Year after year, the glorious game of golf tends to throw up a surprise package from absolutely nowhere.
In 2006 Australia's Geoff Ogilvy capitalised on final-hole failings from Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie to win the US Open and in 2007 Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera picked unlikely Majors.
It would, therefore, be a surprise if 2008 did not come up with a shock somewhere along the line.
One man who I believe will come to the fore this year is England's Ian Poulter. Since the man from Milton Keynes won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award in 1999, he's performed consistently on both sides of the Atlantic, positioned himself in the top 30 of the world and made one Ryder Cup appearance.
And although he's probably better known for his outlandish dress and appearances on TV shows such as Soccer AM at present, I fully expect that to change this year, mainly due to an event that takes place at Valhalla in late September.
So far in his career, Arsenal fan Poulter has tended to make the cut at Majors without featuring at the business-end of events and to date has bagged just one top-10 finish – at the USPGA in 2006. That said, he did play in all four rounds of every Major in 2007 and managed a top-13 finish at the Masters.
Augusta National, home of the Masters, may be a track that suits Poulter's game. He's long enough off the tee when required and is capable of getting up and down under pressure.
Also, in each of his three appearances there Poulter has made the cut, with a worst finish of 33rd.
Making Nick Faldo's final 12 for Kentucky will be Poulter's primary aim and I believe that particular bounty will spur him on in 2008 – possibly to Major success.
The 32-year-old loved every minute of his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004, under the captaincy of Bernhard Langer, and would love to be a part of a second American success story.
By James Varley
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