Everyone has “their guys” for one reason or another. People always have their favourite teams and players in the sports they follow. If you’re a diehard like me in whatever sport it may be (it’s applicable to all), you often let this fandom dictate far too much of your emotional well-being.
For any hockey fans out there, I’m a diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and the amount of heartbreak and soullessness they’ve brought me in the Matthews era is unspeakable.
But as a true fan, you’re always reeled back in and ready to go to battle from your couch the next time up. The same can be said about golf but instead of a “team,” it’s the individual golfer. It’s especially cruel in golf because, at certain points in the biggest moments, you live and die by every shot, which, as you know, spans across four days. It’s exhausting caring so much. And unless you’re a Scottie Scheffler fan, there seems to be a lot more dying than living.
The thing about golf, too, is that there are so many golfers out there. What makes one person feel very drawn to a certain player might do absolutely nothing for the next fan. It’s all very random at the end of the day.
The main point of this piece was to have some fun, put pen to paper, and lay out my official “my guys” list. The criteria for my list is pretty simple: it’s the guys who, week in and week out, I’m constantly checking on the PGA Tour app shot tracker to see what they’re doing on a hole-by-hole basis. When these guys are in contention on the weekend I’m on the edge of my seat all day, jumping out of it if they do something big. It’s the type of feeling you get as a five-year-old waking up on Christmas morning. Must also add that style plays into this. You need to look good out there. And lastly, “Would you go grab a drink with this guy?” It has to be a hands-down yes. Put all that together, and you get who qualifies for this prestigious list.
Brief couple of final points: I’m on the younger side (in university) so I find I gravitate towards the younger guys, you’ll see that bias here and this is ranked in order, highest first.
Viktor Hovland
My #1. I started following the tour closely right when he came out, and I’ve instantly been drawn to him. I don’t know if it’s the fact that he’s always smiling and laughing out there, even when it’s going horribly wrong, or the awesome quotes and clips he always seems to produce. A few of my favourites that I still watch on repeat if they come across my feed are the classic “Stay off the weeeddd,” “You know, the JL, they have the auto-jacked shirt,” and the famous “I just suck at chipping,” which came after winning his first event.
Is the tinkering getting a little annoying? Yes, but only because I want to see him get back to that 2023 level more than anything. Please figure the driver out, Vik!
Whether he finds that 2023 level again this year or not, he’s getting that first major. He needs it, he’s been so close the last few years. It’s happening. I guarantee it.
Michael Thorbjornsen
Ever since he got onto the tour via the PGA Tour University Rankings I was instantly drawn to his persona and game. Even before honestly when he finished solo 4th at the 2022 Travelers Championship as an amateur. Automatic go grab a drink guy.
Game wise, I find the 10 finger (baseball) grip fascinating, along with the amount of power + accuracy he plays with. I love the way he carries himself on the course and the insight he provides after in interviews. The adidas fits go hard too.
He’s had a couple close calls this year already at both Waste Management and the Players, crushing endings. But it’s only going to make that first win and especially that first big win that much sweeter.
Nick Dunlap
It’s been a dark past year and a bit. There doesn’t appear to be many signs of trending in a positive direction either but I’m sticking with the guy who instantly won me over when he contended and eventually won the American Express as an Amateur. It truly was awesome to see him accomplish something so rare while being so young. Then going on to win again later in the same season was so impressive.
I still have to remind myself, as does he, that if he never won in 2024 there’s a solid chance he would still be playing college golf right now, competing for the #1 spot in PGA Tour U. This is to all say it hasn’t been pretty for some time now but he’s so young and has so much time to sort things out.
Part of a quote from Dunlap this past fall at the 2025 World Wide Technology Championship: “But yeah, I should still be in college, so I’m just trying to learn as much as I can.”
Ludvig Aberg
Well the Player’s was a tough one. But what’s not to love when it comes to Ludvig?
He burst onto the scene and instantly threw his name in the mix at some of golf’s biggest tournaments. He appears like one of the nicest down-to-earth guys out there, you could watch his swing on repeat all day, uses a blade putter, the Adidas fits are fantastic and plays maybe too fast. I could go on and on. He’s a bonafide stud to quickly summarize it.
