Rory McIlroy, 19

The kid from Northern Ireland burst onto the scene with an opening-round 68 at last summer's British Open at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round of the day. (He eventually finished tied for 42nd place but was low amateur.) McIlroy turned pro after the Walker Cup and finished third in his second start as a pro, at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, to secure his European Tour card in record time and at a record age.