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Top 30 Players Under 30

With Bill Haas' win last weekend at the Bob Hope Classic, we are again reminded that there is a lot of good young talent on the PGA Tour. It's been said by many players that most guys don't hit their stride and feel comfortable on Tour and really start playing well until their early 30s. The list below would certainly argue otherwise. It seems that the talent gets younger and younger each year. Between Rory McIlroy at just 20 years old and Rickie Fowler at 21, the future of the Tour definitely seems bright. It's funny to think that guys like Sean O'Hair,  Adam Scott, and Justin Rose seem like the elder statesmen among many of these players. Top 5 profiled.

  1. Sean O'Hair (27 years old)
    Who can argue that Sean O'Hair shouldn't top this list? It's hard to believe Sean is still in his 20's. He's one of those guys you think has been around forever. His first win came at the John Deere Classic in 2005. Last year with one win (Quail Hollow Championship) and a staggering nine top 10 finishes, he earned over $4 million. He also played an integral role in the President's Cup victory in 2009.
  2. Rory McIlroy (20)
    At only 20 years old Rory McIlroy has so much poise and game it's hard to even fathom. Last year while playing only part-time on the PGA Tour, he managed to finish T3 in the PGA Championship, and T10 in the U.S. Open. Currently ranked #10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, he also finished off 2009 in 2nd place in the European Tour order of merit.
  3. Anthony Kim (24)
    Kim had just a ho-hum year last year, earning a measely $2 million and ending up ranked 35th in the FedEx Cup standings. That year pales in comparison to his 2008 campaign where he won twice and had eight top 10's, earning more than $4.6 million and finishing 8th in the FedEx Cup rankings. If the kid can calm his partying ways he will be a force on Tour. But even if he doesn't, he still beat Robert Allenby handedly at the President's Cup after being out until 4 a.m.!
  4. Martin Kaymer (25)
    Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi Championship for the 2nd time in three years this past weekend. In 2008 he came in 2nd. I think it's safe to say he likes the course. Kaymer also now has 5 European Tour victories and with his win over the weekend, jumped to #6 in the world rankings. Not too shabby for a 25 year old. It will be exciting to see how he fares in the PGA tournaments he plays this year.
  5. Ryan Moore (27)
    I put Moore in the top 5 going off of the solid play towards the end of last year after his win at the Wyndham Championship and continuing in so far in 2010. Moore also had six top 10's to go along with his win in 2009, and so far this year already has two top 10's in the only tournaments he's played. All signs point to a solid year for Ryan Moore and continued improvement building off of his first Tour win last year. (For the rest of the list, check out after the jump.)

Star-divide

  • Justin Rose (29)
  • Camilo Villegas (28)
  • Hunter Mahan (27)
  • Adam Scott (29)
  • Nick Watney (28)
  • J.B. Holmes (27)
  • Dustin Johnson (25)
  • Kevin Na (26)
  • Bill Haas (27)
  • Marc Leishman (26)
  • Ross Fisher (29)
  • Andres Romero (28)
  • Michael Sim (25)
  • John Merrick (28)
  • Martin Laird (27)
  • Ryo Ishikawa (18)
  • Brandt Snedeker (29)
  • Aaron Baddelay (28)
  • Oliver Wilson (29)
  • Webb Simpson (24)
  • Jason Day (22)
  • Alejandro CAÑIZARES (27)
  • James Nitties (27)
  • Rickie Fowler (21)
  • Troy Merritt (24)
  • Did I leave anyone out? Feel strongly that someone should be higher on the list or not there at all? Open for discussion, would love to hear your thoughts.

    FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com and its editor, Ryan Ballengee. The Waggle Room member whose byline appears with the FanPost is solely responsible for its content.

    0 recs  |  Comment 16 comments |

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    Kaymer is the one on fire...

