After a dramatic weekend of golfing action, Jordan Spieth emerged from the pack to clinch the US Open title on the controversial Chambers Bay course by a single shot. A closing round of 69 proved sufficient for the 21-year-old to continue his stellar season, as fellow American Dustin Johnson suffered a calamitous final hole to slip back into joint second place with Louis Oosthuizen. The victory added to Spieth's Masters' success earlier in 2015 and ensured that all four of the Grand Slams are currently in the youthful possession of either himself or Rory McIlroy.
Golf seems to be becoming a young man's game in the modern age, at least at the very top of the sport.
Late charge by McIlroy
McIlroy made a late charge on Sunday to get within touching distance of the leaders himself, but ran out of steam towards the end to finish five shots off the lead. Yet his round of 66 was reminiscent of his wonderful finish at the Masters, ensuring yet another top ten finish at a major for the 26-year-old Northern Irishman. He also has the small consolation of being the current holder of both the Open and the US PGA Championship.
Youth doing well elsewhere
It's not just in the majors where the younger professionals have been hugely successful, as the highly lucrative Players Championship is also in the hands of another 26-year-old, Rickie Fowler.
Spieth for one seems to welcome the current crop of emerging talent, stating after his US Open triumph that it was "awesome that the game is in young hands."
No joy for Tiger
Many will have despaired at the current state of the former number one, Tiger Woods' game. Once again the 39-year-old carded a round in the 80s in his first two rounds and missed the cut.
This season will not feature in the happy memories one suspects, when he looks back on his illustrious career. He too was highly successful in his youth though, in much the same way as Spieth and McIlroy seem to be carving up the courses at present.
'Oldies' can still contend
It's not all doom and gloom for the 'oldies' though, with American Jim Furyk still well placed in the top ten world rankings at the mature age of 45.
Similarly, no one could claim that Phil Mickelson, another 45-year-old, isn't still capable of contending at the major tournaments. Indeed, half of the current top ten players are 34 or over, hardly a reason to hang up your clubs when you reach your thirties then.
Who will take the Open?
For now though the younger players will have their day and head into the Open at St Andrews in July with additional confidence. Could it be yet another wondrous celebration for McIlroy or Spieth, currently world ranked one and two, or will the Old Course lend itself to a player of more advanced years? We will wait and see with eager anticipation.
