Teeing Off: Who are the best American players under 30?

Welcome to Teeing Off, where Devil Ball editor Jay Busbee and head writer Shane Bacon take a day's topic and smack it all over the course. Suggest a future topic by writing jay.busbee@yahoo.com, or hit us on Twitter at @jaybusbee and @shanebacon. Today: who are the best American players under 30?

Busbee: We've just seen Nick Watney win at Doral, continuing what's been an exceptional opening to the season. He turns 30 in a little over a month, leading us to ask: who are the best under-30 Americans in the game? We spend so much time focused on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson when they've almost certainly got more majors in their past than their future. Are we at that point where the under-30 set has finally, definitively established itself as the new standard for American golf?

Bacon: I love Watney. I love his game, I love his demeanor and I love the way he moves about on the golf course, but I still have to give this title to Dustin Johnson. He has four PGA Tour wins since 2008, he has put himself in multiple positions at major championships, and he seems to have the complete game to keep winning each and every season.

Busbee: Agreed, DJ is the class of the lot at this point. Where does this leave Anthony Kim, though? He was supposed to be the rock star of the younger crowd, late-night Vegas jaunts and all, but injuries have slowed him. What's your take on how he stacks up to Dustin?

Bacon: I think AK is the type of golfer that, when he wants, is great, but that is few and far between. I've heard too many stories of him taking weeks off to enjoy his personal life, which isn't really the wrong mentality, but it won't make you the best around. I think Kim is the type of talent that will win once or twice a year when he's healthy, because he IS really good and does enjoy taking down tournaments when he's in the hunt. But for now, it seems Kim might be fourth or fifth on my list of under-30 Americans.

Busbee: That works. Throw in Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler, plus you and me, and there's not much room for Kim at the top. We may not be the equal of the Europeans just yet, but we're getting there. U-S-A! U-S-A!

All right, your turn. Who are your picks for the best American golfers under 30? Are we at the dawn of a new age? Have your say.

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