Prime Younger PGA Golfers to Watch: Rising Stars of the Tour
by Kyle Moss
A brand new era of golfers is making a major mark on the skilled golf panorama. From the established PGA Tour to the burgeoning LIV Golf league and the proving grounds of PGA Tour College and the Korn Ferry and DP World Excursions, these rising stars aren’t simply competing; they’re successful and setting the stage for an exhilarating period within the sport.
And whereas some have adopted within the footsteps of the greats by studying the sport at well-known programs like Holywood Golf Membership in Eire or Los Angeles Nation Membership within the U.S., many of those names poured numerous hours into training and studying at their native municipal tracks, the place you may all the time discover a tee time and make a brand new good friend.
After all there are many methods to construct a profession in golf, with smaller avenues just like the Japan Tour and the Asian tour additionally proving to be efficient. However those that are able to make the largest and most speedy impression by successful a number of titles are the younger PGA golfers out grinding week in and week out on the PGA Tour, which is the place this checklist will begin.
Listed here are the highest 10 Younger Skilled Golfers (25 and Below) on the PGA Tour and Past
1. Ludvig Åberg, 25
Ludvig Åberg appears destined for not solely his first main win very quickly, but in addition a number of majors alongside the way in which. The 25-year-old Swedish phenom has taken the golf world by storm along with his highly effective drives and calm demeanor, rapidly establishing himself as a top-tier competitor. He was the primary PGA Tour College graduate to earn speedy tour membership, after happening to win twice and taking part in within the 2023 Ryder Cup in his first season. His most up-to-date high ten end at Augusta Nationwide in 2025 is but one more reason why he’s maybe the high younger golfer on the planet.
2. Tom Kim, 23
Tom Kim is a three-time PGA Tour winner, incomes two of these victories earlier than turning 21. He’s identified for his constant quick recreation, low bogey-frequency, and powerful strokes‑gained efficiency tee-to-green, all whereas showcasing a maturity that’s spectacular for anybody, particularly a 23-year-old.
3. Nick Dunlap, 21
Nick Dunlap received a U.S. Junior Newbie championship (2021), a U.S. Newbie championship (2023), and was the highest ranked novice on this planet. However then he made critical headlines along with his historic win at The American Categorical championship as an novice — the primary novice to win on the professional circuit in 33 years — after which went on to win once more that very same season after turning skilled.
4. Akshay Bhatia , 23
Earlier than changing into a PGA Tour winner, Akshay Bhatia had already put collectively a powerful profession in novice golf as a former Drive, Chip & Putt finalist, after which by representing the U.S. within the Junior Ryder Cup (2018) and U.S. Walker Cup (2019) — the youngest ever excessive‑faculty Walker Cup crew member. He performs with a particular, self-taught swing and a fearless, aggressive method, and continues to be a constant menace.
5. Michael Thorbjornsen, 23
Michael Thorbjornsen was a highly-touted novice after changing into the U.S. Junior Newbie champion in 2018. He has rapidly established himself as a constant contender after incomes PGA Tour standing by ending No. 1 in his PGA Tour U class. He completed runner‑up on the 2024 John Deere Basic in simply his third professional begin, and was runner‑up once more on the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship. Subsequent he’s eyeing is first main championship.
6. Karl Vilips, 24
Karl Vilips is a former prodigy from Australia who turned professional in June 2024, after which rapidly received on the Korn Ferry Tour on the Utah Championship, on his technique to being named Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Yr. He efficiently graduated to the PGA Tour, and secured his first title on the 2025 Puerto Rico Open in simply his fourth begin, incomes a two-year exemption and entry into main occasions. He turned the primary participant signed to Tiger Woods’ Solar Day Purple attire line, and acquired a direct message from Tiger after successful.
7. William Mouw, 24
A standout at Pepperdine College, William Mouw was a key contributor to the Waves’ 2021 NCAA Championship crew and earned a number of All-American honors. He turned skilled in 2023 and captured his first PGA Tour win simply two years later on the Rocket Mortgage Basic, showcasing his elite ball-striking and composure down the stretch.
