April 5th, 2008, 01:46 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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The World's Top Golfers under the Age of 25
This week Daniel Wexler posted an update on his pro golf blog of ESPN's list from last summer:
Quote:
Revisiting The Under-25s
Last summer, ESPN.com’s Jason Sobel compiled a definitive list of the world’s elite under-25 players, a detailed ledger that featured 25 up-and-coming stars from eight countries, as well as 50 more Honorable Mention selections. I found this list so well-presented that I saved it and, upon re-examining it yesterday, thought it might be interesting to update the progress made by the talented 25.
It will be noted that six of them (America’s Philip Francis, Chris Kirk, Jamie Lovemark and Michael Putnam, plus Rhys Davies of Wales, and Scotland's Lloyd Saltman) are not yet competing professionally as of this writing, and thus will not be considered here.
As for the rest…
Andrew Buckle - Brisbane, Australia (9/24/1982) - A former World Junior (2000) and Australian Amateur (1999) winner, Buckle played the PGA Tour full-time in 2007, finishing 146th in earnings and logging a T4 at San Diego’s Buick Invitational. Has thus far shuttled between the PGA and Nationwide Tours in 2008. Major Tour Victories: 2002 Queensland Open (Aus) + 1 Nationwide victory (2006). Current World Ranking: 343.
Jason Day - Queensland, Australia (11/12/1987) - The widely profiled Day played the Nationwide Tour full-time in 2007, finishing 5th in earnings and qualifying for 2008 PGA Tour. Finished 6th at February’s AT&T Pro-Am but has missed four cuts since. Currently is the youngest player on Tour (20) and stands 89th in earnings. Major Tour Victories: None + 1 Nationwide victory (2007). Current World Ranking: 143.
Nick Flanagan - Belmont, Australia (6/13/1984) - The 2003 U.S. Amateur champion (first native-born Australian since Walter Travis to win the U.S. title) is playing the PGA Tour full-time in 2008 after winning thrice on the Nationwide in 2007. Currently ranked 147th in earnings after tying for 9th at February’s Mayakoba Classic. Major Tour Victories: None + 3 Nationwide victorie (2007) & 1 Von Nida Tour title (2005). Current World Ranking: 242.
Anthony Kim - Los Angeles, CA (6/19/1985) - Former three-time collegiate All-American at Oklahoma and member of the 2005 Walker Cup team. Finished 60th on the PGA Tour as a 2007 rookie, and currently sits 79th after six 2008 starts, highlighted by a T3 at January’s Bob Hope. Widely viewed as a coming star. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 65.
Oliver Fisher - Chigwell, England (9/13/1968) - Former English junior star has made his way on the E Tour, finishing 109th in the 2007 Order of Merit as a rookie, then stepping it up markedly in ’08. Has logged two top-10s (including a 2nd at last week’s Open de Andalucia) thus far, and ranks 32nd in the Order of Merit. Looks like a climber. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 195.
Julien Geurrier - La Rochelle, France (7/1/1985) - In 2006, became the first Frenchman to win the British Amateur in a quarter-century, but has struggled a bit as a pro. Has yet to log a top 10 on the E Tour and is presently hanging on – barely – to a spot in the world ranking. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 1210.
Anton Haig - Johannesburg, South Africa (5/8/1986) - This 22-year-old former South African Amateur champion has taken to playing the European Tour full-time, where he surprised many by winning the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic, en route to 58th place in the Order of Merit. Has logged only a single top 10 (a T7 in Qatar) thus far in ’08. Major Tour Victories: 2005 Seekers Travel Pro-Am (Sunshine), 2006 Namibia PGA (Sunshine), 2006 Malaysian Masters (Asia) and 2007 Johnnie Walker Classice (Europe). Current World Ranking: 223.
Won Joon Lee - Sydney, Australia (10/23/1985) - Born in Seoul, South Korea but emigrated to Australia in 1989 as a child. Didn’t take up golf until 2000. Played the Asian Tour semi-regularly in 2007 (finishing 83rd in the Order of Merit) before joining the Nationwide Tour full-time in 2008. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 302.
Pablo Martin - Malaga, Spain (4/20/1986) - Former amateur and U.S. collegiate star (at Oklahoma State) who made history by becoming the first amateur ever to win on the European Tour when he claimed the 2007 Portuguese Open. Has since turned professional with limited results: 1 E Tour top 10 and a current Order of Merit ranking of 208th. Major Tour Victories: 2007 Portuguese Oenn (Europe). Current World Ranking: 285.
Rory McIlroy - Holywood, Northern Ireland (5/4/1989) - Former world number one amateur who, after turning pro at age 18, logged a pair of top-5 E Tour finishes, including 3rd at the 2007 Dunhill Links Championship. Has leveled off a bit in ’08 (top finish: T11 at Abu Dhabi) but still generating a lot of buzz. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 212.
Prom Meesawat - Hua Hin, Thailand (7/21/1984) - A four-year veteran of the Asian Tour, where he has claimed one victory and finished 15th, 3rd and 7th in the last three Orders of Merit. Major Tour Victories: 2006 SK Telecom Open (Asia). Current World Ranking: 163.
