It's the Year of the Tiger, but Chinese fortune tellers say it'll be a rough patch for the world's most famous one: disgraced golfer Tiger Woods。

Other predictions: trying times for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, turmoilin the financial markets, spikes in fire-related natural disasters anda crucial period for US President Barack Obama。

Under the school of feng shui - the traditional Chinese practice ofpredicting fortunes through dates and classical Chinese texts - the newlunar year starting Sunday is associated with the natural elements of metal, wood, thunder and fire. Metal is a symbol of righteous action -like waging war. Thunder and fire symbolize volatility, while wood feeds the fire。

It's a recipe for geopolitical tensions and drastic market movements, feng shui experts say。

"People will try to take on the strong and help the weak. They will try to help their fellow brothers. They will help friends who are being bullied. This year will be more violent," Hong Kong feng shui adviser Raymond Lo said, notingthat the previous Year of the Tiger associated with metal was 1950 -the year the Korean War broke out。

The Chinese zodiac operates on a rotation of 12 different signs, or animals. People who are entering a year whose sign is the same as their birth year's are considered "in clash" and may have bad luck, according to feng shui belief. But while Chinese fortune tellers give tigers a conservativeout look this year, the zodiac sign that causes the most serious conflict this year is the monkey。

The most notable monkey in world politics is Ban. The South Korean "willface a lot of trouble this year," Lo said. Other famous monkeys includeIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, NBA star Yao Ming, singers DianaRoss, Celine Dion and actors Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Hanks, MichaelDouglas, Owen Wilson and Daniel Craig。

The world's best-known "tiger" - American golfer Tiger Woods - actuallyisn't a tiger nor a monkey, according to the lunar calendar. BornDecember 30, 1975, the 14-time major winner is a rabbit。

But Woods' birth date is associated with metal, which clashes with the presence of metal in the coming lunar year. So after admitting tocheating on his wife and taking an indefinite leave from golf in December, the 34-year-old can expect more personal trouble this year,predictions say。

"His long-term fortune is on the decline," Lo said。

As for Obama, there are differing interpretations. The American president's birthday is August 4, 1961, making him an ox. According toLo, the tiger is a lucky "nobleman" for people born in years ending inthe digit "1" and Obama's birth date is associated with the naturalelement of earth, which is complementary with metal because minerals come from the earth。

"He will shine with flying colors,"Lo said, adding that the American leader will become more aggressive inpushing his agenda. "His foreign policy may be tougher."

虽然今年是中国的农历虎年，但算命大师们说，今年对于全世界最著名的“老虎”——名誉扫地的高尔夫名将“老虎”伍兹来说却不会太好过。

算命大师们还预测：联合国秘书长潘基文今年将面临巨大考验，金融市场将继续动荡，与火有关的自然灾害将会发生，美国总统贝拉克?奥巴马将进入执政关键期。

今年的农历新年将从本周日开始。根据风水学(通过日期和中国古书预测运程的中国传统文化)，中国的农历年与金、木、雷、火等自然元素相关联。金象征着正义行动，例如发动战争；雷和火象征着易变性，而木则助长火势。

风水大师们说，这些正好构成了地缘政治的紧张局势和金融市场的动荡起伏。

香港风水大师卢恒立说：“在这一年中，人们会抑强扶弱、帮助同胞和受欺凌的朋友。这一年将更加暴力。”他指出，上一个金虎年是1950年，当年爆发了朝鲜战争。

中国的黄道十二宫12生肖一轮回。根据风水观，如果人们遇到本命年，则会被认为“流年不利”，可能会交霉运。但今年中国的风水师们对肖虎者的运程预测比较保守，却称在虎年最犯冲的是肖猴者。

潘基文是世界政坛最著名的肖猴者。卢恒立说，这位韩国人“今年会面临很多麻烦。”其他属猴的名人包括伊朗总统马哈茂德?艾哈迈迪内贾德、NBA球星姚明、歌星戴安娜?罗斯、席琳?迪翁和演员伊丽莎白?泰勒、汤姆?汉克斯、迈克尔?道格拉斯、欧文?威尔逊和丹尼尔?克雷格。

根据农历，全世界最著名的“老虎”——美国高尔夫名将“老虎”伍兹——其实既不属虎也不属猴。这位出生于1975年12月30日的14次大满贯得主属兔。

不过伍兹的生日与金相连，恰好与即将到来的农历年的金相撞。去年12月，伍兹承认背叛妻子并宣布无限期离开高尔夫，所以此后便有人预测，这位34岁的高尔夫球手今年恐怕会有更多的私生活麻烦。

卢大师说，“他的长期运势呈下降趋势。”

风水大师们对于美国总统奥巴马虎年运程的看法各不相同。奥巴马的出生日期是1961年8月4日，肖牛。根据卢恒立的说法，出生年份以数字1结尾的人在虎年会有“贵人”相助，而且奥巴马的出生日期与自然元素土相关，土与金互补，因为土生金。

卢大师说：“今年他会大放异彩。”并称这位美国总统今年在推进政治议程方面会更加强势，“他的外交政策可能会更强硬。”