10 PGA Tour Players to Watch 2014/15 Season

After a virtually non-existent off-season, the PGA Tour returned to our screens last week at the Frys.com Open. The wrap-around schedule - inaugurated last year - gets underway in early October and runs all the way through to the Tour Championship in mid-September, taking in some 46 tournaments along the way.

But who will be featuring prominently throughout that stretch? Below, we reveal 10 players to keep your eyes on this season. In no particular order...

Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka is one of the most talented young Americans in today's game. Much like compatriot and occasional roommate Peter Uihlein, he's spent the last couple of season honing his game on the European Tour and developing a broader skill set than most of the other Americans in his demographic. He's a very long hitter, but also has finesse and an excellent short-game to accompany his immense power, making him a very versatile player. The fact he's performed well in the few majors he's qualified for is also a good sign. It remains to be seen how he'll cope with a global schedule, but I'm expecting a maiden win this season.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson may be 44 years of age, but there should be no concerns about his desire, drive and determination to succeed, especially in the wake of the US Ryder Cup debacle. If we're being brutally honest, he was poor for the entirety of last season, notching just one top 10 and failing to record a single victory for the first time since 2002. But his Dave Pelz said earlier this week that he's swinging the club as well as he ever has, and if he can rekindle his form on the greens, he could be dangerous in 2015.

Hideki Matsuyama

Ryo Ishikawa has been seen as the hottest prospect to come out of Asia in recent times. However, his performances on the PGA Tour since he earned full membership two years ago simply haven't lived up to the stratospheric expectation levels. What's more, in that time, another potential Japanese superstar has come to the fore - someone who has usurped his contemporary and taken the title of Japan's most exciting 20-something golfer. Hideki Matsuyama impressed en debut in the 2013 Presidents Cup and and claimed a maiden tour title at this year's Memorial Tournament. I don't think a serious major challenge is too far away, given his mix of power, poise and amazing prowess on the greens.

Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth stormed onto the scene as a 19-year-old and won his first PGA Tour event with a holed bunker shot at the John Deere Classic. He started last season with aplomb and put himself in contention in his first performance at the Masters - the expected catalyst for an assault on the world's top 10. But his career has flatlined a little bit since then - perhaps not surprising given his age and his fast-paced start to life as a professional - but he's in possession of all the attributes to be one of the best players in the world. There's no discernible weakness in his game, and he's able to summon his best golf in the biggest events. I think he'll come back strong in 2014/15, provided he takes some time to rest and recuperate following his exploits at the Ryder Cup.

Rickie Fowler

Well, this could be quite a significant season in the context of Rickie Fowler's golfing career. Yes, he played some brilliant golf last season to finish inside the top five in all four major championships, but the fact remains he hasn't won on the the PGA Tour since the Wells Fargo Championship in 2012 - his lone victory. That victory ratio, I'm afraid, isn't good enough for a player of his ability, something that I'm sure is being impressed upon him by his coaching team. His swing has improved immeasurably under Butch Harmon's stewardship, and now is the time for Fowler to turn into the winning machine everyone has expected him to be since his amateur days.

Sam Saunders

It's also a big season for Sam Saunders. The 27-year-old has faced more media attention than any other Web.com Tour graduate since earning full playing privileges a couple of weeks ago. Why? Because he's Arnold Palmer's grandson. That relationship has earned him a fair few starts on the PGA Tour - along with a string of questions about nepotism - but he played his way into the main tour without any outside interference, something he's clearly very proud of. Last season, he notched five top-five finishes on the Web.com to finish 21st on the money list, and it'll be very intriguing to see how he fares in his first full season on the PGA Tour.

Patrick Reed

Regardless of what you think about Patrick Reed, one thing is abundantly clear: he has a burning fire is his belly, self-confidence and an impressive desire to succeed. Yes, some justifiably interpret his self-belief as brashness or arrogance, but he's arguably America's finest young golfer and a future major champion in the making. He's one of only a handful of players to have won three times before his 23rd birthday - including a WGC triumph at Doral - someone who impressed on his Ryder Cup debut and a golfer who looks poised to continue his surge up the world rankings this season.

Richard Sterne

Richard Sterne is one of the most underrated players in the game of golf, and a player who journalists, analysts and commentators feel hasn't delivered on all his potential. Yet, at least. He's struggled with persistent injuries over the years but he boasts an excellent golf swing with very good power - impressive given his diminutive stature. But he's now healthy, and a full PGA Tour member after earning a card through the Web.com Tour Finals. He's a six-time winner on the European Tour and a player who's enjoyed spells inside the world's top 50 in the past. At 33, he's in the prime of his career, and if he stays healthy, he could certainly make an impact on America's top-tier circuit.

Bud Cauley

In 2011, Bud Cauley became only the seventh player - following the likes of Ryan Moore, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods - to earn a PGA Tour card without going to Q-School. In just seven events, he earned the equivalent amount to the 116th person on the money list and secured his playing privileges for the subsequent year. However, he struggled in both 2013 and 2014 and was forced to retain his card through the Web.com Tour Finals at the end of each of those seasons. Still, the fact he's managed to come through twice says a great deal about his constitution and he'll be stronger for those experiences. He won his second-last event, too, so he has momentum heading into the new season.

Carlos Ortiz

Carlos Ortiz led the Web.com Tour money list for the majority of last season and won three tournaments to secure promotion to the top flight. With the gulf in ability between the Web.com and PGA Tours narrowing all the time, the Mexican will be expected to make an immediate impression on the premier circuit.

Photo Credit: TourProGolfClubs.com

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