It really is a young man’s game

NOTHING better illustrates the rapid turnover that has taken place at the top of the global game than a look at the world rankings from just five years ago. Back then, Rory McIlroy led the way followed by Luke Donald, Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Justin Rose, Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.

What on earth has happened to them all? Only McIlroy and Rose make the equivalent list today and only two more, Scott and Oosthuizen, are still in the top 30. Donald is now outside the top 100 and Woods outside the top 1,000.

Five years ago, just McIlroy and Simpson were in their 20s. Now there are seven such players in a list that reads: Dustin Johnson (33 years old), Jordan Spieth (24), Justin Thomas (24), Hideki Matsuyama (25), Jon Rahm (23), Rose (37), Rickie Fowler (28), McIlroy (28), Henrik Stenson (41) and Brooks Koepka (27). Four of them — Spieth, Thomas, Matsuyama and Rahm — are under 25.

So, no it’s not you — the top golfers really are getting much younger.