New Year's Resolutions for the Top Stars on the PGA Tour

Break out the noisemakers, poppers and those lovely "2015" glasses. The new year is upon us. And, if you didn't notice, the (2014-)2015 golf season has already begun.

Thus, it's unclear whether the tour's best made their resolutions prior to the start of the 2014-2015 season in October or waited until closer to the first of the year...another unexpected wonder of the tour's decision to implement a wraparound calendar. What are the stars of the PGA Tour to do, commissioner Finchem? 

Regardless, let's have a look at what some of the brightest stars in the game ought to resolve to do (or not to do) in 2015. 

Jordan Spieth

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2015 resolution: Continue early 2014-2015 season form

The 2014 season was a step forward for 21-year-old Jordan Spieth in certain regards and not so much in others. While he challenged Bubba Watson at the Masters and teetered on the precipice of his first major victory, Spieth did not ultimately record any wins in 2014.

Thus, with a win in 2013 and no wins in 2013, Spieth could have been viewed as trending downward in the past season.

The native Texan silenced any such discussion, however, with convincing wins in consecutive weeks at the Australian Open and the Hero World Challenge.

For 2015, then, he ought to resolve to keep doing what he’s doing. It’s working.

Sergio Garcia

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2015 resolution: Finally win a major

Here’s a popular trope that finds its way into nearly every article related to the golfer: Sergio Garcia isn’t the fresh-faced 19-year-old that nearly toppled Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship. He’s now a 34-year-old who has recorded 19 top-10 finishes in major championships.

While the Spaniard didn’t raise a trophy in 2014, he was remarkably consistent—and good, nearly chasing down Rory McIlroy at The Open Championship. Garcia showed determination and a reluctance to merely roll over down the stretch at Hoylake.

Let’s hope he resolves to take a similar approach to the majors in 2015 and win one.

Rickie Fowler

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2015 resolution: Build on success in 2014 majors

Here are Rickie Fowler’s finishes in the 2014 majors.

• Masters: T5
• U.S. Open: T2
• Open Championship: T2
• PGA Championship: T3

His resolution for 2015, then, is to build on his quality showings in golf’s most significant tournaments. If his tools are sharp enough to finish inside the top five at all four majors, he certainly has what it takes to win one.

Phil Mickelson

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2015 resolution: Win the U.S. Open

2014 was a forgettable year for Phil Mickelson. The 44-year-old had just one finish inside the top 10, and the year will be best remembered as the one in which Mickelson openly questioned captain Tom Watson following the United States’ lopsided defeat at Gleneagles.

Lefty’s most important career objective going forward: win the U.S. Open. He’s finished second at the tournament a record six times, and a victory at Chambers Bay would make Mickelson the sixth man to win the career Grand Slam. 

Bubba Watson

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2015 resolution: No on-course outbursts

Bubba Watson has always had a bit of a propensity for on-course tantrums. This year, however, was particularly bad, specifically at the PGA Championship. There, the mercurial lefty refused to participate in a practice round long drive competition. 

To make matters worse, he pouted and whined about rainy conditions, even having his eternally dutiful caddy, Ted Scott, tee up a ball for him.

Hopefully, Mr. Watson will resolve to do less of the above next season. 

Tiger Woods

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2015 resolution: Win every tournament he enters

This is just to refresh your perspective on Tiger Woods: He expects to win every time he tees it up. Thus, when he sits down to think about his New Year's resolutions, he'll resolve to win every tournament he enters in the 2014-2015 season. 

Maybe he won't win a major. Maybe he won't even win a tournament. He will, however, resolve to, prepare to and expect to win every time he tees it up in the year ahead. 

Rory McIlroy

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2015 resolution: Win the Masters

Whatever else he plans on doing in 2015, you know Rory McIlroy is setting out to win the Masters for the career Grand Slam. 

As McIlroy said in August (per CNN):

"

I wanted to go to Augusta with four major championships, and I want to go to Augusta next year trying to win five and trying to win the career grand slam. I've refocused and I've rededicated myself and this is important to me. This is my career and I want to make the most of it.

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