Each week on GolfChannel.com, we’ll examine which players’ stocks and trends are rising and falling in the world of golf.
RISING
J-Day (+10%): It’s incomprehensible, really, that a player this immensely talented has only two wins. Here’s hoping this emotional home victory leads to a breakout campaign in 2014.
Luke (+8%): The tidy Englishman already has his own wine label, and now he will receive another200-pound shipment of Miyazaki beef after defending his title at the Dunlop Phoenix. Wonder what’s for dinner at the Donalds’?
Adam Scott (+6%): He will rue the opening 75 at the World Cup, but it’s a testament to his form that he still had a chance to win come Sunday. With his sights on the Scotty Slam, don’t bet against him.
Royal Melbourne (+4%): The Alister Mackenzie design showed its major chops by hosting back-to-back world-class events on the Aussie Swing. Regardless of what Ted Bishop might say, this gem deserves the first international PGA.
Rory (+2%): Hey, a weekend of good news for the beleaguered former world No. 1! He met Will Ferrell and saw the “Anchorman” premiere in Australia, then “amicably” settled his lawsuit with Oakley. Maybe a better-late-than-never win at Royal Sydney is next.
FALLING
Charl Schwartzel (-2%): Searching for his first home win, the former Masters champ instead threw up a final-round clunker in South Africa to finish thisclose for the third year in a row.
LPGA season-ender (-4%): Sure, this scribe might still be dealing with the effects of FedEx CupFever, but it was apparent this weekend that the women’s finale could use some added drama – playoff elimination, match play, bigger purse, something – to produce a finishing kick like the other big tours.
Stuart Manley (-6%): Dude made an ace, learned he didn’t win a new Mercedes and carded an 11, all in a half hour. At least he still finished eighth. Back to irrelevance you go.
Natalie Gulbis (-8%): Winless since 2007, the LPGA’s most telegenic star self-immolated during a final-round 82 that dropped her all the way to 29th. “I mean, I played really bad,” she said afterward. Yes, we can relate.
Tavistock Cup: (-10%): The March schedule just opened up for the members of Team Isleworth, Lake Nona, Albany, Primland, Oak Tree National and Queenwood. They’re hiding their disappointment well.
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