Six of the top seven – and 21 of the top 50 – men’s golfers in the World Ranking are in their twenties. BRENDAN BARRATT looks at the best young guns in the game.
It’s no secret that professional golf, across all Tours, is full of fearless and exciting young players. Jon Rahm, the world No 1, is only 26 years old, while the likes of Collin Morikawa (3rd), Patrick Cantlay (4th), Xander Schauffele (5th), Justin Thomas (6th) and Bryson DeChambeau (7th) are all still in their twenties.
Whereas in the past it may have taken some time for youngsters to find their feet on Tour, today’s rookies are feeling right at home from the start and are clocking up the tournament wins.
The following players look set to light up world golf for a long time.
1. Collin Morikawa (24)
It’s hard to believe the third-best golfer on the planet is only 24 years old. Barely out of university, Collin Morikawa has already amassed two Majors and a World Golf Championships win among five PGA Tour titles. He’s one of the most steady players on the planet and to say he’s an exciting prospect would be akin to describing water as being wet. Expect many records to be broken by this American youngster.
2. Viktor Hovland (24)
Former world amateur No 1 Viktor Hovland is another outstanding talent. The Norwegian has already won on both sides of the pond and has the power game to bring any course to its knees. If he has a good week with the putter, watch out, world.
3. Joaquin Niemann (23)
By the age of 22 (he turned 23 on 7 November), Joaquin Niemann was already a PGA Tour winner and a member of the International team for The Presidents Cup. Yet to really translate his promise into the bigger events, there is little doubt the Chilean will be a force to be reckoned with for the next couple of decades.
4. Garrick Higgo (22)
With three European Tour wins, two Sunshine Tour wins and a PGA Tour win under his belt the likeable lefty from Stellenbosch burst on to the international scene this year and, by the looks of it, he feels right at home.
5. Rasmus Hojgaard (20)
One half of the Hojgaard twins, Rasmus racked up three European Tour wins in his teens, while in September his twin brother Nicolai won his first European Tour event. Between the pair of them, we are expecting plenty of titles and no doubt a number of Ryder Cup caps.
6. Guido Migliozzi (24)
Italian Guido Migliozzi turned an impressive amateur career into professional success with three wins on the Alps Tour. A year later he won two events on the European Tour and, at his debut Major this year, he finished tie-fourth at the US Open.
7. Sungjae Im (23)
How is it possible that Sungjae Im is only 23 years old? The Korean, who seems to have been around forever, has one of the most repeatable golf swings on Tour and has already won twice on the Web.com Tour, once on the Korean Tour and once on the PGA Tour. He also finished runner-up at the 2020 Masters.
8. Matthew Wolff (22)
The American is another recent college golfer to burst on to the professional scene and found himself immediately at home on the PGA Tour. In the same year he won the NCAA Division 1 Individual Championship while at Oklahoma State University, he also claimed his maiden PGA Tour title. He has proved to be a Major contender with back-to-back top-five finishes at the 2020 PGA Championship and US Open.
6. Guido Migliozzi (24)
Italian Guido Migliozzi turned an impressive amateur career into professional success with three wins on the Alps Tour. A year later he won two events on the European Tour and, at his debut Major this year, he finished tie-fourth at the US Open.
10. Takumi Kanaya (23)
Former world No 1-ranked amateur Takumi Kanaya turned professional only last year but is already within the top 100 of the World Ranking (at 68th in late October). He has won three times on the Japan Tour – once as an amateur – and is clearly a player to watch out for.
– This article first appeared in the December 2021 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine. Subscribe here!
