The 5 Most Compelling Figures on the PGA TOUR Right Now
Rory and Tiger might grab the lion’s share of headlines among current PGA TOUR players, but they’re hardly alone when it comes to players and personalities on the circuit who are steadily commanding more time in the spotlight. PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com’s David Williams is here to tell you all about them.
By David Williams
The past year in professional golf has been interesting, to put it lightly, maybe the most important year for the PGA TOUR since its inception. The TOUR is missing a few key “content hogs” thanks to LIV Golf, but there are still plenty of names and personalities who can tell a pretty compelling story. Here are five of them.
1. Jordan Spieth. The one-time “Golden Child” always makes headlines no matter how he’s playing. The streak he went on in 2015 had us all thinking Spieth was the next coming of Tiger Woods. You might be thinking, “How is he compelling? He’s boring!” I would counter that thought with a suggestion to watch this video the No Laying Up crew recently filmed with him. Spieth has the chance to be the youngest Grand Slam winner since Tiger, and that’s plenty enough for him to make this list.
2. Sahith Theegala. Many of you probably didn’t know who Theegala was before his episode on Netflix’s “Full Swing.” He has the makings of a superstar. Theegala should have won the 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open, but that’s golf. Theegala is young, engaging, and loves golf (probably because he is really good at it). Put all these things together, and you have a player who fans will steadily grow to love.
3. Rickie Fowler. Fowler’s career path has been something to watch over the years. When he first got to the TOUR, Fowler had the whole package: the loud outfits, top 5s in majors, and even a victory at THE PLAYERS. Then he lost it. Straight into the wilderness. At that point, it would have made perfect sense for Fowler to take a lucrative offer from LIV, but he turned it down. Now he’s back to playing well, and golf is better when Rickie’s around.
4. Max Homa. John Maxwell Homa. A.K.A. “The Pro.” Homa is just what the PGA TOUR needs right now. He’s funny, he understands social media, and he happens to be one of the best golfers on the planet. Homa does a masterful job of marketing himself, and stepping outside the comfort zone that confines lots of his fellow TOUR players.
5. Rory McIlroy/Tiger Woods. I couldn’t, in good conscience, make this list without at least including these two as part of it. Let’s start with Rory. Needing only a Masters win to complete a career Grand Slam, that alone is enough to make him a compelling figure. But he’s way more than that. Rory has always been open, sometimes to a fault, but it’s something I’ve grown to appreciate. Tiger is, well, Tiger. Wherever he goes, people follow. He will always make headlines, but most important, Tiger will forever be the reason why professional golf is what it is today.
Honorable mentions – These are two names we might not see on the course, but ones that we’ll hear on many future broadcasts:
John Wood. Former caddie for Matt Kuchar, Wood has made a smooth transition into the broadcasting world, and he is wonderful on the call – insightful, quick to the point, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to his viewers.
Smylie Kaufman. Many love to rag on Smylie for losing his game, and that’s not right. Kaufman, like Wood, has moved into broadcasting and may be the hardest working person on NBC Sports’ golf coverage. I feel like he’s everywhere. He brings the player perspective in an interesting, fun and (most importantly) young way.
There are hundreds more great stories that will hopefully come to light with the recent changes in pro golf. We’ll be there to talk about all of them as they happen on PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com’s Myrtle Beach Golf Report. Stay tuned to this site for our next podcast, and be sure to give us a watch and listen!
