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PGA TOUR 2007 forecast: Newcomer to watch
 
Dec. 27, 2006
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PGATOUR.com's panel of prognosticators have taken time out from their holiday cheer to take a look at the 2007 season. We're pondering the top stories, picking players to watch and going out on a limb to predict the winner of the inaugural FedExCup and Presidents Cup. Hopefully, we won't make total fools of ourselves, but only time will tell.

Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Anthony Kim
The chalk selection, sure, but how can anyone go against a 21-year-old who dominated as a junior, collegian and amateur? A year ago he was the top-ranked college player according to Golf World and Golfweek. He left the University of Oklahoma after his junior season and in early December chugged through q-schoool, placing 13th. He shrugged off lackluster play in the NCAA Division I Championship (Oklahoma missed 54-hole cut) and U.S. Amateur (missed match play by one) by nearly winning the Texas Valero Open (tied for second, three shots behind Eric Axley after a final-round 65) and taking a pretty good cut at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic (tied for 16th). Add the $25,000 he picked up at q-school and Kim topped $370,000 in three months. With his high finish coming out of q-school Kim should get plenty of quality early starts. As with every rookie he needs to learn time management, media wrangling and driving with a map in one hand as he finds his way around each city. But hes got the goods to contend a few times this season.
Lauren Deason
PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Kyle Reifers
The U.S. desperately needs some talented 20-somethings to step forward and there are several possible candidates. From the q-school side, its Anthony Kim, the youngest rookie on TOUR in 2007 and a three-time NCAA All-American who tied for second in his TOUR debut at the 2006 Valero Texas Open. Among those with Nationwide Tour experience, the best TOUR rookies are Michael Putnam, who has not won a tournament yet but had 10 top-20 finishes on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 and tied for fourth in his professional PGA TOUR debut in 2005 at the Buick Championship. Or it could be q-school grad Kyle Reifers, who won in his first professional tournament on the Tar Heel Tour then captured his first Nationwide Tour start at the 2006 Chattanooga Classic after qualifying for that event on Monday. Reifers is most likely to win first, as he has shown the ability to start strong after joining a tour.
Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: Thomas Brent Weekly
You know him as Boo. Hes been there, didnt do that. And now hes got a second chance. Hes got this travel thing down now. Hes not going to let the city boys bother him. And he believes in his heart, if you work hard enough, good things will come to you. Hes got focus. Hes got game. Hell be right there, so dont get too wrapped up in watching young guns Anthony Kim or Johnson Wagner or almost-fiftysomething rookie Jim Rutledge.
John Maginnes
PGA TOUR Network on XM Satellite Radio analyst
Pick: Jim Rutledge
If you are a young woman you are still watching Camilo Villegas and Adam Scott. But if you take away their respective accents, what are you really left with? A couple of rich, handsome and supremely talented young men who conduct themselves like professionals. And who wants to take that home to Mom? However, my sentimental favorite is Canada's Jim Rutledge. At 47, he will be the second oldest rookie in PGA TOUR history (Allen Doyle was 48 back in 1996). Jim is the picture of perseverance having been a professional since 1978 and he has t-shirts older than Camilo and Adam.
Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Ken Duke
He just wanted to keep his Nationwide Tour card. Instead, he ended up as the Player of the Year. As a result, Ken Duke returns to the PGA TOUR this year a much more confident pro than the one who finished 168th on the money list in his rookie season in 2004. He has Bob Toski to thank, and the lessons he learned from the master on the range produced one win and nine top-10s as Duke finished No. 1 on the money list and first in the all-around category. The 37-year-olds two forays on TOUR in 2006 werent bad either - a tie for 26th at Doral and joint 14th at the Wachovia Championship.
Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: Bryce Molder
For 2006 yours truly, the TOUR Insider, tabbed an international player with all-around credentials to make inroads, and Camilo Villegas didnt disappoint, contending in several tournaments and courting cross-over appeal that might have earned him Rookie of the Year honors were it not for Trevor Immelmans fine season. This time its a feel-good story that might emerge with Bryce Molder, the former Georgia Tech All-American, who has finally found his way to the TOUR after being stymied time and again since turning pro in 2001. Molder, who holds the NCAA record for lowest career stroke average (70.69), won his first pro tournament last year on the Nationwide Tour, and, like Villegas, brings to the big leagues an all-around solid game and an ability to make birdies. He may well find excelling on TOUR easier than getting there.
Mike Vitti
PGATOUR.com ShotLink analyst
Pick: Andrew Buckle
Past performance is no guarantee of future success, but Andrew Buckle had six top-10s in 18 starts on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 and was second in the all-around ranking. Buckle has an excellent combination of power off the tee and touch around the greens. Last year on the Nationwide Tour he ranked fourth in driving distance, tied for third in sand saves, tied for fifth in scrambling and was 18th in putting average. However, his best attribute is probably his ability to score -- Buckle was first in birdie average and third in birdie conversion percentage.