My first tour event was when he won at Torrey Pines. I had a perfect view of the 20-ish footer he drained on 15 for birdie that day. It was an incredible atmosphere and cool to witness his biggest win to date.
He’s got to start closing out some of these tournaments soon, though, because the critiques are starting to grow. He needs to silence them.
Luke Clanton
Man, what he did as an amateur was so rare. How he showed up over and over at PGA Tour events for a stretch and seemingly contended come Sunday in most of them. The excitement he started bringing me every time I saw the “Clanton” name in the field. It was nuts. I’m still so bummed he didn’t pull the RSM off in late 2024, just couldn’t make that putt on 18.
He had so many people talking about whether he was the next young star to surge through the ranks. While that looked true in college, since turning pro he just hasn’t had it. The putting has been brutal. Here’s hoping he gives us some intense Sunday moments again soon.
He’s a great personality for the game of golf and everything about his upbringing seems awesome. He’s done quite a few youtube golf videos too which really show his fun personality off. I definitely recommend checking out.
Brooks Koepka
Some people love it, some people hate it but I love the confident, somewhat cocky attitude he carries himself with. He’s just a dude at the end of the day, and even though he may never be the same golfer and killer guy he was during his prime he’s still just a guy’s guy.
I was watching the Tour’s new Chasing Sunday Series on youtube last night and when Akshay found out Brooks doesn’t carry a yardage book, he was truly flabbergasted. I thought that moment summed up Brooks as a guy and golfer perfectly. Just a true fire and shoot type of player. Absolutely no nonsense.
Also as you see I don’t have a ton of killers on my list, he’s definitely the most accomplished by far and here’s to hoping we’re in for a much stronger major season in 2026 than the previous 2 years. Very happy he’s back on the PGA Tour and he’s also starting to show some form and promise leading into the major season.
David Ford
I swear I don’t automatically like all the #1 PGA Tour U guys, even if it seems that way. It just so happens the last three feel like total dudes, and I can’t help but root for them. I’ll also declare now that this year’s #1 Ben James or Christiaan Maas won’t be on my list in the future.
Ford’s great, though. I mean, what a name, it instantly made me like him. He’s a lefty, and you’ve got to have at least one lefty you really pull for. His game is starting to round into form too. I think he’ll make a bigger name for himself going forward.
Jason Day
Shocking an older guy on the list, I know. I’ll never get enough of Jday. I don’t know if it’s the accent or just that he seems like one of the most genuine people out there, but any tournament feels 100x more enjoyable when I see his name on the leaderboard. Watching his short game and putting is mesmerizing. He’s one of those guys you look up on YouTube at night “Jason Day short game compilation” to fall asleep to.
Also, sue me, but I’m fully on board with Team Malbon Jason Day. And with him and his buddies starting up “The Lads” YouTube channel, getting to see the dream backyard setup and the “barn” in action is a treat. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.
I don’t think he will, but I’d love to see him get into broadcasting when he’s done. At the 2025 Arnold Palmer, he joined Smylie’s Happy Hour and was fantastic. Maybe it’s just the voice, but there was great analysis and insight too.
Max Homa
Mr. Homa, the last guy to make the cut, a word that probably resonates close to him this past year and a bit, sorry.
He’s a guy who just gets it. You can tell he truly appreciates the game. He’s grinded his ass off over the years and faced a ton of adversity. He’s one of the few golfers who’s shown off his entire personality to fans over the years.
One quote I love to this day from him came at the 2024 Masters when he was in contention “If I catch myself thinking about what could go wrong, I let myself dream about what could go right”
In a world that is seemingly filled with negativity at times the last part and that mindset really resonated with me.
Here’s too hoping Max can start to really bounce back and contend again in 2026.
Current Amateurs guaranteed on this list once they turn pro:
- Preston Stout and Jackson Koivun
Lastly, I’ve listed some other guys that don’t quite crack the list but are definitely guys I’m pulling for if none of the above are in contention. Simply put I’m happy when I see these guys have success.
Rory Mcilroy, Akshay Bhatia, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Hojgaards and Nick Taylor.
And I feel it’s necessary to say where world #1 Scheffler sits in all of this. And well I might take some heat but I’m just not a Scottie Scheffler guy. I don’t root against him but just don’t feel anything excitement wise when he’s winning or high up on a leaderboard. Not a needle mover for me.
