As you might expect, much of the golf media cycle stays focused on the top players, from what’s in their bag, to what they get up to in their spare time. And while it’s understandable that we like to follow those at the top of their game, there are plenty of fresh faces coming up that are worth keeping an eye on this year and in the years to come.
This is a subjective list of those younger players that turned pro in the last few years that I find interesting. It’s not based on any one particular metric but I did avoid players who already get a lot of media attention.
Sami Välimäki (Finland)
In 2020, Välimäki became the first Finn to be named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. The 22 year-old won his 6th ever European Tour event in March 2020 at the Oman Open and finished in the top 10 in last year’s RtD rankings, making it to the top 5 in the final championship event.
Robert MacIntyre (Scotland)
Meanwhile, the 2019 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, Robert (Bob) MacIntyre, became the world’s highest ranked left-handed player and made it to the world top 50 after a stellar performance at this year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Born and raised in Oban, a small fishing town in northwest Scotland, he started playing for his local club at the relatively advanced age of 17..
We’ve worked hard as a team to get in top 50 and here we are - delighted to be world 44 and become the highest ranked lefty in the world 🌍
— Robert MacIntyre (@robert1lefty) February 1, 2021
Thanks for all the support and to all @OMEGAGolfDubai for another great week in Dubai
Congrats @Paul_Casey on the W 👏
Antoine Rozner (France)
Currently the second highest ranked French player in the world, Rozner became the first from his country to be awarded the title of 2020 Challenge Tour graduate of the year. Former winners of this award include Brooks Koepka and last year’s winner, Robert MacIntyre.
Just over two months ago, in December 2020, he made a huge impression with his first European Tour win at the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, with rounds of 63, 69, 67 and 64 in December 2020.
Viktor Hovland (Norway)
Hovland has been making big gains in European Tour. So far in 2021, he has finished 3T at the Dubai Desert Classic and 6T at the Saudi international after rounds of 68, 66, 67 and 68. Having only gone pro in 2019, the 23 year-old has his ambitions set high, hoping to be the first ever Norwegian to make it on to the European Ryder Cup team.
Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
A potential dark horse this year, Migliozzi has already been on a steady upward track so far this season, finishing 67T in Abu Dhabi, 44T in Dubai, and 33T in Saudi Arabia. Can the 24-year old keep up his success streak from the desert swing? He made his first European Tour win in 2019 at the Magical Kenya Open at the age of 22.
Nice 67 to finish this week at the @SaudiIntlGolf.
— Guido Migliozzi (@guidomigliozzi) February 7, 2021
A great experience playing with the legend @PhilMickelson on Saturday.
Time for home now, thanks for all the support! 🏡 pic.twitter.com/DPPgIjfdCi
