CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rory McIlroy's impressive win at this week's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club cemented his status as golf's best player.
It's hard to compete with a guy who birdied 9 out of 10 holes and broke his own course record with an 11-under-par 61 on a course that will be hosting the PGA Championship in the near future.
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For a long time, McIlroy carried the mantle of the next great golf talent. But now, at the age of 26, he's attained grizzled veteran status. Likewise, Rickie Fowler, 26, and Jason Day, 27, have exited the group of up-and-comers, but there's still a plethora of young talent on the PGA and European Tours.
Here are the top golfers, ages 25 and younger, looking to unseat McIlroy as World No. 1:
Tier 1
Jordan Spieth, 21, USA
This goes without saying, we're sure. But the fact remains Spieth is the youngest and best adversary to McIlroy, and that was true before he broke through to win this year's Masters.
Hideki Matsuyama, 23, Japan
Matsuyama got his first win on tour last year at the Memorial, and has been a steady finisher at some of the game's biggest events. His swing and putting stroke display excellent tempo and consistency.
Patrick Reed, 24, USA
Reed is often overlooked on the shortlist of great young golfers, but it's hard to ignore the fact he's won four times in the last year and a half.
Brooks Koepka, 25, USA
Koepka recently registered wins on both the European and PGA Tours within months of one another. He possesses the power and accuracy to take down any course when on his game.
Victor Dubuisson, 25, France
It's been a tough year so far for the laid-back Frenchman. Dubuisson has only mustered one top 10 finish worldwide, and has only played in six events.
Tier 2
Harris English, 25, USA
English won two events in 2013 and has two top-three finishes this year. The smooth-swinging Georgia grad looks primed to contend in majors soon.
Justin Thomas, 22, USA
After a tie for seventh at the Wells Fargo Championship, Thomas now has six top-12 finishes in his rookie season.
"I feel like I'm still close to winning," Thomas said at the Wells Fargo Championship. "I'm so close to getting in a situation to win every week, so I just need to keep pressing."
Tommy Fleetwood, 24, England
The Englishman burst onto the scene with a strong performance at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play. He made it out of a tough group, and flashed some of the potential he's consistently shown on the European Tour.
Alexander Levy, 24, France
Yes, France has two bright faces bursting onto the golf scene. Levy won two events on the European Tour last year, and possesses the finesse touch around the greens to one day compete in a major.
Daniel Berger, 22, USA
Berger has four top 10s, including a playoff loss to Padraig Harrington at the Honda Classic, in his rookie season. Berger wasn't heralded as much as some other young players, but has shown the tenacity necessary to survive on tour.
Carlos Ortiz, 24, Mexico
Ortiz ia a masher off the tee, and very consistent with his wedges. Now all he needs to do is become a little better at putting four rounds together.
"I'm still getting more comfortable out on tour," Ortiz said this week. "There's a lot of new stuff, and I'm still just feeling everything out."
Morgan Hoffman, 25, USA
Hoffman has flirted with capturing his first PGA Tour win, but just hasn't been able to close the deal down the stretch. He played collegiate golf alongside Rickie Fowler, and could still reach those heights.