Jason Day and Adam Scott went within a whisker of winning the US Masters last year, and Australian golf fans are expecting a little more in 2012. Our expectations have been raised and nothing short of a major will be suffice.
Despite these sort of lofty expectations, Australian golfers have begun 2012 sluggishly.
Some are just finding their feet again on the big stage, such as Matt Goggin and Gavin Coles. Geoff Ogilvy has showed glimpses of form and Adam Scott has yet to be sighted.
John Senden has begun the year like he left off 2011, with two top-25 finishes from two starts. Ogilvy showed some form on the weekend with a good finish at Pebble Beach, but Jason Day’s second place in Qatar has been the stand-out in an otherwise uneventful start for the Aussies.
With this in mind, there are only five Australians who could legitimately win a major this year, and contrary to what most may think, Jason Day isn’t the first choice.
Adam Scott (world No. 8)
Picking Adam Scott won’t surprise anyone, but he is our best chance this year. His 2011 US Masters was very good, and Scott’s tee shot on 16 during the final round was as good a moment for Australian golf fans as we’ve had for many years.
Scott’s golf since Steve Williams started carrying his bag has looked solid, including the fantastic win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. With all of that associated drama behind him, it is not hard to imagine Scott challenging the Europeans for best golfer in the world, and holding a major trophy (or jacket) before the end of the year.
Best chance: US Masters
John Senden (world No. 42)
Senden looks to be finding his groove, and has easily been the best Australian golfer since last July. His record in his last 11 events is superb; nine top-25s including three top 10s.
Senden is consistently getting himself into a position to win, and has bounced back from poor rounds time after time. Based on form alone, he is a good chance to contend for one of the majors this year, particularly if he makes the US Open field at the difficult Olympic Club.
Best chance: US Open
Jason Day (world No. 7)
Australia’s poster boy for golf right now is Jason Day, and we’re all waiting to see if he can grab a jacket or claret jug in 2012. At only 24, it is a rather large expectation. The pressure he put on himself at the President’s Cup was obvious and his golf didn’t quite measure up.
Day has already started the year well, with a second spot a few weeks ago on the European tour. He plays the target golf courses of the US better than any Aussie, and if he can ignore the hype, he can be the first Australian since Geoff Ogilvy to win a major.
Best chance: US Masters
Geoff Ogilvy (world No. 46)
Remember Geoff Ogilvy? He’s our last major champion and for a long time was a chance to win most big golf tournaments. Ever since the accident in the waters of Hawaii in early 2011 that left stitches in his fingers, he hasn’t quite recaptured the form we all know from Ogilvy.
His final round at the US Masters was overshadowed by the golf from Scott and Day. The fourth place will be fresh in his mind as he takes his moustache to Augusta in April.
Best chance: US Masters
Greg Chalmers (world No. 63)
He doesn’t have a spot in all of the majors just yet, but Snake may have turned a mental corner to snatch an unlikely victory if he does.
His Australian performances last year were sensational and he looks to be translating that form to the PGA Tour. He is the sort of bloke that can eke out a good round from a bad one in any sort of weather. With an assured spot in The Open Championship, you can guarantee Chalmers already has Royal Lytham mapped out.
Best chance: British Open
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