It's now time for my annual golf Major predictions.

Every year, just before the Masters (the first "Major" of the year), I pick who I think will win the four Majors. I've been doing it the past two years, and I've got a pretty good record so far, especially in the Masters.

Two years ago, these were my picks:

2004 Masters - Phil Mickelson (won)
2004 U.S. Open - Mike Weir (finished T4)
2004 British - Todd Hamilton (won)
2004 PGA - Briny Baird (T37, but he was actually leading in the third round)

So, I went 2-for-4, and my other picks came close.

Last year, I did even better, sort of:

2005 Masters - Tiger Woods (won)
2005 U.S. Open - Mike Weir (T42)
2005 British - Padraig Harrington (withdrew due to Dad's death)
2005 PGA - Phil Mickelson (won)

So, I went 2-for-3 in the majors in which my pick actually played. That's one of the things about these picks. Since for all of them except the Masters, I'm picking them at least 2 months in advance, I have to predict who I think will be playing well at the predicted time, and the field's aren't even totally set yet. So, that makes it tricky. But when a player who you know will qualify for the field withdraws the week before, well that's impossible to take into account. My last-minute replacement pick was Tiger Woods, and he came through. But that's not the way the game is played.

Onto my picks for this year:

2006 Masters - Phil Mickelson-w
2006 U.S. Open - Mike Weir-x
2006 British - Luke Donald-y
2006 PGA - Tiger Woods-z

w-This is the easiest prediction, since it's closest to when I make the pick - and a 13-shot win at the BellSouth last week makes it easier.

x-I'm going with him yet again (last time I promise, if he doesn't pull it out) - I like him on a course like Winged Foot, not terribly long and though it is being lengthened it, it will still put a premium on shot-making.

y-I almost went with Padraig Harrington again, but I don't want all my picks to be the same as last year!

z-Except in the case of Tiger. He's been playing so well this year, I can't see him not winning at least one of the Majors this year. But note my Masters and PGA picks are swapped from last year. Let's see how I do.


2006