Five not-so-popular names to watch in 2011
You all know names like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickeslon and Rory McIlroy. These are the guys that lead the charge on the PGA Tour. But what about the rest of the guys that you don't know a lot about, but have the talent to make some noise in 2011? We give you five names that are setting themselves up for big things this season.
Jamie Lovemark: He's 23, and nearly won a PGA Tour event at the end of 2009, when he lost in a playoff to Troy Matteson, but he had a year to dominate the Nationwide Tour and is not set to make a smiliar splash on the PGA Tour. He's got all the tools to be a multiple winner on the PGA Tour, so expect Lovemark to be in the hunt for Rookie of the Year when the season concludes.
Webb Simpson: In 2009, as a rookie, Simpson burst on the scene, finishing in the top-10 in his first two events, and in the top-20 in four of his first five events when he made the weekend. He cooled off in 2010 at the beginning of the season, but Simpson still had seven top-25s including a tie for fourth at the Justin Timberlake event. Simpson has that quiet demeanor, but he is definitely the type of golfer that is due to win before long.
Chris Kirk: He won two Nationwide Tour events last season, and in his only PGA Tour start of '10 finished in a tie for 15th when he closed with a 66 at the McGladrey Classic. He's only 25, but the University of Georgia product has won at every level (he was part of the '05 national championship team) and expect that trend to continue with his first full year on the PGA Tour.
Ben Martin: Martin, 23, has been touted as the type of golfer that could be the next Rickie Fowler type. He breezed through Q-School, and seems to be one of those types of players that could do what Simpson did when he started his PGA Tour career; high finishes, and fast.
Ricky Barnes: Okay, you've heard his name a ton in big events, because that seems to be when he plays his best, but it's crazy to think Barnes still has never won a PGA Tour event. Now 29, Barnes seems to be in a position to finally win, and when he does, expect the floodgates to open. He is the type of guy that focuses his play around the majors, so don't be surprised to see his name floating around a leaderboard or two at the big ones.
