20 something golfers making a charge
June 18, 2008
Back in 1997, when a 21-year-old Tiger Woods won the Masters, when he exploded onto the scene, I thought that it could well have started a revolution of youngsters coming through the ranks. This young, talented golfer becoming the first ever black winner on the PGA tour, there would definately be more to follow, right?
10 seasons went by and still nothing. Woods was the only 20-something player to truly establish himself as a consistent winner season after season, the only fresh face to earn elite status. The next splash never happened; the next wave never came ashore.
Perhaps now it has finally arrived.
Anthony Kim, just 22, won the Wachovia Championship a few weeks ago. He became the youngest player to win a PGA Tour event in the past six years. But, oddly enough, he was not even the youngest player to win on the professional scene over the last few weeks. Paula Creamer, 21, captured the SemGroup Championship on the LPGA Tour.
“Yapari”, as the Japanese say. No surprise there. Creamer represents a new breed of young talented female golfers, led by the LPGA`s No. 1, Lorena Ochoa.
Kim, seems to be a breathe of fresh air. For the whole of last year, which included 47 events on the mens PGA tour, only seven winners were under age of 30. In 2008, after about 20 events, Kim has become the eighth 20-something champion.
The trend gained momentum at the Masters. When the first major of the season rolled in to Augusta, it arrived as the fourth major in succession without a reigning champ who was less than 30 years old. On cue, Trevor Immelman (28) captured the green jacket. Twelve of the 45 players to make the cut at Augusta were in their 20s, including five of the top 20 finishers.
Woods is still No. 1 in the world, still the big cat to beat. But it could be that the newbies have grown indifferent to the fear of pairing with these big timers, and less intimidated by the sport’s prominent figures. If Woods is not on top of his game, it now seems the players in their 20s are just as likely to take advantage as any of the other veterans.
It would be silly to suggest Woodsy is anything but brilliant for the sport, at least economically and socially that is. Television ratings over the last ten years have soared when “The big Cat” is playing or, even better, when he is down the field making a charge. Not to mention the social aspects that he brings to the table.
Another example of young player to watch out for is Rory Mcilroy who at one stage was leading the Open Championship as an Amateur.
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