With Tiger on the sidelines until who knows when we will have a wide open 2010. Phil will surely be gunning for the #1 player spot in the world, but "not so fast my friend" as Lee Corso says. There is a guy that goes by the name of Zach that would like to elevate his game in 2010 to the next level. At times during the 2009 campaign, Zach Johnson flirted with the top spot in both the FedExCup and on the PGA TOUR money list. Another challenge in 2010 just might end up differently if Johnson can build on this career year. Johnson set the tone for 2009 early when he tied for sixth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Maui and then hopped over to Oahu where he fired a 65 in the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii to beat David Toms and Adam Scott by one stroke. Johnson also successfully defended his title at the Valero Texas Open where he shot 60 in the third round and eventually beat James Driscoll with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death. Along the way, he tied for second at the John Deere Classic and finished solo third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. His tie for 10th at the PGA was the 2007 Masters champion's second top-10 in a major and one of a career-high eight top-10s for the season. Johnson earned more than $4 million for the first time in his career and finished sixth in the FedExCup.

Next week we will talk about my sleepers in 2010 and your chance to to play with me in a SOPGA PRO-Am in 2010. See you next week and have a Happy New Year!

Go Bucks! Sley the Ducks!

Happy Holidays to All!

A happy holiday to all! I just have so many topics to talk about, but am choosing Ken Green. Many of you know him from the 80's and early 90's when he won five times on the PGA Tour. I had the pleasure of hosting him at Forest Oaks when he won the Greater Greensboro Open in 1988. He was very outspoken and worked extremely hard for what he received. Today he is in the biggest fight of his career coming back from a tragic RV accident on the way back from a Champion Tour event. A blown tire caused him to loose control killing his brother, girlfriend and dog. Ken was thrown thru the windshield and lost his right leg from the knee down. Ken is determined to come back and if anyone can he will. Good luck to Ken he is a true gentlemen and friend.

2010 will be very interesting with the groove change. I just received my new irons with conforming grooves. I will let you know what I think after the holidays.

When will Tiger return? I think that's the big question. E-mail me when you think he will return and the winner will receive a free swing evaluation. paulnewman@pga.com

Click Here for Paul's Tip of the Week!

PGA Q-School, Tiger and More

With the PGA Q-School complete we now can look forward to another great season in 2010. Columbus native and Northwestern standout Chris Wilson will be playing on the big stage in 2010. Wilson played only one tour event in his young career at the Memorial last year missing the cut. Since graduating from Northwestern in 2007 he has been playing the Hooter's Tour. He finished in a tie for 12th at -12 for the week. Joe Ogilvie from Lancaster will be back also, he finished in a tie for 15th @ -11.

Okay... I cannot go on without a comment or two about Tiger. We now know the guy is human, I was wondering for a while. Do you think this may be a reason Phil and Tiger do not get along? I have to say that's the rumor right now.

Let's say this, for many years PGA Tour players have had a less than perfect record when it comes to marriage. Fred Couples is a good example of that. Professional athletes get more attention than the average guy can imagine. So good luck Tiger in getting you life back in order. This one is far from over...more to come!

Jim Furyk ended a two year drought this past weekend by holing two key putts on the 17th and 18th holes. On seventeen he holed a thirty five footer for par and then birdied 18 for the one shot victory. Lee Westwood continues to play well finishing one shot behind.