Golf Thanksgiving: Five things we’re thankful for from 2017
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – golf isn’t your granddad’s sport anymore. If anything, it’s your grandson’s sport these days, especially at the highest levels. At the time of this writing, the average age of a top ten player in the Official World Golf Ranking is just 29, and only three players are over 28. Dustin Johnson (33), Justin Rose (37) and Henrik Stenson (41) are proving to have staying power, but as we move forward, how much lower could this number go?
2017 saw a continued rise of young talent on the PGA TOUR. Justin Thomas had a career-defining season with five wins, and a FedEx Cup championship as the $10 million cherry on top of the world’s most expensive sundae. DJ looked like an immortal before falling at his rental home just before the Masters, and he still came back as strong as ever. And in case that wasn’t enough, how about Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka putting on some incredible shows in their major victories? Rickie Fowler didn’t win one, but he’s clearly knocking on the door, too.
We’re not about to put the likes of Phil Mickelson (47), Masters winner Sergio Garcia (38), or a rejuvenated Pat Perez (41) out to pasture or anything. But the youth movement is in full effect, and we’re watching the rise of players who will define golf for the next decade-plus. It’s a wonderful time to be a fan!