a major in 2015, having finished in the top 5 of each in 2014. The next step along the 26 year old's career path has to be to lift a major title and to contend in other big PGA Tour events over the course of the year. Working with Butch Harmon, this could be the year that Fowler makes his mark with tour victories and not just top 5 placings.
Having only won once on tour since 2013 and now working with a new caddie for the start of this year, Adam Scott will want to back up impressive statistics with tour victories in 2015. Despite holding the world number one ranking for eleven weeks in 2014, Scott's best performance at a major was tied for 5th at The Open Championship and the Australian will be determined to improve on that in 2015. This will make Scott a very dangerous player on tour and certainly one to watch during 2015.
Other players who look set to shine in 2015 include youngster Jordan Spieth, who, following a second place finish at the Masters in 2014, has the talent to become a star on the PGA Tour. Other names to look out for are Tony Finau and Cameron Tringale, who could become well known to many around the world of golf in 2015.