Move Over, Tiger Woods: These 5 Young Golfers Are Heating Up the Golf Scene at the Open Championship

Have you become acquainted with these sports studs?

By Lindsey Caldwell Jul 17, 2015 12:00 PMTags
Tiger Woods, U.S. Open Round OneHarry How/Getty Images

Tiger Woods has had a rough time on the golf course, lately.

While the famous athlete has had quite the successful career in the sport in the past, there are a few younger golfers, like Jordan Spieth, who are sneaking their way through and fringing upon Woods' records.

With the Open Championship beginning on Thursday in St. Andrews, Scotland, we'd like to introduce you to give young golfers who need to be on your radar for heating up the golf course with their good looks and good game.

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1. Jordan Spieth: At just 21 years old, Spieth has already won two majors this year, the Masters and the U.S Open.

Not only is he attractive and talented, he's also incredibly humble. Spieth recently told reporters he thinks it's unfair that he's being compared to Woods, "I think the parallels drawn between me and Tiger are unfair. That's not something that, in my mind, is necessary."

Spieth is the second-youngest player to win at the coveted Masters. The only other 21-year-old to win a Masters green jacket is Tiger. Spieth actually set his goal to win the Masters early in life. At just 14 years old, he told reporters winning the Masters was his, "ultimate goal."

Mission accomplished!

The young athlete is very close to his family, and shares a special bond with his sister Ellie, who is autistic. "She is our motivation. She's my biggest fan," he said sweetly on CBS This Morning. "It puts things in perspective when you look at the big picture and the struggles that she goes through each day just to do simple tasks that we take for granted."

He's currently dating his highschool sweetheart, Annie Veret.

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2. Dustin Johnson: The tall, dark, and handsome, 31-year-old golfer was at the top of The Open Championship leaderboard on Thursday.

Johnson, nicknamed DJ for short, recently became a father to a baby boy with Paulina Gretzky, and they named him Tatum!

Johnson took a leave of absence from the PGA Tour in 2014 and released a statement saying, "By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion."

This year has proved to be a much better year for the dapper golfer who recently finished second behind Spieth at the US. Open.

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A photo posted by Paulina Gretzky (@paulinagretzky) on

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3. Rickie Fowler: The 26-year-old is known for rocking his own bold style on the course, from bright neon colors to flat bill hats, and pushes the standardized golf culture with his non-traditional outfits.

If you haven't seen his "Golf Boys" music video with fellow pros, Bubba Watson, Ben Crane, and Hunter Mahan, then you're missing out on a good laugh. Fowler proves he's got the hard work ethic needed to succeed in golf, but isn't afraid to also have fun!

He most recently won The Players Championship, after making headlines five days earlier when he was voted by golf fans to be one of the most "overrated" golfers in an anonymous online poll. Fowler proved them wrong, and let the win speak for itself.

Not overrated one bit, and sealed the win with a kiss from his model girlfriend, Alexis Randock.

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4. Keegan Bradley: The 6-foot-2, 29-year-old turned pro in 2008, and was the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

Keeping it in the family, Bradley's aunt was actually a golfer herself. His aunt is former LPGA player and World Golf Hall of Fame member Pat Bradley. As a kid, Bradley attended some of her tournaments, and has called her an inspiration.

Bradley is currently in a relationship with long time girlfriend, Jillian Stacey.

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5. Jordan Niebrugge: This 21-year-old amateur posted an impressive score, that tied the amateur record at the Open Championship on Thursday, making many take notice in the young golfer and placing him on the leaderboard. Niebrugge is a rising senior at Oklahoma State University (yep, he's a college student!).

Even though Niebrugge is the same age as Jordan Spieth, he says he looks up to him.

"I feel like [Spieth] has got the most confidence in the world and that's what you need in this sport," Niebrugge said. "That's what everyone strives for. Definitely, looking up to him and following in his footsteps just gives me that extra motivation."