There are many young golfers who dream to be Tiger Woods, or wish they could just compete against him. But there are the few who get that chance, and they aren't much older than the dreamers. Names like Jordan Speith, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson, and Michelle Wie are the ones you hear. These are the ones who have made those dreams realities, and are starting to challenge the very best in the game.
The biggest name on this list would have to be Rory McIlroy. Rory came into the picture when he was still a teenager. He has one two major championships (2011 US Open, and 2012 PGA), and is a formerly ranked world number one. He has 11 professional wins at the age of 24, and hasn't quit. Rory has been labeled the next great one, and is expected to overthrow Tiger. The fact that he will or not is definitely up for concern, but there is no doubt this kid is good. Rory for how young he is, can compete with any golfer in the world, and he was at one point the best in the game. There is plenty more to come from this kid, and do not be surprised if you see him sitting a top the rankings later in his career.
Hideki Matsuyama, unlike Rory, is building his name. He's a player who people who watch a large amount of golf know, but he isn't yet a household name. Matsuyama was able to compete in the Masters as an amateur at the age of 18, he was low amateur, and therefore was invited back to compete the following year. He played on the 2013 President's Cup Team, and has had some success on the PGA Tour. He does not have a win on the PGA Tour, but it won't be a shock if he gets in the circle in 2014.
Jordan Spieth is a common name around any house that pays attention to golf. That kid who won a national championship at Texas, and then turned pro. Yeah, that's Jordan. He got a win in 2013 at the John Deere Open in the Quad Cities, defeating Zach Johnson and David Hearn in a playoff. Spieth was also on the President's Cup Team in 2013 along side Johnson, and competed against Matsuyama. Spieth, though only 20 years old, can compete with anyone, and I predict he will win a major in 2014.
Everyone knows who the "Big Wiesie" is. Also known by her real name, Michelle Wie was at one point the face of the future for the LPGA Tour. She was going to be the first girl to compete in the Masters. So maybe her father got her in a wrong mind set, and has caused a few issues for Michelle to grow as a player. But we all remember that fast swinging, smooth rolling little girl who just appeared one day and never left. Well Michelle never really developed into the player everyone was expecting, and now there is a new generation of women golfers that have replaced what could have been her story. Jessica Korda and Lexi Thompson are just two of the young women golfers that have emerged. Korda being 20, and Thomspon being 18 both have won a couple of times this early on in their careers. Korda has two professional wins, while Thomspon has five. And both of them have competed in the Solheim Cup, and are the faces of American golf. They both inspire many young players to reach the dreams, and that anything is possible.
Many of these young emerging golfers have already reached their dreams, and all of them continue to inspire many young golfers who wish to be them. The game is going into a good direction, with these players leading the way.
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