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From Teeing Ground To Green
Reprinted from January 2006 Issue

-by JOE MADAY
Picks and Prognostications. What a year 2005 turned out to be! As I’ve stated before, I don’t make resolutions. However I did commit to a couple of things in 2005, but didn’t do well with my follow through. I didn’t cast aside the unnecessary angst that obscures the positive elements of my life. I’m just an anxious kind of guy and anxiety flows through me like sap through a tree. I think I need more golf in 2006. I only played 4 rounds in 2005 and three of them were played in September and October. However, I did take more time to smell the roses, and the freshly mown fairways, along the way. And, I’m going to make more lame predictions for 2006.

First, Let’s See, How Did I For 2005
• Tiger will rise like a phoenix from the ashes—2004 was not that bad. (+) Number one in the following categories: PGA Tour player of the year award (the seventh time in his nine full seasons), two major championships, six tour titles Money list ($10.6M), Scoring average, Birdie average, Pars, and All-around ranking. • Collin Montgomery will win a U.S. major title. (-) No U.S. major, but consider 13 top-10 finishes in 2005. Included in that stat was his emotional runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the British Open. • The 2005 Turkey Shoot will be played in less than six hours. (+) It had to be—nothing could have been slower than the 2004 edition. • 2005 President’s Cup—No Ties, the USA all the way. (+) And so it was. What a wonderful way for Jack Nicklaus to cap his career.

So, that’s three out of four for 75%. We could count Monty’s near miss if I was inclined to up my bean count, but I did limit myself to a U.S. major and I’m a strong advocate of truth in journalism. Besides, I know there are more than a couple of you out there who would take me to task if given the opportunity.

Here Are My Best Guesses For 2006
• Michelle Wie will win an LPGA major. • Collin Montgomery will win a major. • Tiger Woods will play in fewer events, but still top the money charts and win Player of The Year yet again. • I will play more than 4 rounds of golf in 2006.

Finally, congratulations to Scott Johnson and Ryan Lavoie for having the courage to go beyond their comfort zones. Scott left his job at Horn Rapids and packed up his family, for one more try on the pro golf circuit with the Grey Goose/Gateway Tour Desert Series. Scott placed at 62 on the money list after playing in 13 events. Ryan made it to the final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (AKA: Q School) where he finished T145.
Well done gentlemen!

In 2006, remember your golf etiquette. Replace your divots, repair your ball marks, rake the bunkers, and love the game. I’ll see you here, next month, in The Entertainer.

Joe Maday is a member of The Northwest Golf Media Association. He is also the Co-Founder of The Brotherhood of The Dimpled Orb™, b.o.d.o.™ Golf, and the b.o.d.o. Tour™. He has competed as a regular player on the b.o.d.o. Tour™ and was the Commissioner of the Tour’s august body of brethren. If you have any comments about this article, questions on where to play, or problems with your game, you can reach Joe at his e-mail address: bodogolf@televar.com.