Golf: 2003 predictions

Tony Adamson BBC Five Live golf reporter looks ahead to 2003

FUTURE STARS

Luke Donald

Donald facts

Born: 7 December, 1977, High Wycombe, England

Turned pro: 2001

Tournament wins: One

Career earnings: $1,088,205

2003 European Tour calendar

With 18 first-time winners on the US tour and 14 in Europe in 2002 the game is awash with young talent.

England's Luke Donald, 25, won the last event on the US tour in his rookie season and his intention to make more appearances in Europe in the next 12 months will add to the attractions.

Justin Rose and Adam Scott
These 22-year-olds won twice each on the European Tour in 2002, and there is no doubt there will be plenty more victories for both.

Not just attractive golfers but personable young men, England's Rose and Australia's Scott are destined for greatness.

Kerry Shotton
This 16-year-old leftie from Amble in the north east of England is a very special talent.

A star of Northumberland's under-17 side, Shotton also represented the North of England against Scotland this year.

He's already claimed an impressive haul of "youngest winner" awards.

Academy: The stars of 2003

Golf review 2002

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PREDICTIONS

US Masters

Top tips

Masters: Padraig Harrington

US Open: Colin Montgomerie

Open: Ernie Els

US PGA: Phil Mickelson

Women's British Open: Annika Sorenstam

Thirteen Majors have passed since a European victory but 2003 will stop the rot - Padraig Harrington will win a green jacket at Augusta.

The Irishman enjoyed three top-10 finishes in the 2002 Majors, including fifth at the Masters, and he's currently full of confidence having beaten Tiger Woods in December.

He has also gone to the top of the European Order of Merit for the first time by winning the Asian Open, the first event of the new season.

US Open
Colin Montgomerie's 40th birthday party on the 23 June 2003 should be worth gate-crashing.

He'll be celebrating that richly deserved first Major victory having come from behind in the last round to win at Olympia Fields the previous week.

Then, and only then, can he concentrate on his new ambition, to climb Mount Everest, bad back and all.

Open Championship
The Claret Jug has spent the last six months on Ernie Els' mantelpiece and the "Big Easy" is not expecting to part company with it this year.

Woods will miss out on a 2003 Major

Els was sixth at Royal St George's in 1993 when the Open was last staged at Sandwich.

And he can become the first player since Tom Watson in 1983 to successfully defend the trophy.

USPGA
Like Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson has been tagged as the "best player never to have won a Major".

And like Montgomerie, the American will lose the tag when he walks away with the USPGA at Oak Hill.

Women's British Open
I have bad news for women professionals. Annika Sorenstam is not hanging up her spikes in favour of knitting needles.

The 32-year-old Swede won 13 times in 2002 but she says there's still room for improvement.

So get along to Turnberry in August and watch her win her first British Open.

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POTENTIAL SHOCK

Tiger Woods
You might have worked it out already, but I can't see the world number one winning a Major in 2003.

The physical and mental demands of bagging eight of the game's elite championships in five years, including four in a row, have taken their toll.

The high degree of personal, press and public expectation has been onerous.

That impregnable Woods fortress is showing signs of cracking, the "pack" is closing in and it is time for Woods to temporarily shun the spotlight, take his foot off the pedal and lead the normal life he craves.