With crazy amounts of game and age on their side. These guys are going to make a big impact on tour in 2010. These my picks for the top five pros under 25. Lets compare our lists and see how they match up.
Number Five: Webb Simpson
A three-time All American and the ACC Player of the Year in 2008, Simpson also played on the winning Walker Cup team in 2007 and the 2007 Palmer Cup team. Simpson turned pro in June 2008 and competed on the PGA and Nationwide Tours on sponsors exemptions, where he notched two T2 finishes on the Nationwide Tour. Later that year he competed in Q-School and finished T7 to earn his card for 2009. With a great start for 2009 at the Bob Hope Classic (5th) and The Sony Open in Hawaii (9th), he rounded out the season with four top-ten finishes. Simpson landed at number 70 on the money list to retain his card for 2010.
Prediction: If he keeps competing and putting himself in a good position on sundays, he’ll have his first professional win in no time.
Number Four: Rickie Fowler
As the top ranked amateur for 36 weeks between 2007 and 2008, and with a Walker Cup record totaling 7-1, there was no doubt this kid was gonna be big. Rickie turned pro in 2009 shortly after his Walker Cup appearance, and debuted at the Albertson’s Boise Open. He made his first appearance on the PGA Tour at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where he finished T7. In only his second appearance on the PGA Tour he found himself in a playoff after 72 holes with Troy Matteson and Jamie Lovemark. Though Fowler eventually lost to Matteson, he gained his 2010 PGA Tour card in his first run through the Q School gauntlet finishing T15, and is playing in the first full-field event of 2010 right now.
Prediction: Although he has stated that it will take all of 2010 to adjust to the Tour, I see him picking up at least one win this year while he’s doing his adjusting.
Number Three: Ryo Ishikawa
The youngest player ever to reach the top 50 in Official World Golf Ranking, Ryo Ishikawa currently sits in the 30th spot. With seven professional wins to his credit as well as a Presidents Cup appearance via a Greg Norman captain’s selection, Ryo looks to be in fine shape for this upcoming season where he is planning to make another appearance at the Northern Trust Open as well as a few other spots.
Prediction: As something of a cult figure in Japan, Ryo really reminds me of Golf’s version of Dice-K (tearing it up in Japan, but lackluster in the U.S.). If he can perform the same way in the US as he does in Japan, he’ll have a win in the U.S. this year.
Number Two: Anthony Kim
Widely known for his hazy rookie season, Kim has developed into a fine young professional the last two seasons reaching a high of sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking. Kim currently sits at number 25. With two wins in 2008 (The Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National), a Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearance, and a Record for most Birdies in One Round (11) at the 2009 Masters, his future in golf is not in question. The question is: how much will he be able to accomplish?
Prediction: Citing nagging injuries in a winless 2009, everyone is anxious to see how he performs in 2010. I think he will do very well assuming he can keep his focus and stay injury free.
Number One: Rory McIlroy
After turning professional in September 2007 the kid from Holywood, Northern Ireland with a massive swing has gone on a tear through the European Tour culminating in his first win at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009 and finishing second on the European Tour’s Order of Merit. Rory is even ranked in the top ten – currently sitting at ninth – in the Official World Golf Ranking. 2010 will be a big year where he will be making at least fifteen stops in the U.S. on the PGA Tour as well as multiple appearances throughout the world stage.
Prediction: There are two ways this story will go. The first will be that he will take over Tiger’s crown (whenever Tiger returns from St. Helena) and win many many Majors, or he’ll be the next Sergio and not have even won just one by the time he is 30. With his performance in 2009, I think he will continue to mature as a player and shouldn’t have much trouble adjusting to the U.S. and maybe even notching a win or two by the end of the year.
Nice to see Webb on this list. Looking for him to have a breakout year.
Dice K is lackluster?
Hmm. I guess an 18-3, 2,90 ERA 2008 wasn’t good enough.
Agreed. Plus, his strikeout numbers are very flashy. Only last season was a disappointment.
While Rory is a stand out, I am surprised Jason Day is not in the list. Having just turned 22 years of age, I think we will see him win in 2010. No other junior player has come out of Australia with bigger wraps on them than this guy.
The reference to Dice K’s first season similar to how Ishikawa faltered initially in the US. Also in 08 had he had the lineup of say the kc royals, instead of the run support and defense that the sox provide, his season would have been much different.
Great to see the young guns getting some press….we love the style and edge they bring to the game