Most Impactful Golfers this Decade: Who Joins Tiger Woods?

Brooks Koepka

Brooks makes the list in the same way Rory makes the list. His impact on the game by winning is evident, but he means more than the total Majors he’s racking up.

Brooks Koepka represents the future of golf. Physically and mentally Koepka looks like the prototype. Where Tiger planned for the Majors, Brooks is almost exclusively locked into playing Majors. At least Tiger still played most events. Not Brooks. He’ll never be a career leader in Tour wins because he simply takes too many events off. He knows a golfer is defined by Major titles and his entire approach is based on that belief.

Secondly, he’s a physical beast. Tiger was the prototype in this regard, but Tiger got sideways with his weightlifting. It hurt his game and his body wasn’t designed to carry the muscle. Brooks is a different species. He’s 6’0” and 205 pounds of world-class athlete. Not golfer, athlete.

Why do you think Bryson DeChambeau is on a quest to bulk up 25 pounds of muscle? He sees the future, and it looks like Koepka.

Given Koepka’s talent, mental make-up, and approach to playing Majors, he merits listing here because he might be the only golfer on the horizon that can get to double-digit Major wins.

That list currently includes Hagen, Tiger Woods, and Nicklaus. That’s rarified air. Hogan and Player got to nine. Watson got to eight. There is a Hall of Fame full of golfing greats who never got within striking distance of ten Major wins.

Currently, Mickelson has five. I’m not sure that number is going to grow. He might add one if he’s lucky or two if he’s been blessed by some Golf God I’m not currently worshipping. And believe me, I’m deeply spiritual on the golf course.

Rory and Koepka have four Majors. Both appear to be entering their prime – Rory is 30 and Brooks is 29 to start this season. It would not surprise any of us to see either of these guys double their Major total in the next five years (20 events).

In my observation, one thing separates these two. Pundits can argue about their talent, both are off the charts, but Koepka seems to have that indefinable trait often attached to over-achievers. Of course, I’m talking about The Killer Instinct.

Brooks has it. I’m not sure Rory does. Oh sure, he’s shown emotion at the Ryder Cup, but that was a team event and he was spurred on by Patrick Reed – a character who could get under the skin of Mr. Rogers.

Rory too often looks like a carefree Labrador Retriever loping down a grassy lane where Koepka looks like a Grizzly Bear patrolling his territory. They may have similar skills but Rory seems to treat his as a delightful toy whereas Brooks wields his like a terrifying weapon.

If I had to lay down a bet on the golfer who dominates the next decade, I’d be all-in on Brooks.

So that’s my take. I also considered Inbee Park for this list. She won six Majors in the decade and, at 31, seems to be on pace to surpass Annika as the greatest modern women’s golfer as measured in Major wins.

Another name I considered was Tom Fazio who has designed 15 of the top 100 courses in America. His influence on the game is titanic though he never played a single event.

Hit me up on Twitter @TwirlClub to tell me I’m an idiot.