ESPN has released its PGA Tour Predictions for 2006 on its website. The panel consists of Bob Harig (ESPN.com), Jason Sobel (ESPN.com), Ron Sirak (Golf World), and Brian Wacker (GolfDigest.com) giving their predictions on who they feel is favored to be Player of the Year, the Comeback Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Disappointment of the Year.

Predictions for Player of the Year

It was no surprise that all four members of the panel chose Tiger Woods as the predicted Player of the Year in 2006. Wacker even stated that Woods “will have an even better one (year) in ‘06,” than he had in 2005.

Predictions for Comeback Player of the Year

Bob Harig and Jason Sobel both agreed that they felt Mike Weir had the potential to be the Comeback Player of the Year, after he recovers from his neck injury from last year. However, Sirak chose David Duval and Wacker was more convinced that Ernie Els would be the one to surprise us after he recovers from his knee injury.

Predictions for Rookie of the Year

For Rookie of the Year, Bob Harig and Brian Wacker both agreed that Bill Hass is the rookie to watch this year after finishing Q school. However, Sobel predicted that Camilio Villegas “will shock the world”. Whereas, Sirak predicted that Ryan Moore was be the rookie to watch out for due to his “T-13 finish in the Masters and T-2 in the Canadian Open”.

Predictions for Disappointment of the Year

With the predictions for Disappointment of the Year, all four members of the panel could not agree on one particular player. Harig felt that Vinjay Singh would receive this “crown”, whereas Sobel favored Jason Gore as the predicted 2006 Disappointment. Michael Campbell was chosen by Sirak, while Wacker thought that Sergio Garcia “had skipped his way into superstardom at the 1999 PGA Championship”, and will need “an epiphany with his putter” during the 2006 Tour.