Rough Putting: Five Young Whippersnappers to Keep an Eye on in '09

Golf season starts tomorrow, which means it is time to actually start thinking of the best game with dimples. While the giants take a nap, others will play at the Mercedes Championship, and golf will be around the rest of the year. FanHouse spent a couple of minutes thinking what is to come in 2009. Here is what transpired.

It all starts tomorrow, people. The 2009 PGA season gets underway at the Mercedes Championship. Except that four of last year's champs -- who also happen to be the four best players in the world -- won't be there. Tiger, Sergio, Phil and Paddy are skipping out on the free trip to Hawaii, although I suspect the other 33 players in the field aren't complaining.

Last season, Anthony Kim and, to a lesser extent (because we've known about him for a while ... and because Brinson has some worries), Camilo Villegas emerged as "the latest young golfer who will supposedly challenge Tiger Woods." And to be fair, both had a lot success. While they continue the seemingly impossible task of supplanting Woods atop the rankings, there are other young players hoping to do the same. The difference: we haven't heard much about them. Until now, anyway. Here's a look at five guys to watch as '09 unfolds.

1. Andres Romero
Born in Argentina, Romero came out of nowhere to briefly hold the final-round lead at the '07 Open Championship (in only his third start in a major) before eventually finishing third, a stroke behind Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia. Romero won the '08 Zurich Classic -- his first PGA tourney victory -- and has enough talent to be in the same conversation as both Kim and Villegas. He just needs to stay away from the 2-irons.

2. Ryan Moore
Since turning pro in '05, Moore has 11 top-10 finishes, but is still searching for his first PGA win. The former U.S. Amateur champion, who was also the first collegian to pass up Q school and earn his card on tour since Eldrick did it back in '96, struggled late last season after a strong start. Still, Moore's just 26, and has earned more than $3 million in three years. And he should only get better.

3. Kevin Streelman
The former Duke star had an impressive rookie season (four top 10s), including a third-round pairing with Tiger at the Buick Open. Not bad for a guy who has kicked around the mini tours and admitted to only having just 400 bucks in his bank account two years ago. At 29, Streelman's been around the block a few times, but those experiences helped get him to this point. Hey, everybody can't leave Stanford after two years and a few months later, jump to No. 1 in the world rankings.

4. Chez Reavie
Despite being a short hitter (his 281.8-yard average ranked 152nd on tour), as a rookie, Reavie still won the RBC Canadian Open, and registered another top-5 at the Hope. Unsurprisingly, what Reavie lacks in driving distance he makes up for in accuracy. He was a full nine percentage points better than the tour average in finding the fairways, and also better than average in greens in regulation, getting up and down, and putting. He's basically a shorter, handsomer Brad Faxon.

5. Jason Day
Okay, the Aussie has just a conditional card for '09, but he has the type of skills that could have us comparing him to Anthony Kim by the summer. Plus, he's just 21, and unlike Tiger's contemporaries, isn't afraid to suggest that Woods isn't unbeatable (even though, you know, he might be). And here's to hoping he doesn't get his brand new, pimped-out Caddy stolen this year.