Has golf ever had as many young stars from all parts of the globe? Many of the following are playing in this weekend’s Masters. So who are the world’s top 10 talents that are 25 years old or younger? 10. Yuta Ikeda (Japan)
The 25-year-old has eight wins in the last two years on the Japan Tour and has vaulted to No. 51 in the world. He has made the cut in eight of 12 PGA Tour events, including his last three majors. Ikeda also has won two Japan Junior Golf Championships.
9. Danny Lee (New Zealand)
He was the youngest U.S. Amateur champion when he won in 2008 at age 18. Lee also captured the Johnnie Walker Classic as an amateur in 2009 and has made the cut in three of three Nationwide Tour events this year, including a T-7 two weeks ago in Louisiana.
8. Kyung-Tae Kim (South Korea)
Overshadowed in Asia by Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Kim is a rapidly rising 24-year-old who had three wins last year on the Japanese Tour and made the cut in his first two majors (British Open and PGA) last year. He’s ranked No. 38 in the world.
7. Peter Uihlein (United States)
| Ripe age of 26 |
| Three of golf’s top young players just missed the cut for this list. Martin Kaymer of Germany, who is ranked No. 1 in the world, Dustin Johnson of the U.S., who is ranked No. 11, and Gary Woodland of the U.S., who is No. 47 and rising fast, are all 26 years old. Kaymer, the reigning PGA champion, has eight wins in the last four years on the European Tour. Johnson has won four times on the PGA Tour. The long-hitting Woodland got his first PGA victory last month and lost in a playoff to Jhonatton Vegas in this year’s Bob Hope. |
He’s the top-ranked amateur in the world and top-ranked collegian as a junior at Oklahoma State. On his 21st birthday, Uihlein won the 2010 U.S. Amateur to qualify for this year’s Masters. Father, Wally, is CEO of Acushnet, which makes Titleist products.
6. Jason Day (Australia)
As a 19-year-old on the Nationwide Tour, Day, now 23, finished fifth on the money list, demonstrating his readiness for the PGA Tour. His breakthrough came with a win at the 2010 Byron Nelson and runner-up at the Deutsche Bank.
5. Rickie Fowler (United States)
The 22-year-old has 11 top-10s, including a pair of runner-up finishes, since joining the PGA Tour in the fall of 2009. The former Oklahoma State star demonstrated his mettle in the 2010 Ryder Cup. He’s ranked No. 32. Big question: Will his rapid-fire swing hold up?
4. Anthony Kim (United States)
Torn ligaments in his thumb and a legendary nightlife have hindered the progress of Kim, 25, who is ranked No. 40 in the world. A former player at Oklahoma, Kim has more PGA Tour wins (three) than any player 25-and-under. He has contended twice in 11 majors.
3. Matteo Manassero (Italy)
He became the youngest player to win the British Amateur (at 16), make the cut at the Masters (at 16), and win a European Tour event (at 17), when he captured the Castello Masters in Spain in October. Manassero, who turns 18 on April 19, failed to qualify for this year’s Masters.
2. Ryo Ishikawa (Japan)
The 19-year-old has nine wins on the Japan Tour, including his first at age 15 years, 8 ?months. He has a technically perfect swing and rock star appeal in Asia and is ranked No. ?45 in world. Ishikawa made the cut in nine of 20 PGA Tour events.
1. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
At 21, McIlroy is No. 9 in the world, the only player 25 or younger ranked in the top 30. McIlroy has one win each on the PGA and European tours, but that figure is dwarfed by his 29 top-5 finishes, a staggering total for his age, but also raising the question: Is he a closer?
