With the New Year being just days away, it would be good to analyse what to expect from the game of golf in 2023.
The 2022 golf season was nothing short of phenomenal. There were some surprising victories and some major improvements among players. There was also the issue of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, which has threatened the current order.
If 2022 was phenomenal, then 2023 is expected to be a lot more with some of the things we can expect from it.
The first thing to look out for is the LIV Golf Invitational Series. The league started in the middle of 2022, but six months was enough for the league to become a trend that seemed like a threat to the other established leagues, particularly the PGA Tour, and it resulted in some legal issues between the two. With the LIV Series and PGA Tour unable to reach a common ground in 2022, it would be interesting to see how well they would fare in 2023.
Also, the LIV Series would further their quest for recognition, such as by applying again for OWGR points to be awarded for each event. The league is also expected to advance the cause of their players and see that they are allowed back into the leagues they left for the LIV.
Another thing to watch out for in 2023 is Tiger Woods, and how continues to heal from the injuries he sustained in an accident nearly two years ago.
Woods saw a bit of action in 2022, playing in some events, but it was definitely nothing like the old days, as all these while, he has been healing.
In 2023, the former world number one has said that he would try to play in all majors of the year and also enter more events than he did in 2022. This is a sign that the champ may be nearing the end of the healing phase.
2023 may also be the year that Rory McIlroy would win his first major in 8 years. The last time the Northern Irishman won a major was in 2014 at The Open Championship.
Since then, the 33-year-old, currently ranked world number one, has had some unlucky major tryouts. In 2022, he came close to winning one, after finishing second-place at the Masters Tournament. He had a particularly good year in 2022, and it is expected to even get better in 2023, meaning a new major.
Written by: Leon Osamor
