Odds for 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year

The PGA Tour welcomes 24 rookies to its ranks for the 2014-2015 season. One rookie (Nick Taylor) has already won this season. With the strength of the class, another rookie winner can't be far behind. 

Who has the best shot at succeeding last year's ROY, Chesson Hadley?

Before examining that question, it's important to note how the PGA Tour defines a rookie:

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A player’s rookie season ('Rookie Year') is defined as the season in which he becomes a PGA TOUR member (including Special Temporary Members) and plays in 10 or more events as a member or finishes in the Top 125 on the Official FedExCup Points List, the Top 125 on the Official PGA TOUR Money List or qualifies as a Top 125 - Nonmember, whichever occurs first. Further, for purposes of this definition, a new member (including Special Temporary Members) shall not be eligible for the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year if he has previously played in more than seven (7) Official PGA TOUR Money events as a professional in any prior season.

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With this in mind, let's have a look at the odds, which are based on a combination of performance last season, performance this season and expected quality of play. 

Adam Hadwin

Robert Laberge/Getty Images

2014 season: Canada's Adam Hadwin was the leading money winner on the Web.com Tour last season. In 21 starts on that tour in 2014, Hadwin recorded two victories, a second-place finish and a total of nine top-10s. He earned the third-most money in Web.com Tour history for his work in 2014 ($529,792).  

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, Hadwin has made four of six cuts. A final-round 63 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open earned him his sole top-10 finish of the year. He has missed the cut his last two times out (OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Sony Open). 

Odds: 45-1

Daniel Berger

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2014 season: Plantation, Florida, native Daniel Berger teed it up 21 times on the Web.com Tour in 2014. While he didn't win, Berger did make 15 of 21 cuts and finished inside the top 10 five times, including a second-place finish and two third-place showings. 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, Berger has rebounded nicely following two missed cuts to begin the year. He's collected paychecks in four tournaments in a row and recorded a season-best T13 at the Sony Open his last time out. 

Odds: 35-1

Blayne Barber

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

2014 season: In 20 starts on the Web.com Tour last season, Blayne Barber recorded 12 top-25 finishes in 16 cuts made. The remote-control plane enthusiast won the South Georgia Classic and tied for third at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, the Auburn alum had finished tied for ninth twice (Sanderson Farms Championship, OHL Classic at Mayakoba). He's made four of six cuts and has already earned more than $275,000 for his efforts. 

Odds: 25-1

Zac Blair

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

2014 season: Zac Blair had limited conditional status on the Web.com Tour last year. That fact, however, didn't limit him from playing well: In his 12 starts, the BYU alum made eight cuts and finished second twice. He was fourth in scoring average as well (69.2), and he made it through the gauntlet of U.S. Open qualifying to finish tied for 40th at Pinehurst. 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, Zac Blair has made five of six cuts, only missing out at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October. A third-round 64 at the Sony Open helped him secure the first top-10 finish of his career. 

Odds: 20-1

Carlos Ortiz

Rob Carr/Getty Images

2014 season: First in regular-season earnings on the Web.com Tour last season, Carlos Ortiz won three times on the circuit before bizarrely fizzling out at the end of the year (missing three straight cuts). In total, Ortiz made 11 of 19 cuts. He was 15th on the tour in birdie average (4.09) and 14th in scoring (69.7). 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, the Mexican national had made four of five cuts on the PGA Tour. His most impressive performance: a tie for ninth while under great pressure at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. 

Odds: 14-1

Justin Thomas

Hugh Gentry/Associated Press

2014 season: Justin Thomas played seven times on the PGA Tour last season. Most notably, he finished tied for 10th at the Farmers Insurance Open. On the Web.com Tour, Thomas won once and racked up a total of seven top-10 finishes in 20 starts. 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, Thomas has made four consecutive cuts. He tied for sixth at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he torched Waialae CC with a blistering second-round 61. 

Odds: 8-1

Tony Finau

John Locher/Associated Press

2014 season: On the Web.com Tour last year, Tony Finau won once. He made 19 of 23 cuts with five top-10 finishes, earning more than $250,000. He was sixth on the tour in driving distance (310.3) and 21st in greens in regulation (71.2 percent), a good combination.  

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, the Utah native has racked up some solid finishes on the big circuit. In the four tournaments where he's made the cut, Finau has finished inside the top 25, and he finished tied for seventh at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. 

Odds: 13-2

Nick Taylor

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

2014 season: In 24 events on the Web.com Tour last season, Nick Taylor made 13 cuts and recorded three top-10 finishes. Under the gun in the Finals, Taylor carded a seven-under 63 at TPC Sawgrass' Dye Preserve to punch his ticket to the show. 

So far this season: Entering the Humana Challenge, Nick Taylor is the only golfer in the rookie class with a win under his belt. The University of Washington alum won the Sanderson Farms Championship in late October thanks to an eight-birdie Sunday performance. He's made six of seven cuts thus far. 

Odds: 5-1

All stats via PGATour.com and the PGA Tour Media Guide