The power and depth of men's and women's elite golf is probably greater today than at any time in the history of the sport. Reaching the highest level is increasingly challenging, and those who do reach the highest level possess extraordinary talent and extraordinary mental fortitude.
In fact, 2025 looks set to be an exciting year on the major professional tours, with a packed international schedule bringing together the best golfers from around the world.
Trying to choose players to watch in the coming year is a challenge, as many have the potential to make a name for themselves or improve over the course of the season. However, I gave it a lot of thought and came up with 25 names in three different categories.
First, those guys who could make a splash with breakout performances throughout the season; second, those guys I think are ready to make a move and get big wins; third, I think players at the top of their game could win big in 2025 Grand Slam champion.
Will one of the following players win a green jacket at Augusta National?
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Get ready to make a splash
Jacob Skow Olson – Olsen, a former greenskeeper at Royal Copenhagen, won the 2024 Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin. The 25-year-old Danish player qualified for the British Open at Royal Troon and subsequently secured a spot on the DP World Tour in 2025 through Q School. He turned pro but lost his exemption to this year's Masters. He was ready to launch himself into the salaried ranks. He has an abundance of talent and low-shooting ability.
Gu Moli – At just 18 years old, Koo is an amateur player with huge potential. The Californian finished 13thth She competed in the 2024 Curtis Cup at the Chevron Championship (leading amateur), winning 2.5 points, and then won twice on the College Tour later in 2024. She finished fourth at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur and, as the current No. 2 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), I most expect her to win in 2025.
Luke Clanton – He is currently ranked #1 in WAGR and has proven himself in both amateur and professional competitions. The 21-year-old Florida native entered 2024 on a three-game winning streak on the U.S. college circuit. At the end of the year, he participated in the PGA Tour's RSM Classic and tied for second. He clearly has the ability to mix it up at the top of his game. When he chooses to do so, he will have a smooth transition to the paid ranks.
Adela Chernosek – The Frenchwoman won the individual title at the NCAA Division 1 Championship last May and turned pro in November. She had a stellar college career at Texas A&M University, where her junior grade point average of 69.94 was the lowest in the school's history. She also represented France at the 2023 Women's World Amateur Team Championship and was a member of the international team at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup.
Rasmus Nergaard Peterson – The Dane has won three times and topped the Challenge Tour in 2024. He has already earned a spot in the 2025 DP World Tour. The 25-year-old has been a proven winner as an amateur and continues to showcase his boundary-pushing skills in the pay-per-view ranks. Expect him to win in the 2025 DP World Tour.
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen wins three times on Challenge Tour 2024
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Carl Willips – The 23-year-old from Perth, Australia, has been awarded a 2025 PGA Tour card. He is an extremely long hitter and a great batsman. He was a child prodigy, winning the U.S. Children's World Championship twice before he was 10 years old. He played college golf at Stanford University and turned pro in 2024. He quickly found success on the Korn Ferry Tour and earned a spot on the PGA Tour. He could be a winner in 2025.
Davis Thompson – Thompson, formerly WAGR’s No. 1 player, is now 25 and has already had success as a pro, finishing runner-up to Jon Rahm in the 2023 American Express and winning with a record-low score 2024 John Deere Classic. The 6-foot-4 Atlanta native looks to have all the ingredients needed to succeed in the top flight and is likely to have a breakout year in 2025.
Mimi Rhodes – The young UK woman turns pro in 2024 after winning the 2023 NCAA Tournament with Wake Forest and the Curtis Cup with GB&I. She won the Laver Women's Open on the LET Access Series and then the Saudi Aramco Team Series on the Women's European Tour. Rod grew up in Sotogrande, Spain, and started playing golf at the age of eight. She looks to have a solid game for the Pro Tour. 2025 could be a great year for Rod.
Julia Lopez Ramirez – The Spaniard has had a stellar amateur career, winning junior and senior titles, including the 2023 European Women’s Amateur Championship. The 21-year-old is ranked second in WAGR and enjoyed a stellar college golf experience at Mississippi State. Lopez Ramirez turns pro in November 2024 and looks set to make a quick and successful transition to the pros.
Mimi Rhodes is having a great pro debut season in 2024
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Get ready to move through the gears
Niklas Norgaard – Nørgaard, 32, is something of a late bloomer, but a little experience has clearly helped the Dane mature into a real contender. He was a great technician, a great batsman and a real talent. He won the Betfred British Masters last year and has a strong start to the 2024 season. 2025 could be the year Nørgaard takes things to the next level.
