The changing landscape of professional golf, with LIV Golf contracts and PGA Tour signature events, has opened doors for a new generation of talent. While veterans like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy still dominate the top 10, a wave of young players in their teens and early twenties is making a serious case for stardom. From major champion surprises to amateurs contending in pro events, these rising stars represent the future of the game. Some are already household names; others are bubbling under the radar. Here are the most exciting young players in professional golf right now.
The Youngest Stars: Amateurs and Teen Phenoms
Miles Russell (age 18, USA): Russell became the youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour at age 15. Now 18, he’s turned professional and already has multiple top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour Canada and Latin America tours. He recently Monday-qualified for the RBC Canadian Open, shooting a 64. Many scouts compare his swing to a young Rickie Fowler — smooth, repeatable, and powerful. Asterisk Talley (age 15, USA): The youngest player to ever qualify for a USGA adult major (2024 U.S. Women’s Open). She continues to dominate junior events and is expected to turn pro by 2028. Talley’s driving distance (290 yards at 15) is unprecedented for a female junior. Blades Brown (age 17, USA): Signed to play at Vanderbilt, Brown already has two amateur wins on the PGA Tour’s Latin America circuit. He’s known for his short game wizardry and mental maturity.
Blades Brown (USA) – The Next Big Thing
Blades Brown, 17, has already played in two PGA Tour events (via sponsor exemptions), making the cut in both. He shot a 64 at the 2025 Myrtle Beach Classic, finishing T12. Brown verballed to Vanderbilt but many expect him to turn pro before college. His father is a former college golfer, and Blades has been homeschooled specifically to pursue golf. His strengths: driving distance (315 yards), iron play, and a chip with his own name on it (“The Blade”). Weakness: experience. But scouts say Brown has the “it factor” — composure beyond his years. He’s already signed with IMG and has several endorsement offers waiting.
Kris Kim (England) – European Phenom
Kris Kim, 18, became the youngest player to make the cut on the DP World Tour in 2024 (age 16). He turned professional at 17 and has already won twice on the Challenge Tour. Kim’s iron play is his calling card — he led the Challenge Tour in greens in regulation (74%). At 6’3″, he generates power effortlessly (definitely 300+ yard drives). Kim is being compared to a young Rory McIlroy, with a similarly fluid swing. He’s currently ranked No. 78 in the world, but many expect him to crack the top 50 by end of 2026. Kim is also the first Asian-born English player (his parents are Korean) to break through, attracting major sponsorship interest from Asian markets.
Miles Russell (USA) – Already Breaking Records
Miles Russell is the most decorated teenage amateur in the USGA. At 15, he was the youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour. At 16, he was the youngest to win the Junior PGA Championship. Now 18, Russell has turned professional (signed with TaylorMade) and earned his Korn Ferry Tour card via Q-School. He’s already posted four top-10 finishes on the KFT in 2026. Russell’s game is mature beyond his years — he rarely beats himself, hits fairways, and grinds out pars. His weakness is distance (averages 288 yards drive), but he’s working on adding speed. Many scouts compare him to a young Matt Fitzpatrick — not flashy, but consistent and winning.
The DP World Tour’s Young Guns: Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard
The Højgaard twins from Denmark (Rasmus and Nicolai, age 23) are already multiple winners on the DP World Tour. Rasmus won the 2022 Italian Open (now a Rolex Series event) and finished T3 at the 2025 Open Championship. Nicolai won the 2024 Czech Masters and was a Ryder Cup pick for Europe in 2025 (youngest ever). Both hit it long and straight. Their weakness is injury — Rasmus has a history of back issues; Nicolai a wrist problem. But when healthy, they are top-30 players in the world (currently ranked Rasmus #29, Nicolai #32). The twins also anchor Denmark’s national team and are expected to be Ryder Cup stalwarts for a decade.
Wenyi Ding (China) – The Next Asian Star
Wenyi Ding, 21, made history by winning the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur (youngest Chinese winner). He turned professional in 2024 and earned his card via DP World Tour Q-School. Ding has already won twice on the DP World Tour in 2026, including the Singapore Classic. He’s known for his effortless power (317 yard average drives) and a silky putting stroke. Ding is being marketed as the successor to Li Haotong (China’s first DP World Tour winner). Sponsors are lining up — he’s already signed with Nike and Rolex. The only question: can he handle the travel and pressure? Early returns say yes.
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Australia) – Women’s Rising Star
On the women’s side, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, 22, is the LPGA’s next big thing. She turned professional after a stellar college career at Oklahoma State (2-time All-American). Her rookie season (2025) included a win at the Dana Open and four other top-10 finishes. In 2026, she’s already won the HSBC Women’s World Championship (beating Nelly Korda). Hinson-Tolchard’s ball-striking is elite (tops in LPGA greens in regulation), and she’s known for her fierce competitiveness. She’s currently ranked #11 in the world — the youngest in the top 20. Many predict she’ll be world No. 1 within 3 years. She’s also the face of Australian women’s golf, following Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee.
Jasmine Koo (USA) – Teenage LPGA Threat
Jasmine Koo, 16, is already a force in amateur women’s golf. She won the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur and then turned professional days later (signed with Titleist). She’s currently competing on the Epson Tour (LPGA’s developmental circuit) via sponsor exemptions and has two runner-up finishes. Koo’s driving distance (275 yards) is above LPGA average at age 16, and her short game is exceptional. She’s still in high school (online), balancing studies with pro golf. Koo has already been compared to a young Michelle Wie, but with a better short game. Expect her to earn LPGA full status by 2027.
The “NIL Effect” – College Stars Skipping Tours
The NCAA’s Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) rules have changed the calculus for American college players. Top amateurs like Jackson Koivun (Auburn, 19) and David Ford (North Carolina, 20) are earning six figures from endorsements while still in college. This has delayed their professional debuts — they can afford to stay in school and develop. Koivun won the 2025 SEC Player of the Year and finished runner-up at NCAA nationals. Ford is a two-time All-American known for his putting. Both are expected to turn pro after the 2027 NCAA season. They represent the new wave of polished, media-savvy, physically developed rookies who will hit the ground running.
Players to Watch Over the Next 3 Years
These rising stars will likely populate the top 50 world rankings by 2028: Luke Clanton (USA, Florida State, 20) — current No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Expected to turn pro mid-2026. Sammy Schmitz (USA, 17) — youngest player to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Open; has accepted a full scholarship to Stanford. Grace Summerhays (USA, 19) — daughter of PGA pro Boyd Summerhays, won the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur; turned professional and is on Epson Tour. Carson Kim (USA, 18) — brother of PGA pro Tom Kim; already has two KFT Monday qualifier victories. Hamish Brown (New Zealand, 18) — youngest player to win the New Zealand Open (pro event) at age 17. These names will be familiar by 2028.
The bottom line on golf’s rising stars: The future of professional golf is bright, with a deep bench of teenage talent across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LPGA. Blades Brown, Kris Kim, Miles Russell, and Wenyi Ding are the most likely future major champions. On the women’s side, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Jasmine Koo are poised to challenge Nelly Korda’s dominance. The NIL era is keeping American college talent in school longer, but the pipeline is full. While LIV Golf has disrupted the pro game, it hasn’t dampened the production of young stars. The next five years will usher in a changing of the guard — watch these names closely.