8. Aldrich Potgieter, 20
The youngest on this checklist at simply 20-years-old, Aldrich Potgieter is a powerful South African who has firmly established himself as one of the vital highly effective and promising younger skills in golf. He’s already a winner on the PGA Tour, changing into the youngest winner on Tour in 2025, the place he leads everybody in driving distance. He leverages an explosive mixture of uncooked energy off the tee and a deft contact across the greens, and has made a remarkably swift transition to the skilled ranks.
9. Luke Clanton, 22
One other title producing vital buzz as he embarks on his skilled profession is Luke Clanton, the most effective younger golfers on this checklist. In 2025 he swept faculty golf’s most prestigious honors, capturing the person NCAA Championship, the Ben Hogan Award, and the Jack Nicklaus Award. And contemporary off one of the vital adorned collegiate seasons in latest reminiscence at Florida State College, the 22-year-old phenom turned skilled with immense expectations after dominating the world novice golf rating. Identified for his aggressive hearth and a elegant recreation that shines below stress, Clanton was extensively considered one of the vital Tour-ready prospects to emerge from the novice ranks lately.
10. Joe Highsmith, 25
When Joe Highsmith received the 2025 Cognizant Basic Championship — his first PGA Tour win — he was nowhere close to the primary spherical lead and ended up making the lower on the quantity. However then he posted back-to-back 64s within the third and ultimate rounds on the weekend for a victory that not solely secured him entry into a number of majors and got here with a two-year tour exemption, but in addition confirmed simply how explosive and thrilling he could be. Highsmith would go on to a powerful T8 end on the PGA Championship in 2025.
Together with the PGA Tour, a wealth of younger expertise and rising stars are rising from the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour (previously the European Tour), and the LIV Golf league. Listed here are some extra gamers who’re poised to turn out to be family names within the coming years.
The Better of the Relaxation: 10 Extra Younger Gamers to Watch from the PGA, Korn Ferry, DP World, and LIV Golf Excursions:
1. Rasmus Højgaard, 24
Rasmus Højgaard is a confirmed winner with a powerful Ryder Cup pedigree in his future. The 24-year-old has a number of European victories, and completed solo second behind Rory McIlroy on the 2024 DP World Tour Championship.
2. Tom McKibbin, 22
Tom McKibbin is rising star from Northern Eire who, very similar to Rory McIlroy, grew up taking part in Holywood Golf Membership. He has already secured a DP World Tour win and has additionally made his debut within the LIV Golf league.
3. David Puig, 23
As part of LIV Golf, David Puig has turn out to be a key member of the Fireballs GC, exhibiting constant enchancment all season lengthy.
4. Ricky Castillo, 24
Ricky Castillo is a extremely adorned collegiate participant who earned his PGA Tour card and is poised to start out successful some huge occasions.
5. Caleb Surratt, 21
Caleb Surratt was a high novice who made the leap to LIV Golf, the place he’s holding his personal as one of the vital outstanding younger gamers within the league, showcasing his abilities on a world stage.
6. Martin Couvra, 22
Martin Couvra from France already has one win and is now on the hunt for a number of DP World Tour victories.
7. Adrien Dumont de Chassart, 25
Adrien Dumont de Chassart is taken into account of the very best in Korn Ferry Tour historical past, after successful in his debut and almost locking up a second win the next week. He posted an unimaginable scoring common of 66.46 over his first six begins, and had one of many tour’s lowest bogey charges since 1994.
8. John Keefer, 24
John Keefer dominated the PGA TOUR Americas to earn his Korn Ferry Tour card, the place he instantly received and earned his approach into the 2025 PGA Championship.
9. Christo Lamprecht, 24
Christo Lamprecht turned the third South African in six years to win The Newbie Championship in Europe, giving him exemption to the 2023 Open Championship the place he received the Silver Medal as low novice.
10. Pierceson Coody, 25
Pierceson Coody, who’s the grandson of 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody, has demonstrated his excessive potential with robust performances whereas on the hunt for his first PGA Tour title. His twin brother, Parker Coody, additionally has his PGA Tour card.
