10 years up, 10 years down. With the pomp and circumstance of an anniversary season concluded, the MGM Grand Tour now embarks on its next chapter. 10 tournaments await the Tour and with the level of competition improving year to year, the fight for wins promises to be fierce. Three of the 4 golfers who’ve made this year’s “To Watch” list did not claim a trophy last season, but could very well make amends in 2013.
FOUR TO WATCH
Clint Crump:
By all accounts, 2012 might have been one of Clint Crump’s best seasons. The only problem? He didn’t register a win, and was likely the best player without one. He finished no lower than 4th in 5 of the 8 tournaments he played in, and on more than one occasion, established a new personal best score. Crump heads into 2013 garnering a lot of interest, and of course there’s that matter with the Vargas brothers…
Tim Joe:
A year ago, charter member Tim Joe ended a 9-season, 58-tournament winless streak, making the season-opening Manhattan Beach Championship his first career win. He would record 3 top-2 finishes in 2012 and finish the season ranked 5th, the highest position of his career. With the monkey off his back, is this the genesis of a new Tim Joe?
Rene Quiroz:
Quiroz enters his 5th year, and with Tim Joe’s win last year, stands as the last Tour member without a win. His improved scores last season, and his dazzling runner-up performance at the Masters, has him certainly on the cusp of victory. Whatever Quiroz did in those magical performances – Qualifier and Masters – he needs to harness and draw from for 2013.
Walter Vargas:
Not many would call finishing the season ranked 4th a disaster, but for Walter Vargas 4th might as well be his worst result (not counting his truncated rookie season). For the first time in his 7 years on Tour he failed to register a win. Making matters worse, he entered 2012 as the reigning Player of the Year. His response this season to each passing tournament without a win will elicit heavy scrutiny.
2013 MGM Tour Calendar
January 20 – Manhattan Beach Championship
February 10 – Charly Invitational
March 9 – Hooters Team Play Championship
March 24 AND March 30 – Grand Lux Match Play Invitational
April 20-21 – The Players Championship, Las Vegas
June 23 – Griffith Observatory Championship
June (night) – Masters Qualifier
July (13 or 14) – The Masters
July (27 or 28) – Devil Ball Shootout
September (21 or 22) – Survivor Challenge
October (12 or 13) – The Tour Championship
December – The Tournament of Champions