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A16 SPORTS
Friday 8 January 2021
Maui Musings: 5 questions for a new year in golf

By DOUG FERGUSON TOKYO
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — March looms as a signifi-
Justin Thomas and Xander cant mile marker for decid-
Schauffele were discuss- ing the fate of the Olym-
ing the quality of a certain pics. Regardless of who
golf shot, not belonging to represents which country,
either one of them, when it could be a huge setback
the conversation turned for golf if it wants to build
into the self-deprecating momentum from its suc-
variety. cessful return to the Olym-
"If you want to know how pics in 2016. It needs the
to hook a 3-wood into the gold medal to really mean
garbage, I can help with something.
that," Thomas said. It does to Justin Rose. He
"If you need to know how won in Rio de Janeiro, but
to three-putt," Schauffele the one-year delay didn't
countered, pointing to- help his chances of return-
ward the 18th green at Ka- ing. Rose went into last year
palua. at No. 8 in the world, the
Thomas hit such a shot last highest-ranked player for
year in the Sentry Tourna- Team GB. Now he is No. 35,
ment of Champions and it the fifth-ranked British play-
nearly cost him. He made er, and countries only get
bogey on the last hole, more than two players — a
which appeared to open maximum of four — if they
the door for Schauffele un- are among the top 15.
til his three-putt par led to The battle to wear the Stars
a three-man playoff that & Stripes figures to be fierce
Thomas won. as ever, especially with 11
But that was last year. Americans among the top
It's time to look ahead, and 15. That starts with John-
considering how 2020 un- son, who had no intention
folded, the hope is it can of playing at the start of
only get better. Here are last year because he didn't
five topics to consider be- want to be worn out head-
fore Hudson Swafford hits ing into the FedEx Cup
the first shot of the new postseason.
year: As for Woods? He started
THE FANS last year at No. 8, fourth
Rickie Fowler was asked the among Americans. Now
last time he heard some- he's at No. 41. His Olympic
one cheer for him. Not a flame is flickering.
few claps from volunteers Dustin Johnson plays his shot from the first tee during a practice round prior to the Tournament TIGER WOODS
or staff members at a golf of Champions golf event, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, A year ago, breaking the
Hawaii.
course, but a real, throaty Associated Press PGA Tour record with vic-
cheer. He thought back tory No. 83 seemed more
to Thursday at The Players ning for 8,000, a fraction of captain Steve Stricker gets Johnson won or was run- like "when" than "if." Now
Championship, the day be- its normal crowd. six picks this time, and he's ner-up in six of his last seven it's probably somewhere
fore COVID-19 shut down The next decision falls to still eight months and four tournaments. The excep- in between, and only be-
golf. Florida, about two months majors away from getting tion was a tie for sixth at the cause he's Tiger Woods.
"It was a bad round, but away, which is starting a sense of who will be there U.S. Open. The pandemic was disrup-
I have to think there was to feel as though it's right and who should be there. That's why he's not only tive, as was his health in
maybe a good shot in around the corner. The big Tiger Woods is at No. 17 and No. 1 in the world, but has March (Woods didn't play
there," he said. question is Augusta Nation- is not playing very often. the largest gap over No. 2 for a month before golf
Golf hasn't been the same al. And no one is more con- Is he worth another pick? since Rory McIlroy at the shut down). After he start-
without them. Schauffele cerned than Ryder Cup of- Phil Mickelson has played start of 2015. ed the year by breaking
was asked when he ficials. in every Ryder Cup since McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan par all four rounds and ty-
thought they might return THE RYDER CUP 1995 — Morikawa wasn't Spieth and Justin Thomas ing for ninth at Torrey Pines,
and he said, "Hopefully, as No other golf tournament even born then. He turns 51 all have had moments of Woods never contended.
soon as possible." relies so much on noise in June and is approaching brilliance. Sustaining it over In the next seven tourna-
There will be a small gath- than the Ryder Cup, which the two-year anniversary of the course of the year has ments where he made the
ering of people seated is why it was postponed his last win. Since the last been the hard part. No one cut, Woods finished on av-
around the 18th green at from last September. This Ryder Cup, Lefty has fin- since Woods in 2009 has erage more than 18 shots
Kapalua, but they can't time, it might not have a ished a combined 84 shots stayed at No. 1 an entire behind the winner.
go anywhere else. No fans choice but to play with or behind in the five majors he year. The record is still one victory
in Honolulu or in California without fans. made the cut. Jon Rahm and Thomas are away. And he's still Tiger
(the Genesis Invitational But who plays? American golf is deep. And behind Johnson, and both Woods. But it's not getting
hasn't announced a plan, The top six going into 2021 young. are capable of big years. any easier. Only three play-
but considering the cir- are Dustin Johnson, Bryson THE BATTLE FOR NO. 1 Bryson DeChambeau is ers older than Woods (45)
cumstances in Los Angeles, DeChambeau, Thomas, By counting the FedEx Cup swinging faster and faster have won a major — Jack
no fans can be expected). Brooks Koepka, Collin Mori- and not the raw score at and promising to reach Nicklaus, Old Tom Morris
The Phoenix Open is plan- kawa and Schauffele. U.S. the Tour Championship, new frontiers. and Julius Boros.q