PGA Championship 2011: Rory McIlroy and 5 Other Players Under 25 Who Could Win

There is always something special about a very young player winning a major championship.  It brings expectations to a fever pitch.  It raises the bar for his career ever so higher.

Rory McIlroy was the most recent example of this.  His win at the US Open brought all kinds of expectations, some ridiculous, to his career.  Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus both won at very young ages.

Here are five other young players, along with McIlroy, who could win.  

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy is the favorite of this group and the entire field.  

The 22-year-old captured his first major at the US Open in record form.  He broke the all-time scoring record and answered questions about his head after his Masters meltdown.  He comes to the PGA Championship following a solid sixth-place finish at the Bridgestone World Golf Championship.  It is a course well suited for his game, so expect a good showing out of Rory.

Jason Day

Day has recorded runner-up finishes at two majors this year.  The 23-year-old fell victim to Charl Schwartzel’s late heroics at Augusta.  

He also finished second behind McIlroy’s record performance at the US Open.  Day was in contention on Sunday at the Bridgestone.  He has not recorded a win this year but has eight top-10 performances.  

Highlands Course is also a fit for his game so expect good things from the Australian here.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler is another young gun who has high expectations.  

The 22-year-old has yet to win, but is making progress in his game.   He also has already had the experience of playing in the Ryder Cup.  He comes into this championship in good form.  He was in contention for the WGC at Bridgestone and finished fifth at the British Open.  

Like seemingly every young player, his shots go a very long way. He’s also a fairly accurate player.  

Matteo Manassero

Manassero, at 18, is the youngest player in the field this week.  

He plays almost exclusively on the European Tour, so he does not get the same exposure as McIlroy or Fowler.  The Italian has recorded two victories on that Tour already.  He is the youngest person ever to make the cut in the Masters, which he did at age 16.  

He has all the talent to win on any stage in professional golf.  Americans may get to know Manassero much better after Sunday.

Ryo Ishikawa

Ishikawa had a very strong showing last week.  

The 19-year-old ditched his trademark long hair and finished fourth at WGC Bridgestone.  He plays mostly in Japan, where he has recorded a 58 in tournament play.  He doesn’t play often against top competition, so experience may be an issue for him.

Kyung-Tae Kim

Kim is almost unheard of in the United States.  Yet the 24-year-old has very quietly risen to 18th in the world.  

Last week, he showcased why he has this ranking by finishing sixth at Bridgestone.  Kim is mostly an Asian tour player, but he is playing good golf right now, so don’t count him out.