PGA Tour: 10 golf phrases to guide you through the 2018-2019 season

With the Ryder Cup and Tour Championship in the rear view mirror, it’s time to look to the future. Here are some familiar phrases from the links to help you get the most out of the next PGA Tour season.

Shotgun start – No rest for the weary. It seems like it was just a few days ago that the Ryder Cup wrapped up, and yet players are already suiting up for the Safeway Open to kick off the new season on Oct. 4. The lack of an off season could quietly be the best thing about the PGA Tour. Football fans watch their favorite team 16 times per year. Golf fans tune in 16 times in a month, just about 12 months a year. Take your positions, the starting gun is loaded.

Keep your head down: This is great advice for those still reeling from Tiger Woods’ poor performance at the Ryder Cup. As the gallery erupted following Woods’ victory at the Tour Championship, so did expectations for his 2019 season. Remember when we thought Tiger was back after the Hero World Challenge because he made a bunch of birdies and finished middle of the pack?

This time he actually won. Tiger is back. But being back will be hard on Tiger’s back. He can’t maintain the momentum forever, and The Ryder Cup signaled the inevitable cool down period. The emotional and physical wear and tear of the last few months took its toll, and we don’t know how his body will hold up through 2019.

Keep your eye on the ball – In the case of Matt Kuchar, you should keep your eye on the bald. Kuchar doesn’t deserve bald jokes. He’s too nice a guy. But he does deserve to have you keep an eye on him this year. 2019 will be Kuchar’s 20th season since turning pro in 2000. He’s 40 years old and the 33rd-ranked player in the world. His window for winning that elusive first major is still open, but not by much. Could 2019 be the year?

One time! – You don’t often see 1s in golf. They’re notable on the scorecard, and even more rare in the world rankings. Being No. 1 is something that players sometimes shy away from, but others betray the facade and speak candidly about the bragging rights and the validation. You’ve heard the expression “it’s lonely at the top.” That doesn’t apply here. Dustin Johnson leads the pack, but Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas are well within striking distance, and they are all excellent ball strikers. We could see the coveted top spot changing hands throughout the season.

Swing through it – Don’t get caught up on the couch. Remember, it’s more fun to play than to watch. You can always read about what happened after the fact on FanSided.

Trees are 90% air – And Hideki Matsuyama’s swing is 90 percent pausing halfway through it. Hideki had a bit of a down year in 2018. As it goes with his swing, so it goes with his game. Be patient, it’ll come around.

Play it where it lies – USGA Rule changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2019. Many of the changes are designed to improve pace of play and make the sport more approachable. In 2019, players only have three minutes to search for a lost ball instead of the five they currently enjoy. I suggest you use the additional two minutes you’ve gained watching one third of this Michael Jordan highlight video. 

Knee knocker – Will Jordan Spieth regain his confidence on the greens in 2019? Take a look at this putting statistics from last season:

Inside 10 feet – 108th on tour

10-15 feet – 85th

15-20 feet – 187th

20-25 feet – 162nd

Yikes. Spieth needs a bounce back year after missing the Tour Championship. Putt for dough, Jordan.

Up and down – The U.S. struggled at the Ryder Cup, that’s the down, but 2019’s Presidents Cup could be a different story, so things are looking up. The US team, captained by none other than Tiger Woods, will take on Ernie Els’ international squad at Royal Melbourne, where the only thing faster than the greens back in 2011 was the (insert Australian stereotype).

Go for the green – That’s what Tiger and Phil will do when they face off in the highly-anticipated publicity stunt/media circus/personal branding conference of a golf match in November. It’s a prime time money grab under the lights of Vegas. Go get paid, guys!

This upcoming golf season is the perfect time to take your medicine, grip it, rip it, point out which dogs will hunt and offer as many good for goods as you can. When it’s over, we’ll bump and run into 2020.