2014 was an intriguing year in golf. We saw the resurgence of Rory McIlroy, the continuing exploits of Lydia Ko on the LPGA Tour, and a Ryder Cup that was mired in controversy. We witnessed the rise of a new generation of player; led by Jordan Spieth and supported by the likes of Patrick Reed, Victor Dubuisson and Billy Horschel.  It was the year in which Michelle Wie finally won a major championship, and the one in which Dustin Johnson took a mysterious leave of absence from the Tour.

It was a year of many things, and it was certainly memorable.

But that is all in the past. And this year could prove to be a compelling sequel. There is much to look forward to in 2015. The potential is there for a thrilling year in golf, and it is time to look ahead to some of the events and championships that may define it.

79th Masters Tournament

No matter the year, golf’s annual sojourn at Augusta National is always a highlight. The Masters has long etched its place in the fabric of American sporting culture, and its stature continues to grow around the world.

There is a comforting familiarity about the tournament being held on the same course each year. Viewers have a knowledge of each hole, which provides a personal connection unlike any other event. Take into account its status as the first major on the calendar, and you have the perfect antidote for golfers still recovering from the winter blues.

This year’s pre-Masters headlines will rightly be dominated by Rory McIlroy. The reigning Open and PGA Champion has a chance to complete the career Grand Slam at the tender age of just 25.  Nicklaus, Woods, Player, Sarazen and Hogan are the only players who have completed golf’s modern quartet of major triumphs, which places the Northern Irishman on the cusp of joining the game’s most exclusive club.

It is almost unthinkable that a player with his power and talent won’t win at Augusta National at some point in his career, but a triumph this April would be particularly thrilling.

But, as the Masters unearths another champion, one will bow out from competition this year. Ben Crenshaw, the two-time champion will take his final walk around Augusta in front of the galleries. The highly respected Texan confirmed during last year’s Masters that 2015, coincidentally the 20th anniversary of his second victory, would be his 44th and final appearance in the event.

There are sure to be a few watery eyes on the premises as Crenshaw and his faithful caddie Carl Jackson make that walk up the 18th one last time.

144th Open Championship

Golf’s oldest championship is always something to anticipate. With it being a celebration of the game’s purest form, the players are tested in a different manner to what they are accustomed to. That in itself is highly intriguing, as it allows us to quickly identify the players with the most varied and adaptable skill-set.

There is something highly unique about the Open Championship. With it being the only major held outside of the United States, the week just feels that little bit different as a whole. That instantly elevates the stature of the championship, as what we are witnessing becomes that bit more special due its uniqueness.

But there is something just that little bit more significant about the Open when the championship makes its quinquennial stop in St Andrews. The history and familiar backdrop of the Old Course adds another dynamic to the Open when it is there, for both viewers and competitors, and it unquestionably provides that little bit of added motivation for those involved.

As a certain Mr. Tiger Woods once said: “To win at St Andrews is the ultimate.”

There was also be a subplot to this year, as, much like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson will make his final Open appearance in St. Andrews. The five-time champion, immensely popular with the Scottish galleries, will compete in the championship for one final time. Irrespective of the fallout coming from his dismal Ryder Cup captaincy, Watson, the player, deserves such a grand farewell.

Golf’s greatest championship being played at the game’s most historic venue is truly the ultimate.

2015 Solheim Cup

The female equivalent to the Ryder Cup continues to grow in popularity. It provides an excellent showcase for the woman’s game, and opportunity for golf fans enjoy the thrills of Matchplay.

And with Europe having won the last two editions of the Solheim, the event has been injected with a much needed dose of competitiveness.

The legendary Juli Inkster has been tasked with bringing back the Cup for the USA, and with the likes of Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wie on her side, the 54-year-old will have a formidable pool of players in Germany this September.

But do not rule out the Europeans. Much like their male counterparts, Europe have consistently shown that they are able to come together as a team more effectively than their opponents. With the impressive Charley Hull ably backed up by the likes of Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist and Azahara Munoz, Carin Koch will be confident that she can lead the Europeans to an unprecedented hat-trick of victories.

It will certainly be fun to watch.

115th US Open

Just as was the case at the 114th edition of America’s National Championship at the restored Pinehurst No. 2, the venue is what has proven to be the most intriguing component in the lead-up to this year’s U.S. Open.

Chambers Bay (in Washington State) will be the first “new” venue on the U.S. Open rota this century. Opened in 2007, this links-style course was built on the site of a former sand quarry, which has provided it with the sandy soil commonly associated with seaside courses in the British Isles.

Not a typical U.S. Open, then.

It remains to be seen just how much like a true links that Chambers Bay will reflect in competition, but its inclusion to the rota suggests a continuing shift in approach from the USGA, diverting from the previously turgidly one dimensional setups of years gone by.

That all makes the 115th edition of the Championship just that little bit more interesting from the outset.

2015 Irish Open

It sadly isn’t often that we see Tour events contested on the world’s great courses. Mediocre would be a kind word to describe a large proportion of the venues we see each week on the PGA and European Tours. But this year’s Irish Open in May will be a welcome exception.

Royal County Down is regarded by some to be the best links course in the world. It is certainly in the conversation, and its list of admirers will only grow when Ireland’s National Open makes its return after 76 years. With the event being spearheaded by Rory McIlroy, a strong field is likely, with Rickie Fowler (who played against McIlroy at County Down in the 2007 Walker Cup) one of the first to answer the call from the world number one.

This year’s Irish Open will be a celebration of what the game should be about. You’re going to love it.

2015 will be a year of potentially historic triumphs, great courses and farewells. And there are sure to be one or two surprises thrown in too.

Bring it on.