Predicting the Next Five Golfers to Win Their First Event
By DJ Cadden
One of the most enjoyable things on tour is watching a golfer complete a lifelong journey and capture a win on the PGA Tour.
Over the 92 year history of the PGA Tour, hundreds of golfers have taken home a win in a sanctioned event.
Of course, almost all golfers on tour will continue to chase Tiger Woods and Sam Snead, who lead the tour with 82 victories apiece.
Over the last five PGA Tour seasons, a total of 61 golfers have won their first PGA Tour event. Despite the stoppage in play due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, eight golfers won their first PGA Tour event last season alone.
The most prolific season for first-time winners was the 2002 campaign, when there was a grand total of 18 new winners on tour.
There have already been five first-time winners on the PGA Tour during the 2020-21 schedule. Nine year tour veteran Jason Kokrak captured his first win at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in October.
Carlos Ortiz won his first tour event at the Vivint Houston Open in November, when he captured a runaway four-stroke victory. Ortiz, a 29-year old, captured his victory during just his fifth full season on tour.
Joel Dahmen emerged victorious at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in March in a story that brought tears to the eyes of many golf fans.
Sam Burns took home his first trophy when he won the Valspar Championship in convincing fashion over Keegan Bradley.
Most recently, K.H. Lee won his first event less than a month ago at the AT&T Byron Nelson, where he prevented Burns from winning his second tournament in just three weeks.
With 50 events on the schedule every season, tour golfers now have more opportunities than ever to win an event on tour.
In no specific order, this article will take a look at the five current golfers most likely to be the next to capture their first win on the PGA Tour.