As the golf season on both sides of The Pond nears its conclusion, you can’t have failed to notice that some huge young talents have emerged. They represent the future of the game, the players who will be challenging Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy moving forward.
And I can’t help but feel that men’s professional golf is in safe hands.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the players who have me excited for the future:
Eugenio Chacarra, aged 26
A three-time winner and leader of the Race to Dubai ahead of this week's DP World Tour Championship, the Spaniard will be plying his trade on the PGA Tour in 2027, where I confidently predict he will be a sensation. I believe he could be the best thing to emerge from Spain since Seve Ballesteros.
Angel Ayora, aged 22
Another Spaniard, Ayora arguably possesses the best swing on the DP World Tour. Fabulous ball striker who is a brilliant driver of the golf ball and a wonderful iron player. If he has a weakness it is his putting. When he works that out there is no limit to what he can achieve.
David Puig, aged 24
Guess what? Yet another brilliant young Spaniard. He won the Australian PGA Championship almost 12 months ago and then returned to LIV, where his form was pretty indifferent. But that is all behind him now and I expect big things from him in the year ahead. Showed his potential in Abu Dhabi, where he enjoyed a share of fifth place.
Jackson Koivun, aged 21
Koivun wasted no time making his mark on the PGA Tour. He turned professional in June and made his professional debut at the John Deere Classic, where he missed the cut. But he didn’t have to wait long for everything to change. In the third round of the 3M he shot a 10-under 61, including a tournament record 28 on the back nine, to go into the final round with a three-shot lead. In the final round, Koivun closed with a bogey-free 66 to win the tournament by three over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Koivun finished with a 72-hole tournament record score of 25-under 259 and received a captain’s pick for the US Presidents Cup team.
Jayden Schaper, aged 25
After a hugely successful amateur career, South Africa’s Schaper turned professional in 2020 and was Sunshine Tour rookie of the year in 2021. He won his first professional tournament in 2025 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and his second at the Mauritius Open the following week.
Yurav Premlall, aged 23
Yet another incredible South African prospect, Premlall left the field trailing in his wake when he won the Catalunya Championship by a quite staggering 14 shots. In 2018, aged 15 years and five months, Premlall became the youngest amateur to qualify for the South African Open and the youngest player to make the 36-hole cut.
Chris Gotterup, aged 27
Proved that his success in 2025, when he won the Scottish Open and performed brilliantly at The Open, was no fluke by winning three times on the PGA Tour in 2026. Incredibly impressive ball striker who is now riding high in the world rankings - and will surely only climb higher in the months ahead. Has already proved he has the game to contend in the majors.
Casey Jarvis, 23
Guess what? Another South African who has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season, winning the Kenya Open by three shots to clinch his first title on the DP World Tour. One week later, he won the South African Open to earn himself a spot in The Masters and The Open. He went on to finish tied for sixth at The Open.
Luke Clanton, aged 22
Achieved great things on the PGA Tour as an amateur. Has found things somewhat trickier since joining the paid ranks but there have been some very encouraging signs towards the end of the season. I think he is a fabulous prospect and believe that he is destined to become a top-10 player and a certain future Ryder Cup star.
Blades Brown, aged 19
There is no limit to what Brown can achieve. At the age of 16 he broke Bobby Jones’ record as the youngest medalist at strokeplay in US Amateur history - a record that had stood for 103 years. Chose to go straight from high school to the paid ranks and much is expected of him. At the American Express in January 2026, Brown shot a second round 60 to set a new course record for the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West, missing a seven-foot birdie putt on the last for a 59. And he has just become the youngest PGA Tour winner in the modern era.
Alex Fitzpatrick, aged 27
It took a while but after he finally won his maiden DP World Tour title there was no stopping the younger Fitzpatrick brother. He teamed up with Matt to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and then went on to record a host of top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, Now full of self-belief, it surely won’t be long before Fitzpatrick wins his first individual title in America.
Michael Brennan, aged 24
The American has enjoyed a season to remember and possesses both a wonderful swing and a fabulous temperament. He turned professional in 2024 and claimed three PGA Tour Americas titles in 2025 before winning the Bank of Utah Championship in his PGA Tour debut. He has taken his game to a different level in 2026, winning the Wyndham Championship and Baycurrent Classic. Was one of only a handful of players to make the cut in all four majors this year.
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