MEET THE ROOKIES CLASS OF 2024

LUDVIG ABERG

AGE: 24 PRO WINS: 4 COUNTRY: SWEDEN

If this list were a ranking, the former amateur No.1 would be top of the pile. He’s never played in a Major before and yet he’s already acquired superstar status after winning the European Masters and November’s RSM Classic in America. He also starred at the Ryder Cup and posted the second-best scoring average (68.32) for the 2023 PGA Tour season. His prodigious length and temperament should make him a great fit for Augusta.

ADAM SCHENK

AGE: 32 PRO WINS: 2 COUNTRY: USA

A PGA Tour mid-carder who is now approaching 200 starts without a win. Last season he let a 54-hole lead slip at the Valspar Championship and then lost in a play-off at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Missed cuts at the PGA, US Open and Open continued his hard luck story until he rewrote the final chapter with a starring role in the Fedex Cup Play-offs. A tie for seventh in the season finale means he’s locked up spots in all of this year’s Majors and signature events.

MATTHIEU PAVON

AGE: 31 PRO WINS: 6 COUNTRY: FRANCE

The DP World Tour veteran has been a big beneficiary of the strategic alliance. He played his way to the PGA Tour as a result of his Race to Dubai ranking last season and a breakthrough victory at the Spanish Open. Then, on just his third start of 2024, he beat Nicolai Hojgaard by one at the Farmers Insurance Open to become the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour since 1907. Not bad for someone who used to suffer from the chipping yips!

DENNY MCCARTHY

AGE: 31 PRO WINS: 4 COUNTRY: USA

Perhaps the best putter on planet golf but without the results to back it up. A play-off defeat to Viktor Hovland at last year’s Memorial was just his 23rd top 10 in 168 starts on the PGA Tour so far. Two strong showings at the US Open – including T7 in 2022 – suggest he’s battle-hardened, but there’s a limit to how often he can fall back on his super short game. He lost nearly half a stroke on the field in Strokes Gained: Off the tee last year.

ERIC COLE 35

AGE: PRO WINS: 12 COUNTRY: USA

The definition of a late bloomer, having lost his Korn Ferry Tour card three years ago. He won it back in 2022 and then played his way to the PGA Tour last season where he was named Rookie of the Year thanks to some elite approach play and putting. A play-off defeat at last year’s Honda Classic means he’s still searching for a first win in the big leagues, but he has rare pedigree as the son of LPGA star Laura Baugh and PGA Tour winner Bobby Cole.

LEE HODGES

AGE: 28 PRO WINS: 2 COUNTRY: USA

A very tidy operator who went wire-to-wire to claim the 3M Open by a whopping seven strokes in July. His putting and driving have deserted him since then, however, culminating in a string of cuts and some seriously inconsistent performances from one round to the next. His record in high-class events is yet another question mark against his name, and why some bookmakers have him at 500-1 to cause an almighty upset. He’ll do well to make the cut.

NICOLAI HOJGAARD

AGE: 23 PRO WINS: 4 COUNTRY: DENMARK

Another Ryder Cup star with a seriously bright future. Victory at the DP World Tour’s season finale – his third in as many years – helped secure his PGA Tour card and catapulted him inside the world’s top 50 for the first time. He’s reached greater heights since then and almost forced a play-off at the Farmers Insurance Open. It’s easy to see why Adam Scott has likened his game to Dustin Johnson’s: he’s deceptively long and a brilliant ball striker.

NICK DUNLAP

AGE: 20 PRO WINS: 1 COUNTRY: USA

The story of the season so far. He made history at The American Express by becoming the first amateur since 1991 to win on the PGA Tour. He turned pro four days later and is now eligible for every big event except The Open. The inconsistency of youth means expectations should be tempered, but the hype train has been building ever since he won the US Junior and US Amateur. Did we also mention he shot a 59 when he was 12? Yeah, the kid is special alright!

GRAYSON MURRAY

AGE: 30 PRO WINS: 7 COUNTRY: USA

A seasoned trash talker on social media, the spiky American has attracted unwanted headlines in the past after being placed on probation by the PGA Tour for a drunken incident. He was then told to play better by Rory Mcilroy in a heated player meeting last season. Now it would appear he is finally doing so: he claimed his second PGA Tour victory after a seven-year wait at the Sony Open and is now almost 12 months’ sober. Good on him.

RYO HISATSUNE

AGE 21 PRO WINS 4 COUNTRY: JAPAN

One of three players to be handed a special invitation, alongside Thorbjorn Olesen and Joaquin Niemann. Hisatsune is new to the Major stage but he made a big impression last season and came from four back to win the French Open by two at Le Golf National. He pipped Aberg to the DP World Tour Rookie of the Year award and now holds a dual membership on the PGA Tour, where he’s made eight of nine cuts. Yet to find his form off the tee this year.