Beau Hossler and all the other new talent coming out

[TN94z]

I see this in most all sports and you know it's just a matter of time before the new generation of greats start appearing.  It truly amazes me how young the athletes are getting and how good they are at that age.  Beau Hossler just helps to solidify this point.  Not only did he hold the lead for a minute, but in watching his post round interview, you could see the confidence he had.  He talked about how great it was to make it to the weekend but also talked about how he actually had a chance to win.  I couldn't imagine being 17 years old and being able to make a statement like that. Even though he didn't end up as low amateur once it was over, I think it's safe to say that his name will be the one most remembered amongst the amateurs for the 2012 Open.

Quote:

John Biever / SI

Hossler finished 29th, but a double bogey on the 72nd hole knocked him from low amateur.

In an Open that featured a 14-year-old qualifier from China (Andy Zhang) and a 17-year-old La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day School grad (Alberto Sanchez), who reached the supposedly unreachable 670-yard 16th hole in two, Beau Hossler was the ringleader of the Kids Who Stole the Open.

Hossler, also a 17-year-old Californian, from Orange County’s Santa Margarita Catholic High, became the first prep golfer since Mason Rudolph, in 1951, to qualify for consecutive Opens. Even better, Beau rolled in a 12-footer for birdie last Friday on the 1st hole, his 11th of the round, to pull ahead of Tiger (oh, yeah!) and into the solo lead. “I was pretty excited about it,” Beau admitted, “but then again, I had another 40 holes to play.”

Even the name—Beau Hossler—sounds like a golfer’s. He looks like one too, with a Mack-truck frame reminiscent of a young Jack Nicklaus, the upright swing of Colin Montgomerie, the cool demeanor of Fred Couples, the putting stroke of a fearless teenager and the braces of, well, Marcia from the first season of The Brady Bunch. Not to worry, Beau. This, too, shall pass.

If Beau has a pulse behind those baby-faced cheeks, you can’t tell by looking. Beau’s reign atop the world ended shortly after it began when he double-bogeyed the 4th hole. On the 5th tee he screamed one right, into a bunker by the 4th fairway. His path to the green was blocked by an array of trees. Caddie and godfather Bill Schullenberg wanted the safe play, a chip-out. Beau opted for a six-iron shot that skirted the limbs and left him a wedge to the green. He made bogey, but what a gutsy shot. “I asked how close he was when he cleared those trees, and he said, ‘About three inches,’ and then he smiled,” Schullenberg said. “I said, ‘You’re going to give me a coronary.’ ”

Beau plans to play college golf at Texas, where he could be a teammate of Jordan Spieth, 18, who just finished his freshman year for the NCAA champion Longhorns. When Hossler stumbled to a 76 on Sunday, Spieth, who shot 139 on the weekend, wound up as low amateur, but he never held the lead and never had a bona fide shot at winning the U.S. Open. Hossler did. So is Beau the Next Big Thing? Is Spieth better? Who knows, but the burst of precocious talent is fun to watch. After Hossler’s superb even-par 70 on Saturday a hillside packed with fans rose and gave a thunderous ovation to a smiling 17-year-old.

Read more: http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/beau-hossler-stole-show-2012-us-open-olympic#ixzz1yFKPvLOQ

So who is it?  Beau Hossler, Jordan Spieth, and we still have Cantlay that will be making his pro debut this week.

[Spyder]

I definitely agree with you on Beau Hossler. I really got a kick out of this kid's confidence and what appeared to be a lack of nerves (even though any human being would be nervous and in shock and awe of the large stage that he was playing on) - he did a great job of putting those aside.

Beau will definitely be the next generation's household name in my opinion. By next generation, I mean the next "batch of golfers" aside from the current young stars; such as Rory and Rickie and co.

[zipazoid]

Yeah I agree too. There was a time, not that long ago, when a 17-yo playing on the tour was unheard of...maybe on a sponsor's exemption at the local tour stop or the like. Now we got Beau Hossler contending in the US Open. He the other baby-faces are making me seriously re-think the whole notion that it takes a number of years to have the emotional maturity (let alone the game) to compete.

[Infamous 273]

just saw beau got bounced in the round of 32 at the us jr amateur.

[x129]

Was Justin Rose 17 or 18 when he finished 4th? I know Sergio was 2nd as a 19 year old. Ty Tyron earned a card as 17 year old. I am not saying the current crop isn't good but it always seems like there are a couple of young guys making waves.

That being said, kids (or the kids parents) seem to take their sports a lot more seriously now with year round programs and more camps than you can shake a stick at. Given that physically an 18 or 19 year old is probably closer to their physical peak than a 42 year old the only question is can the kids get the reps to get the good enough game.  Seems like the answer is yes.

Yeah I agree too. There was a time, not that long ago, when a 17-yo playing on the tour was unheard of...maybe on a sponsor's exemption at the local tour stop or the like. Now we got Beau Hossler contending in the US Open. He the other baby-faces are making me seriously re-think the whole notion that it takes a number of years to have the emotional maturity (let alone the game) to compete.