The Favorites are Winning

Each season on the PGA Tour seems to tell a different story.  While there are dozens of winners each year, a theme will develop during the course of the season.  Some years are dominated by one particular player (ahhhhhh 2000s Tiger Woods era), and others are dominated by first-time winners.

While 2019 is just kicking off the Florida swing this week, if the year had to have a theme, it would be the year of the favorites.  I can’t remember the last time so many fan favorites have captured a Tour win this early in the year.  Sure, over the course of a year, you will see the top names in golf grab a victory.  But the golfers who tend to get the most attention and dominate ad space (with the exception of Woods) have already punched a ticket to the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

And while fans’enjoy seeing their favorite players win, it also muddies the waters as to who is the favorite heading into the majors. Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson continue to trade-off the No. 1 ranking in the world with one another.  Either could be considered a favorite heading into Augusta.  Mickelson has won twice in the last twelve-months which breeds confidence into his Grand Slam aspirations at Pebble Beach this June.

And with other top pros like Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas showing brilliance early this year, it’s just a matter of time before this list grows.