Stars to Watch

The reigning world No. 1, Scheffler has established himself as the dominant player in golf. His 2024 season was one of the best in the sport's history — multiple wins, PGA Player of the Year, a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. A fundamentally sound, consistent ball-striker who performs best when the pressure is highest.

Four major championships (2011 US Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, 2014 PGA Championship) and a career Grand Slam completed in 2025 when he finally won The Masters. McIlroy has been one of the most compelling figures in golf for over a decade — a prodigious talent whose Masters breakthrough was one of the sport's most anticipated moments.

After years of close calls at majors, Schauffele broke through in 2024 with victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. A compact, efficient swing and a fierce competitive temperament make him one of the most dangerous players in the world when he's on.

Two majors before the age of 25 — the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship — established Morikawa as one of the most technically gifted ball-strikers of his generation. His iron play is among the best in the world.

The most exciting young player in the game, Åberg turned professional in 2023 and immediately contended at majors. His combination of length, touch, and mental fortitude at a young age makes him the sport's most watched rising star heading into 2026.

The 2023 US Open champion at Pinehurst. Clark emerged from relative obscurity with a gutsy final-round performance, holding off a world-class field to claim his first major. Known for his aggressive, attacking style and ability to make everything on the back nine when the tournament is on the line.

Two major championships (2021 US Open, 2023 Masters) and a former world No. 1. Rahm was a shocking late addition to LIV in December 2023, signing with the Legion XIII team. His move sent shockwaves through the golf world as he was considered one of the players most likely to never leave the PGA Tour.

Five major championships make Koepka one of the best major players of his generation. He proved LIV players can still win at the highest level by claiming the 2023 PGA Championship while a full-time LIV member. Cold, focused, and extraordinary when the pressure is highest.

The 2020 US Open champion and one of golf's most entertaining personalities. DeChambeau reinvented his approach to the game, adding extraordinary strength and becoming one of the longest drivers in history. His 2023 US Open runner-up finish showed his major championship credentials remain strong.

Two majors (2016 US Open, 2020 Masters), former world No. 1, and one of the most graceful ball-strikers in the sport's history. DJ was among LIV's first big signings and remains one of its most recognizable and successful players.

The greatest major champion in history with 18 titles — 6 Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 US Opens, 3 Open Championships. "The Golden Bear" dominated an era that included Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, setting the standard by which all golfers are measured. Tiger Woods' pursuit of 18 majors defined golf for 25 years.

Fifteen major championships and the most transcendent career in golf history. Woods didn't just dominate — he transformed the sport's global popularity, physically redefined what a professional golfer looks like, and delivered moments (the 2008 US Open on a broken leg, the 2019 Masters comeback) that transcend the sport entirely. His health and future remain uncertain but his legacy is set.

Seven major championships and the player who made golf a television phenomenon in the 1960s. "Arnie's Army" — the passionate gallery that followed him everywhere — was unlike anything golf had seen. Palmer, along with Nicklaus and Player, formed "The Big Three" who dominated the sport and elevated it globally.

Nine major championships and one of the first true global ambassadors of golf. Player was the first international player to win the Masters (1961) and the first to complete the Career Grand Slam. Known for his meticulous physical fitness regime decades before it was standard in the sport.

Five major championships and the most creative shot-maker the game has ever seen. Ballesteros turned European golf into a global force, mentored an entire generation of European Ryder Cup players, and produced moments of genius from impossible positions that remain unrepeatable. His death in 2011 at age 54 was mourned across the entire sport.

Six major championships — three Masters, three Open Championships — and one of the most determined self-improvement stories in sport. Faldo dismantled and rebuilt his entire swing mid-career because he decided it wasn't good enough for the biggest stages. The result: back-to-back Masters titles (1989, 1990) and a legacy as Europe's greatest major champion.