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Rory, Jordan & Jason…Next Man Up

As I watched Jason Day run away from the field at The Barclays I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful story it is for him and the game he plays.

Day’s journey from troublesome teenager to golf great has to be one of the feel good stories of the season. A rags to riches story that has Day at the pinnacle of his beloved sport.

It’s great for Day but even better for golf.new big three 3

With comrades in arms Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy playing a game of “Can you top this” each week the game of golf is in a very good place.

For years the pundits have craved a golfer to take the reigns from Tiger Woods as golf’s main attraction. And each time someone was dubbed “the next Tiger” they were disappointed.

But right now with these these young players taking turns as the best player on the planet golf couldn’t be in a better place.

Two weeks ago Spieth took over the top spot in the world from McIlroy. When Spieth missed the cut this week McIlroy returned to number one. Now with Day’s win he is poised to supplant McIlroy.

If Day wins at the Deutsche Bank and Spieth and McIroy finish third or worse Day will become another new number one.

While the Official World Golf Rankings takes the past two years into consideration the naked eye tells us that indeed Day is playing the best of any player in the world right now. Spieth even said so on the day he captured the number one ranking.

Remember way back when Spieth was the hottest golfer on the planet…like a few weeks ago (2 majors, 4 wins).

And how about McIlroy’s run to greatness, again with his three straight wins (2 majors) last season and two more wins this year before he injured his ankle.

The point here…these are the heirs to Tiger’s throne.  Not one golfer but three.  These are the golfers the world is yearning to see. These are the players that can carry this game for the next decade.

It’s easy to see Rory, Jordan and Jason playing a game of musical chairs for the next few years as they rotate in and out of the number one spot.

They’re young, attractive, likable and very skilled and we are in for a treat as they challenge each other week after week.

new big 3It reminds me of the title of one of John Feinstein’s books: Next Man Up. While Rory was sitting in the top chair Jordan was climbing his way up. As Jordan was piling up the wins Jason Day was making his climb.

When one falters,like Spieth missing the cut this week, another steps in and takes the spotlight. When Spieth slipped up Day was there to putt his way into the number one slot.

It’s a beautiful thing. Three men, all in there twenties with world class skills and appealing personalities that can be going head to head for years to come. Professional golf is in great shape.

It’s time to put the “Tiger vs Phil” scenarios to rest. They are the game’s past.

Rory, Jordan and Jason are the game’s present and future. And golf couldn’t be in a better place.

 

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