The stretch between the Open Championship and the FedEx Cup Playoffs is a bit of a comedown for the PGA Tour.
There are no Signature Events, and very rarely big names playing in the three events leading up to the postseason. Scottie Scheffler teeing off at the 3M Open is an aberration. He’s the only superstar in the field.
Last year was an opportunity for some players on the outside looking in to make a late charge at a Ryder Cup spot. Cameron Young did so successfully by winning the Wyndham Championship. And what happened to him afterward shows just how important these weeks are for the future of the PGA Tour.
The next three weeks are crucial for the PGA Tour’s future
Ryan Fox’s Open Championship win means that by the time The Masters rolls around next year, there will be no major winners under the age of 30 in golf. Collin Morikawa will be the last to cross that threshold when he turns up at Augusta National.
The PGA Tour is in desperate need of young stars to step up to give some hope for the next generation of golf superstars, so the next three events are crucial.
We saw what effect winning on the PGA Tour can have after Young won the Wyndham Championship last year. After struggling to pick up his first victory on the tour, he went on to have an incredible Ryder Cup, and then he won The Players and the Cadillac Championship this year.
Who is the best player under the age of 25 on the PGA Tour right now?
Tom Kim, Johnny Keefer, and Michael Thorbjornsen all finished inside the top 10 at the Scottish Open
The PGA Tour needs players to follow in his footsteps, and there are a number of likely contenders in this week’s field. Jackson Koivun has been dubbed the next big thing after an incredible college career, and the 21-year-old is in the mix through 18 holes at the 3M Open.
As is 24-year-old Michael Brennan, who already has a PGA Tour win to his name. He’s expected to grow into one of the better players in the sport, so this tournament could be critical to his future if he wants to challenge at the top of leaderboards more consistently.
No matter who breaks through, the PGA Tour needs a young player to begin challenging at majors, and even win one, soon. If not, they’ll still be relying on aging players like Rory McIlroy to carry their brand through the next few years.
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