Ryan Moore - Tacoma, WA (12/5/1982) - The 2004 U.S. Amateur champion, a four-time collegiate All-American (at UNLV) and a member of the 2005 Walker Cup team. Though not yet a winner, has established himself as a solid PGA Tour player, finishing 81st and 59th in earnings in 2006 and ’07. Currently ranks 113th after six 2008 starts. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 100.
Jamie Moul - Stoke-by-Nayland, England (9/26/1984) - Has thus far made scarcely a dent in Europe, where he missed the Alfred Dunhill cut in his only E Tour start of 2008. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: Unranked.
Kevin Na - Seoul, South Korea (9/15/1983) - Born in Seoul but grew up in Diamond Bar, CA, where he turned pro at age 17, following his junior year of high school. Finished 4th in the 2002 Asian Tour Order of Merit before joining the PGA Tour full-time in 2004. Has remained among the Tour’s top 125 money winners each year save for an injury-shortened 2006, and currently sits 59th after nine ’08 starts. Major Tour Victories: 2002 Volvo Masters of Asia. Current World Ranking: 118.
Chapchai Nirat - Pitsanulok, Thailand (6/5/1983) - Long-hitting three-year veteran of the Asian Tour who has climbed steadily, finishing 2nd on the 2007 Order of Merit. This banner season was highlighted by a pair of wins, and a 61 fired in the first round of the TCL Classic. Major Tour Victories: 2007 TCL Classic (Asia), 2007 Vietnam Masters (Asia). Current World Ranking: 174.
Louis Oosthuizen - Mossel Bay, South Africa (10/19/1982) - Currently the highest-ranked of the chosen 25. Already a star on his native Sunshine circuit, where he has won five times, including a record 14-shot victory at this year’s Telkom PGA hampionship. Playing semi-regularly in Europe now, perhaps with eyes on the U.S. Major Tour Victories: 2004 Vodacom Origins of Golf – Arabella, 2007 Dimension Data Pro-Am, 2007 Platinum Classic, 2007 & ’08 Telkom PGA (all on the Sunshine Tour) Volvo Masters of Asia. Current World Ranking: 71.
Richie Ramsay - Aberdeen, Scotland (6/23/1983) - Represented GB&I in the 2005 Walker Cup, then won the 2006 US Amateur - the first UK winner since 1911, and the first from Scotland since 1898. After playing in the 2007 Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and Open Championship, turned professional, making his debut at the Russian Open. Currently on the Challenge Tour, where he posted 7 top 25 finishes last fall. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 417.
Charl Schwartzel - Johannesburg, South Africa (8/31/1984) - Arguably the most accomplished player on this list, having won two significant titles in South Africa, claimed three Sunshine Order of Merit titles and broken through for an E Tour triumph at the 2007 Spanish Open. Has remained consistently ranked among the top 100. Major Tour Victories: 2004 Dunhill Championship (Sunshine), 2006 Vodacom Tour Championship (Sunshine), 2007 Spanish Open (Europe). Current World Ranking: 76.
Dawie Van Der Walt - Cape Town, South Africa (2/11/1983) - Now a regular on the Sunshine Tour, where he has logged a single top 10, tying for 9th at the 2008 Joburg Open. To date, he has been passed by a number of lesser-known young South Africans. Major Tour Victories: None. Current World Ranking: 901.
All told, Sobel’s list has held up pretty well, as many of his selectees seem on their way to professional success and few have bombed completely. Omissions? Really only three of note. The first, Korean teenage sensation Seung-yul Noh, was virtually unknown at the time this list was published. The second, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, was selected as an honorable mention – but he had not yet claimed the Japan Tour’s Munsingwear Open as a 15-year-old amateur when Sobel’s choices were made. The only real oversight, then, was Germany’s Martin Kaymer, an honorable mention choice who has since skyrocketed, being named the 2007 E Tour Rookie of the Year, winning in early 2008 at Abu Dhabi, and currently standing as the only under-25 ranked in the world top 50.
So it goes.
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NOTE: I edited Mr. Wexler's article to include Ramsay, whom he incorrectly stated was still an amateur.
To expand on Martin Kaymer - Düsseldorf, Germany (12/28/1984):
Nine professional wins, 2007 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, and easily the highest OWR of anyone under 25, coming in this week at number 26. In 2005-06 he won six times on the EPD Tour (third tier, Euro equivalent of the Hooters Tour), highlighted by shooting a rare 59 (-13). Moved up to the Challenge Tour during 2006 and won twice, earning promotion to the big leagues. Last fall he posted the low round of the season at the Portugal Masters, a first round 61, and finished 41st on the Order of Merit. He won his first ET event in January (a wire-to-wire victory at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship), and two weeks later finished birdie-birdie-eagle to place second to Tiger Woods at the Dubai Desert Classic.
He has done little stateside thus far, but having spent much of the winter in Arizona, seems dedicated to becoming acclimated. At 23 he'll play in all the WGC events and majors this year, something that cannot be said of any other golfer in this cohort group.
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