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr. Kaymer win a major this year. He’s the only one on your list that would likely be odds-on.

    by Old Man Par on Jan 29, 2010 11:04 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

    Rory still makes odd mistake, like 30 yards over a green,

    but has it all. Kaymer makes very little mistakes, but at 25 I would think Rory would be a better player then Kaymer is now. Both are long and fearless…Both could win multiple majors, not just a one off.

    by Easingwold on Jan 29, 2010 11:10 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

    I would maybe put Mahan in the Top 5

    And take AK out. Mahan had a better year in 2009 and seems to be more consistent than AK.

    Good list. How many of these guys are going to be in the 2010 Ryder Cup? I’m putting the O/U at 5.5

    by spell on Jan 29, 2010 11:46 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

    Anthony Kim

    Yeah I struggled with having AK on there so high, given his 2008. But he showed so much promise in 2008 and in the Ryder and President’s Cups, that it’s tough to deny him. I agree that Mahan shows a ton of promise. Kaymer and McIlroy are going to be studs for years to come.

    by Jeff.Palopoli on Jan 29, 2010 3:50 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

    I am genuinely excited about the

    class of 2010. O’Hair belongs at the top where you have him. I believe Rory has the most talent, but I feel Ryan Moore has the total package to start winning regularly on tour.

    Cannot wait until Rory, Rickie, Ryo, and Shane join Sean, Ryan and Camilo.

    Trust me, I am all Cink-ed and Furyk-ed out…

    I'll keep an eye out for you...at www.oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com

    by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Jan 29, 2010 5:34 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

    I agree about Ryan Moore, Vince

    he’s really starting to come in to his own and will be excited to see how he follows up his great year, last year. The majors should be fun to watch as well with some of these young international guys.

    by Jeff.Palopoli on Jan 30, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

    As you can all see..

    a post-Tiger golf world is beginning to take shape. All the ones who say “golf needs Tiger” or it won’t survive kind of talk worry about nothing. Exciting times ahead.

    by Easingwold on Jan 30, 2010 9:48 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

    Plus, there are new

    “Family Guy” episodes on tap.

    by TXQ on Jan 30, 2010 2:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

    Interesting...

    Shane Lowry? He’s finally starting to reproduce the form we witnessed at Baltray in May. If his impressive form of late continues, we could see him in Arizona in a couple of weeks time.

    Countless South Africans including Charl Schwartzel, Richard Sterne, Thomas Aiken, etc. deserve to be mentioned.

    Europeans like Ross McGowan, Rhys Davies, Gareth Maybin, the Super Molinari Bros., Alex Norén, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Álvaro Quirós aren’t exactly household names in the States but don’t be surprised to see one or two, maybe more, represent Europe at Celtic Manor in October.

    by CdeP on Jan 30, 2010 7:40 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

    Accually, I would be surprised to see any of those Europeans

    at Celtic Manor..unless they are in world events and majors, they won’t make enough money to get in the team. When you think of Mcllroy,Fisher, Wilson, Rose and Wood, only Molinari might be able to step up…it’s a big ask.

    by Easingwold on Jan 31, 2010 7:24 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

    We'll see in October...

    It’s undoubtedly a big ask, but, of the names you’ve mentioned, only Fisher and McIlroy won last season whilst McGowan, Norén, RC-B and Quirós all won on the European Tour in 2009. Davies and Edoardo both had multiple wins on the Challenge Tour, too.

    There’s definately a chance…

    by CdeP on Jan 31, 2010 12:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

    There is a chance, but there are only 12 spots..

    Poulter, Garcia, Harrington, Kaymer, Westwood, Fisher,Casey and Mcllroy look certs. Then there is Mcdowell, Clarke and Wilson…if they made it, that leaves 1..it will be interesting.

    by Easingwold on Jan 31, 2010 3:06 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

    Alvaro Quiros stands a chance

    I think. Played pretty well this w/e in Qatar. Know he didn’t have super year in US, but I think that was his first year (?). Jason Sobel made the point that this is likely to be the first time a home player (Welsh) won’t be at RC. Seems a shame somehow.

    by WendyUK on Jan 31, 2010 1:08 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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