American Golf

With Matt Kuchar's victory last week at Sawgrass, you have to feel good about where American golf is headed.  Kuchar, Fowler, Watson, Bradley, and Mahan have all cemented themselves as world class players in the last 18 months and for the first time in a long time, look like they may be ready to challenge the Europeans and their solid contingent burgeoning talent. Behind the group just mentioned, there are a number of contenders who look poised to break through anytime.  Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Johnson Wagner, Bill Haas, Nick Watney, and Jason Dufner.  Most of these players have won on tour, and are starting to show up on leaderboards on a consistent basis.

These relative newcomers add to the American stalwarts - Tiger, Phil, Stricker, Furyk, and potentially Zach Johnson, who are still very dangerous.

It has been a long time coming for the Americans.  For the better part of 5 years there have been questions asked about who will follow in Tiger and Phil's footsteps as the ambassadors of the game for the United States.  There have been a lot of names tossed around and more than a few players have shown flashes of being able to carry that torch, but there has not been any run of sustained success by the 'young' Americans (truth be told Kuchar is 33 and Mahan is 29).  Now, however, we are starting to see a core group emerge that is always around the leaderboard, with more and more breaking through for victories.   Currently, 6 of the top 10 players in the world are American, and 10 of the top 20.