5 PGA Tour Players Most Likely to Break out in 2015
As the 2015 PGA Tour season looms, hungry players and newcomers alike are rearing to get back into the competitive golf mode. For the stars like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, their goals are already laid out and the stage is set.
For others though—the players who are less developed and the ones who are right on the cusp—the road is clouded. Many are still wondering when their time will come. When will they have their breakout season and finally win on the PGA Tour?
Although it's never an easy thing to predict, especially in golf, here are five PGA Tour players likely to get the monkey off their back and win in 2015.
All of the players picked on this list have yet to win on the PGA Tour, have full membership heading into 2015 and were ranked based on a variety of factors—including age, experience and performance in 2014.
Honorable Mentions
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Two players made the honorable mention list, which means that, in terms of criteria, they were very close to being in the top five. Both of these players show extreme promise, and it would not be a surprise to see either one hoist a trophy above his head on any given Sunday this season.
Tony Finau
Part of the most recent class of PGA Tour graduates, the 26-year-old is the only rookie on the list. Standing at a powerful 6'4" and 200 pounds, Tony Finau has the experience and the game to have a breakout season. Although it will be his first year on the PGA Tour, Finau has been on mini-tours since he turned professional at the age of 17.
"Tony’s only 25, but you won’t find a more mature guy out here,” said Finau’s caddie, Marcus (Bobby) Burbank to Tour Insider Kevin Prise. And although it's an unconventional rout, the years on mini-tours seem to be paying off thus far.
In just five events on the PGA Tour, the Salt Lake City native has made four cuts, securing four top-25 finishes (including two top-10 finishes). The good play has already made Finau a whopping $608,358. Averaging almost 308 yards off the tee and currently ranked 12th on tour in driving distance, Finau—if he can keep his putting strong—could contend in tournaments this year.
Chris Stroud
After turning pro in 2004, Chris Stroud looks remarkably dangerous last season. The 2014 PGA Tour season was categorized by extremely consistent play for the 32-year-old, producing 11 top-25 finishes, four top-10 finishes and two third-place finishes.
The only downside is that Stroud's best finishes in 2014 were at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and the CIMB Classic, two tournaments with much weaker fields than other events on the PGA Tour.
5. Erik Compton
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Many sports fans are very much aware of Erik Compton's uplifting story. Due to Viral Cardiomyopathy, Compton has already had two heart transplants in his life—one in 1992 and the other in 2008. Just five months after his second transplant, Compton finished tied for 60th at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on the PGA Tour.
Approaching 2015, Compton is no longer solely known for his incredible story, as he has now made headlines for his solid play. Winning on the PGA Tour—what most thought to be a long shot—has now become a very real possibility.
“People told me what would and would not be possible, and I didn’t accept that," said Compton last year to the The Telegraph.
After a terrific 2014 PGA Tour campaign, many experts and analysts alike believe a breakout season is in store for Compton in 2015.
This past season, it took a little while for the 35-year-old to hit his stride, but after a fifth-place showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Compton would go on to rack up six top-25 finishes—three of which were top-10s. The highlight of the season came when Compton finished tied for second at the US Open. Martin Kaymer won the tournament by an astounding eight strokes.
I speak for all of Compton's fans when I say that a win in 2015 would cap off an unbelievable journey. But for the man himself, most likely, a win would only mark the beginning.
4. Ryo Ishikawa
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At only 23-years-old, it is hard to believe Ryo Ishikawa has been a professional golfer for six years already. It feels like he has been playing tournaments forever at this point.
For the talented Japanese golfer, it is not so much a question of "if" he will win, but merely of "when." While some thought he had peaked, Ishikawa proved everyone wrong this past season by earning over $1.3 million in tournament winnings. That was his first time breaking the $1 million-dollar barrier in a single season.
In 2014, Ishikawa, known as the "Bashful Prince," had nine top-25 finishes, including three top-10s and a second-place showing at the Shriner's Hospital for Children Open.
With 12 international victories, Ishikawa is no stranger to winning. He is also an absolute fanatic about the game and completely dedicated to his craft. After gaining his first exemption into the Masters at the age of 17, Ishikawa opened a private practice facility near his Tokyo suburb. It had four greens seeded with the same strain of bentgrass found at Augusta.
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3. Morgan Hoffmann
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Morgan Hoffmann is another product of the Oklahoma State golf team, and he actually played on the Cowboys at the same time as Rickie Fowler. Turning pro in 2011, the 25-year-old has developed nicely and seems to be on a similar track as former teammate Fowler.
In the 2014 season, Hoffmann was rock solid with eight top-25 finishes comprised of two top-10s and one third-place finish. He played well at the Players Championship, tying for 17th, and then saved his best play for the end by tying for ninth at the Barclays and finishing alone in third place at the BMW Championship.
In round 3 of the BMW Championship, the former hockey defensemen set the Cherry Hills Country Club competitive course record by firing a jaw-dropping eight-under 62. After the round, in a statement to The Denver Post, Hoffmann said, "That 59 number was a big goal for me, and it was possible with three more birdies coming in. But hopefully I can pull it off tomorrow."
With an attitude like that heading into 2015, Hoffmann should have no trouble finding the winner's circle.
2. Graham DeLaet
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Without question, Graham DeLaet would be the most likely player on this list to break out if there weren't health concerns.
In 2014, he was an absolute monster. The Boise State alumnus had 11 top-25 finishes. Seven of those were top-10, while two were second-place finishes—one at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the other at the Farmer's Insurance Open. In addition, DeLaet has also won three times on PGA Tour Canada.
In his 2014-2015 PGA Tour power rankings, analyst Rob Bolton had DeLaet ranked at No. 29 and called him, "Arguably the best talent with a PGA Tour card and no titles."
Unfortunately, there has been evidence that DeLaet may not be healthy. The 32-year-old Canadian has had to withdraw from three of his first four events in his 2014-15 PGA Tour season.
DeLaet elaborated on the injury in an article on theglobeandmail.com, saying, “It’s not something that bothers me day-to-day, but [it] only comes up when swinging the golf club.” The native from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, did add, "I’m looking forward to returning to competition in the very near future.”
We can only hope DeLaet will stand by his words, as he is right on the verge of victory.
1. Cameron Tringale
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The No. 1 most likely PGA Tour player to break out in 2015 is Cameron Tringale. During his first year on tour after being a three-time All-American at Georgia Tech, Tringale struggled by making just five cuts in 22 starts.
To say the least, 2014 was an entirely different story for the 27-year-old. Tringale came in the top 25 nine times, with three of those being top-10 finishes. He also had a second-place finish at the Barclays among those nine.
In the 2014-15 PGA Tour season, he is already off to fast start. Earlier in December, Tringale partnered with Aussie Jason Day to take home the 2014 Franklin Templeton Shootout.
As noted in an article by Brian Wacker on PGATour.com, Tringale's roommate Rickie Fowler seems to have plenty of confidence in his friend's ability. He said, “The biggest thing is he is starting to be more consistent and building confidence and believing he can be in the position he was in last week. He’s getting more comfortable. He’ll win out here.”
If Rickie says it, it has to be true. It won't be long now before the two are drinking out of first-place trophies together.
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