As part of Compleat Golfer’s year in review series, WADE PRETORIUS looks at the players who failed to deliver in 2017.
Both Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel went winless in 2017. The South African duo both had near-hits (Oosthuizen was second at the PGA Championship and Schwartzel finished inside the top five at The Masters) but will be keen to get the ball rolling early in 2018.
The upside is that both players maintained their somewhat disappointing place in the world rankings and will be building towards a tilt at Augusta National in April where both know how to perform well.
A player that we really should be expecting more from is Martin Kaymer. The German is still only 33 and as a two-time Major champ (plus a Players title) a drop of 20 places to 72nd in the world should not be acceptable. He will once again look to start well in Abu Dhabi in January where he has won twice and finished inside the top five earlier this year in what was one of three good finishes. With the Ryder Cup coming up, Team Europe need the likeable German to ramp up his performances to add some much needed experience to the squad.
Jason Day had a season to forget. The Australian started the year as the world’s best player but ended it outside the top 10.
Now 13th in the world, Day will be looking to re-enter the winner’s circle in 2018 after failing to convert at AT&T Byron Nelson (finishing second), stuttering in round three at the BMW Championship (finishing fourth) and only recording one top 10 at a Major (the PGA Championship).
Day was one of many top players to have a caddie split and 2018 may yet turn out to a be a defining year in his career.
But the biggest disappointment of the year was Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman famously lost in a playoff at the SA Open, suffered a rib injury, got married, split with his caddie, changed to TaylorMade, finished inside the top 10 six times but did not win.
McIlroy’s back injuries plagued him all year and he was never fully fit as he failed to make the season-ending Tour Championship before taking three months out of the game.
He staged a wonderful comeback at The Open before finishing T4 as he fell behind the pack of Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
Rory has some catching up to do and also will be keen to beat Spieth to the career slam when he tees it up at The Masters. Don’t bet against a rebound year of note.