Tom McKibbin – The 21-year-old Northern Irishman is already a DP World Tour champion. He won the 2023 Porsche European Open Championship. He finishes the 2024 Race to Dubai in 18 secondsth and earned the final PGA Tour card in 2025. This will give him a great opportunity to showcase his strong all-around game. He hit a high ball flight and Rory McIlroy thought he would do well in the United States. Be careful!
Nicholas Echavarria – Another player who is starting to really establish himself in the professional game as he gets older. The Colombian is now 30 years old and that extra maturity has helped him achieve some great results. He won the PGA Tour's ZoZo Championship in late 2024 and finished second in the RSM Classic. He is 73 years oldRD Enter the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and should continue to climb through 2025.
Max Glaserman – Greyserman is No. 21, according to Data GolfYingshi The best player in the world at the time of writing. The 29-year-old is another slightly more experienced guy on my list. But he has all the skills, and his results suggest he'll be great in 2025. He had three runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour in the second half of 2024.
Tom McKibbin gets 2025 PGA Tour card
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Rasmus Hoygaard – We’ve long known how much talent the Højgaard brothers have and how successful they both are. Rasmus won the Irish Open in 2024 and finished runner-up at the DP World Tour Championship. He has a 2025 PGA Tour card and will join his brother on the Tour. Could we see both winning big events in 2025? I wouldn't bet on it.
Nicola Hoygaard ——The other brother is also good. Nikola is a three-time winner on the DP World Tour and is on the European Ryder Cup team in 2023. Both he and Rasmus have the 2025 Ryder Cup as their goal, and just as I wouldn't bet on either man winning the big event in 2025, I wouldn't be either if both teed off at Bethpage Black. will be surprised.
Alexa Pano – The 20-year-old has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2023. She won the ISPS Handa World Invitational in her first season and continues to showcase her ability to compete at the highest level. She has won at least five U.S. Children's World Championships and looks set to continue winning as she matures as a pro.
maya stark – She had a great season in 2024 and looks to build on that in 2025. The 24-year-old Swede has won six times on the Women's European Tour, including the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational, which is co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour. With three top-three finishes on the 2024 LPGA Tour, it's only a matter of time before she wins another event on the tour. She is a tenacious competitor.
Maja Stark competes in 2023 and 2024 Solheim Cup
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in big game hunting
Rory McIlroy – Suggesting Rory will play in at least one major in 2025 isn’t exactly a risk. But the stakes are higher – 2025 will be the year he returns to the major championship circle. He could win any of those tournaments, but his sights are set on competing for the Open title at Augusta National and Portrush. If he can win one or both, his status as a true all-time great will be cemented.
Charlie Hull – The British woman has come close to Grand Slam glory on several occasions and must be ranked as one of the best, if not the best female golfer to not have won a major championship. She had solid performances at the end of 2024, including a runner-up finish in “Annika.” I think 2025 is the year she realizes her potential and gets a big win. She deserves it.
Ludwig Aberg – The Swede finished second in his first major at last year’s Masters. It's incredible that such a household name has only played in four majors. He may not have extensive experience in the four major tournaments, but he's definitely capable of winning one of them. Few players are so in control of their skills and emotions. It's a good combination.
Gino Titicul – She’s playing as well as anyone else right now. In fact, she kept going at the end of 2024, posting seven straight top-10s, culminating in a win at the CME Team Tour Championship. The 21-year-old Thai player has an excellent record in the majors but is yet to win a match. She finished in the top ten in all five events. Look out for her at the Royal Porthcawl Ladies Open.
Can Rory McIlroy beat his big duck at Royal Portrush?
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Matsuyama Hideki – A strong run in 2024 suggests the Japanese star is getting back to his best. At the time of writing, he's firmly in the top ten in OWGR, and he seems very pleased with his all-around performance. He's proven to be a big winner, with more to come for sure. He has been a player at the highest level for more than a decade, but he is only 32 years old.
Lynn Grant – The Swede has an important match and I would be surprised if she doesn’t win one in her career. A powerful hitter, the 25-year-old doesn't have a stellar Grand Slam record, with only three top-10 finishes. But when she has a good week, she can outperform other players, as she proved at the 2022 Scandinavian Mix. Grant could become a major champion in 2025.
Thasi Sigala – The 27-year-old Californian is one of the most gifted golfers on the planet. He has a better chance of winning a major in 2025 than Rory, Ludwig or Hideki, but he has the versatility and shooting ability to put himself in contention in the four majors. I can see him becoming a surprise Grand Slam champion this season.
Ruoning Yin – The 22-year-old from China is in sparkling form. She won three times on the LPGA Tour in 2024 and finished second in the AIG Women's Open. At the time of writing, she is ranked second in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings. She already has one major, the 2023 Women's PGA Championship – she won it in some style, and I expect there will be more majors this year.
