Best Young Players Under 30 - Who's First To Win A Major?

[Tiger Spuds]

A selection of players under 30, ranked in the world's top 50, plus a few selected others.Who's first to win a major?

The choices and their ranking :

1. Rory McIlroy (9)
2. Martin Kaymer (10)
3. Anthony Kim (11)
4. Camilo Villegas (13)
5. Hunter Mahan (17)
6. Sean O'Hair (21)
7. Charl Schwartzel (22)
8. Nick Watney (27)
9. Dustin Johnson (28)
10. Alvaro Quiros (31)
11. Ryo Ishikawa (38)
12. Adam Scott (44)
13. Michael Sim (47)
14. Rickie Fowler (51)
15. Matteo Manassero

[plugged]

Lots of good names there (and a few questionables - Adam Scott??? really???), but I have to give a nod to AK. His commitment to the game seems to be improving and he is consistently one of the best on Tour. His Houston Open win is a reflection of his "comeback" IMO.

Rory McIlroy is so very good and a really impressive player. He has the mental tenacity to win a major, but I don't think he quite there yet.

[Shindig]

Adam Scott??? really???

Adam Scott has the highest-profile win of the crowd with his victory at the Players a while back. His inclusion isn't entirely unreasonable.

Of course, I also think it's Anthony Kim.

[Tiger Spuds]

Right, Shindig.Despite Scott's recent dip in form, he's still a very talented player, with quite a bit of experience.Remember, Lee Westwood and Steve Stricker both fell way, way lower in the rankings than where Scott is during their careers, and look at them now.

[Chilli Dipper]

Right, Shindig.Despite Scott's recent dip in form, he's still a very talented player, with quite a bit of experience.Remember, Lee Westwood and Steve Stricker both fell way, way lower in the rankings than where Scott is during their careers, and look at them now.

Adam Scott's swing is back; his tee-to-green stats this year compare well to anybody (12th in total driving, 6th in GIR). His problem right now is what he does when he gets to the green: he's 138th in putts per round, and 175th in scrambling.

I want to say Anthony Kim, but his impending thumb surgery means he may have to sit out the next couple of majors. I'll take Rory McIlroy.

[DavidFehertysBike]

He isnt on the list, but im going to go with ricky barnes. He has had better performaces in the majors than all of them.

[golfro]

My vote went to Anthony Kim. I think if he puts his head into the game a bit more, he definitely has the talent and determination to win a major.

[shortstop20]

He isnt on the list, but im going to go with ricky barnes. He has had better performaces in the majors than all of them.

Good pick, he's a darkhorse that most don't give credit to.

[mcfc_nick]

if all was fine and dandy then id go straight to AK and pick him, but now with all this about his thumb and the surgery that is more than likely soon to follow i had to give it to rory, if one of the list doesnt win by the time AK comes back from surgery then id like to change my mind

[sean_miller]

He isnt on the list, but im going to go with ricky barnes. He has had better performaces in the majors than all of them.

+1 I think he'll win one some day.

For the guys listed, I voted for Mahan. I figure it's a tossup between him, AK, and Rory.

[jamo]

He isnt on the list, but im going to go with ricky barnes. He has had better performaces in the majors than all of them.

Thats exactly why I didn't vote for him, he is a bit of a choker.

FWIW I voted for Rory McIlroy, though it was really really close. I want to say AK, but I don't know if he can put together 4 solid rounds in a major, and I want to say Adam Scott, because he's the man, but being awesome doesn't win you golf tournament. And I want to say Sergio, but he turned 30 in January.

[mchepp]

I would "like" to see O'Hair win, but I am worried about his putting. He needs to get better there to win a major.

I think Kaymer will win first from this list. Good ball striker, good putter, something like a PGA Championship I think.

[doctork]

I picked AK, but have a darkhorse of my own - if you can call a guy with three USGA titles and an NCAA Championship a darkhorse...

Ryan Moore.

Seems to come and go, but when he gets in contention he is absolutely ice. Plus, I think it's easier to win for a guy who's under the radar, as opposed to an AK who's got the huge weight of expectations to battle.

Besides which, I think Moore would have established himself as a Ryder Cup-caliber player by now if not for the injuries.

Cheers,
DoctorK

[Chilli Dipper]

Another "dark horse" that deserves mentioning is Chris Wood. He already has two top-five finishes at the British Open, so he clearly enjoys the links.

[Blades4me]

A selection of players under 30, ranked in the world's top 50, plus a few selected others.Who's first to win a major?

After McIlroy win this last weekend mite start a roll for him, so I gotta go with Rory.

[jamo]

Another "dark horse" that deserves mentioning is Chris Wood. He already has two top-five finishes at the British Open, so he clearly enjoys the links.

Good point, I forgot about him. He doesn't play PGA TOUR events though.

[Tiger Spuds]

Good point, I forgot about him. He doesn't play PGA TOUR events though.

Watched him a lot last year on the European tour after his Open performance.Never really performed that well.I know it was his first year at Augusta too this year but it was a bit of a horror show for him.It was also Matteo Manassero's first time at the Masters and he made the cut and finished T36, at 16 years of age.Wood is a long way from a Major.

[Tiger Spuds]

im going to go with ricky barnes. He has had better performaces in the majors than all of them.

Well, that isn't exactly true.

Barnes' results in Majors : 2nd in the US Open and T10 at the Masters. Adam Scott : T3(PGA), T8(The Open), T9 (PGA), T9(Masters). Scott and Barnes are both in their late 20's. Anthony Kim : T3(Masters), T7(The Open). Similar results, but also had a few other top 20 placings, Barnes hasn't. Rory McIlroy : T3(PGA), T10(US Open). Again, very similar, but at a much younger age. Camilo Villegas : T4 (PGA), T9(US Open). Again.. Not trying to belittle the guy, he's done very well.But to say he's done better than all the others is wrong.And if you want to talk about actually performances alone from these guys in Majors, Anthony Kim's final round at the Masters this year takes it. Some other Major results for players on this list, while I'm at it : Hunter Mahan : T6 (US Open), T6(The Open), T8(Masters), T10(Masters). Martin Kaymer : T6(PGA). Dustin Johnson : T10(PGA). Sean O'Hair : T10(Masters), T12(PGA), T14(Masters), T14(The Open), T15(The Open). Nick Watney : 7th(Masters), T11(Masters).