Golf's Top Five Young Stars

Currently, with both the absence of Tiger Woods and golf's rising popularity, the next generation of PGA Tour pros are posing a threat to some of the game's best veterans.

Yet, while many of these young guns have competed admirably and won a few professional events, none have quite solidified themselves as "great" players throughout the golf world.

This article will break down the longevity and potential of the Tour's five brightest stars, and help discuss who will have the most impact on the future of the sport.

5. Rio Ishikawa

Why he's here:

Ishikawa has become golf's youngest stud, shooting a record round of 58 only a couple of weeks ago in an international tournament.

Still in his teens, the rising star has the potential to shake the golf world, and is doing so with a self-built swing and a lot of passion for the game.

Why No. 5:

Despite Rio's tremendous potential, there are a few technical and mental problems in his game that could hold him back in the future. To start, Ishikawa's swing is arguably one of the least defined on tour.

He possesses one of golf's most elongated finishing positions and shuts the club tremendously at the top of his backswing, creating an extremely odd impact zone.

Look, these are problems almost all of us would love to have, and while many players have succeeded with unorthodox swings, its important to take this faults into account, especially when such swing ailments deter consistency on the course.

Prediction:

Without being quite as established nor as mentally prepared for the Tour as his teen counterparts, Ishikawa should be a mid-level star for years to come, but I doubt he will reach the upper echelon of the world rankings.

The hype of Ishikawa's game despite his lack of success is eerily similar to other underachieving golfers, but he will still nab a few Tour wins over the course of his career.

Odds of Winning a Major:

20%

4. Dustin Johnson

Why He's Here:

Despite being known for hitting the long ball, Johnson's putting average is phenomenal, ranking 25th on Tour. He's a three-time winner on tour, nabbing victories over each of the past three seasons.

Johnson exudes calmness and consistency, and his ability to find success in a wide variety of tournaments exemplifies this.

Why No. 4:

Despite having massive potential and ranking third in driving distance and first in eagles per round, Johnson has a fair amount of difficult with his short game.

His sand save percentage ranks at a dismal 185th on Tour, and his up-and-down percentage is often lacking.

Yet, the fact remains, Johnson is poised to become an elite player for years to come, and continue to play that level we've seen him play at over the past few years.

Prediction:

Using Johnson's experience and history, it's probably accurate to assume he'll win around 8-10 times over the course of his career, with a fair possibility of getting a major title.

Odds of Winning a Major:

40%

3. Anthony Kim

Why He's Here:

I've been a longtime critic of Kim's game. For years I haven't thought he's put in the effort and enthusiasm as his peers, but I've learned to realized that he's not the failure that I once deemed him to be.

Kim is a strong golfer, leading the Tour in putting average for a good while.

But most importantly, his all-around game is what separates him from his competitors. He ranks high in total driving, greens in regulation, and nearly every stat the Tour keeps.

Why No. 3:

Kim is right in the middle of this list because of his poor play in 2009 and his inability to consistently make cuts and win.

Anthony is a classic example of a player with an excellent swing and superior statistics, yet has difficulty maintaining a winning attitude.

There is a lot of potential for Kim, but in order to reach it, his mental game will have to become better than its ever been, something I'm not sure he'll be able to do.

Prediction:

Kim will win around 15 tournaments over his career, and while I think there is a realistic chance we could be looking at an Adam Scott or Sergio-type player (one who's supposed to win 25 tournaments and ends up with six in the middle of their career), I think he'll be a little more stable than that.

Odds of Winning a Major:

60%

2. Rory McIlroy

Why He's Here:

McIlroy should arguably be No. 1 on tgis list. He's an international winner and merely 20 years old. Rory's swing is almost as impressive as his tournament records too, and he's a great putter to boot.

Why No. 2:

McIlroy sits in second of this list because he has an ability to play inconsistent at times. However, this inconsistency should wear away with age, and McIlroy has proven himself on some of golf's biggest stages.

His performance in major championships is probably greater than any golfer on this list, and he should have an amazing career ahead of him.

Prediction:

I think its safe to say McIlroy will win around 15-20 tournaments over his career, with a couple of majors to solidify himself as one of the best players in golf.

Odds of Winning a Major:

75%

1. Rickie Fowler

Why He's Here:

This probably comes as a shock to many of you wondering how Fowler is here despite being less established than two-time winners like Kim and McIlroy.

Yet, the answer is simple: Fowler has the most potential and promise than any Tour player under 30.

His enthusiasm for the game is ideal for any top caliber player, and (here's the key), he could be golf's best putter other than Woods.

From a statistical standpoint, he's posted four top 10 finishes in 2010, an astronomically high number for someone as young as himself and is doing so by ranking 11th in total driving, which again, emphasizes his amazing consistency.

Why No. 1:

Look, Fowler's swing is pretty unorthodox (he takes it outside and flattens the hell out of it at the top of the backswing), but to look at his swing as a representation of his game would be misleading.

Unlike Rio's swing, which again has its flaws, Fowler makes up for the odd swing positions by superior ball striking and consistency.

Moreover, Rickie's putting gives him leverage over almost anyone on Tour, and his ability to post consistent rounds gives him the nod over the other young stars.

Yet, the best part about Fowler's game, and the reason he's on this list, doesn't deal with his physical ability on the course, but his mental approach to golf.

Apart from maybe McIlroy, Fowler strikes me as the only sure bet out of golf's youngest superstars, and you can bet he'll be in it for the long haul.

Prediction:

A fair estimate for Fowler's tournament success would probably be in the neighborhood of around 20 Tour wins. To reiterate, his mental game could be the best of any player younger than 30, and let's face it, that's more important than anything else (and we have guys like Sergio to prove this right time and time again).

Odds of Winning a Major:

80%