5 Players Who Are Most Likely to Bounce Back in 2016
We know who's been playing well lately: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth (although not very recently), Henrik Stenson and Jim Furyk.
We know Day leads Spieth and Rickie Fowler in the race for the FedEx Cup.
We do not know, however, who among the underperformers this year will right the ship next season. Certainly, with FedEx Cup elimination sending more and more golfers on vacation and to prepare for 2016 every week, it's fitting to ask: "Who's going to bounce back in 2016?"
Here are five golfers you can expect to play better golf in 2016.
Rory McIlroy
1 of 5
2015 season: Rory McIlroy won twice this season. However, an ankle injury prior to the Open Championship kept him out of the season's final major. He finished 17th at the PGA Championship in his return and tied for 29th at the Deutsche Bank Championship. In other words, he's been rusty since returning to action.
Key problems: Ankle injury, layoff.
Why he'll bounce back: As he continues to play golf and practice over the offseason, McIlroy will undoubtedly get right.
Jason Dufner
2 of 5
2015 season: Jason Dufner has made 17 of 21 cuts this season with just two top-10 finishes. His best finish in a major this season was a tie for 18th at the U.S. Open. In his past five starts, Dufner hasn't finished better than tied for 30th.
Key problems: Dufner's putting has fallen off a bit this season (he's ranked 188th in total putting), and as such, he simply hasn't made as many birdies.
Why he'll bounce back: Dufner went through a divorce this past year, and it's easy to think that had a negative effect on his play. Hopefully in a better headspace next season, he'll play better golf.
Graeme McDowell
3 of 5
2015 season: Graeme McDowell has made just eight of 15 cuts this season. He didn't finish better than tied for 49th in a major and has just one top-10 finish.
Key problems: He hit just 62.68 percent of greens in regulation this year to rank 180th on tour. It's tough to compete when your approach game is that bad.
Why he'll bounce back: According to John Holmes of PGA.com, McDowell has rededicated himself to practice in hopes of making the 2016 Ryder Cup team that will compete at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota.
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Tiger Woods
4 of 5
2015 season: Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods' season was defined by inconsistency off the tee, not really playing enough to get his game together and occasional issues with his short game. Woods tied for 10th in his final start of the season (the Wyndham Championship) and contended on the weekend, which was the high-water mark of a season that included missed cuts at three of four majors.
Key problems: With a driving accuracy percentage of 55.75, he ranked near the bottom of the rankings: It all started there for Woods this season.
Why he'll bounce back: It's impossible to believe that Woods won't eventually get back to at least 2013 levels of driving accuracy (62.5 percent) with continued work.
Adam Scott
5 of 5
2015 season: Adam Scott made 11 of 15 cuts this season with three top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open.
Key problems: Putting. Scott is 162nd in strokes gained from putting this season.
Why he'll bounce back: Scott will have no choice but to adapt to using the conventional-length putter (or at the very least, a non-anchored putter) in 2016. With the USGA's ban on the anchored putting stroke going into effect, Scott won't have the "should-I-or-shouldn't-I-anchor" debate. With fewer options, look for him to commit to something rather than going back and forth with little success, as he did this season.
All stats via PGATour.com.
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