Last year ranked among our best in terms of predictions.
Three of our ten identified breakout players secured victories on the PGA Tour: Karl Vilips, Aldrich Potgieter, and William Mouw. Johnny Keefer emerged as the top player on the Korn Ferry Tour, while Christo Lamprecht and Kensei Hirata also earned their PGA Tour cards. Josele Ballester transitioned to LIV after graduating last summer and subsequently won the Saudi International on the Asian Tour.
Now, let’s look ahead to predicting breakout players for 2026.
Here are the selection criteria:
- Not yet in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking
- No PGA Tour, DP World Tour, or LIV Golf victories to date
- Aged 25 or younger
Here are the top 10 potential breakout players for this year:
10. Ben James
Age: 22
OWGR rank: 1,421 (still an amateur)
Main tour: NCAA golf
Why he might succeed: He is the leading senior in collegiate golf and is likely to finish the season as the top-ranked player in PGA Tour University, providing him with a strong platform to showcase his skills.
Why he might not: Lacks professional experience compared to players like Jackson Koivun, which could lead to early struggles. He has missed five of seven cuts on the PGA Tour since the 2024 U.S. Open, with a best finish of T-33 at the Valero Texas Open. His putting could be a concern.
9. Gordon Sargent
Age: 22
OWGR rank: 945
Main tour: PGA Tour
Why he might succeed: This is largely an intuitive pick; Sargent’s talent is undeniable, and with another full season of PGA Tour status, he has the potential to rebound from his previous slump.
Why he might not: He is not the top golfer among his peers; that honor goes to Billy Tom. Sargent experienced significant struggles in his final year at Vanderbilt and missed six of 11 cuts after turning pro last summer, achieving a best finish of T-24.
8. Nick Gabrelcik
Age: 23
OWGR rank: 432
Main tour: Korn Ferry Tour
Why he might succeed: Gabrelcik showed significant improvement last season, finishing No. 54 in points with multiple top-10 finishes. He has a history of winning in college and is ready to perform at the next level.
Why he might not: His statistics do not indicate any standout strengths, as he didn’t rank in the top 50 on the KFT in critical areas like driving or putting.
7. Cole Sherwood
Age: 23
OWGR rank: 394
Main tour: Korn Ferry Tour
Why he might succeed: Sherwood combines excellent putting skills with solid distance and a seasoned attitude, having achieved notable finishes in his second season.
Why he might not: He can be inconsistent, as evidenced by five consecutive missed cuts that negatively impacted his top-20 chances last season.
6. Barend Botha
Age: 24
OWGR rank: 198
Main tour: Korn Ferry Tour
Why he might succeed: Botha is an emerging talent with impressive power; he performs particularly well under pressure, recently finishing as runner-up in the KFT Championship.
Why he might not: He only made 13 of 25 cuts last year, indicating his game can be inconsistent.
5. Adrien Dumont de Chassart
Age: 25
OWGR rank: 157
Main tour: PGA Tour
Why he might succeed: After a challenging period, he returns to the PGA Tour and had strong showing, including a near victory at Bermuda.
Why he might not: He ranked poorly in various statistics two seasons ago, suggesting lingering challenges he needs to address.
4. Jackson Koivun
Age: 20
OWGR rank: 178 (still an amateur)
Main tour: NCAA golf
Why he might succeed: As a standout prospect, Koivun should build on strong performances at Auburn, preparing to capitalize on his opportunity after his junior season.
Why he might not: He may opt for another year in college, and the transition to the professional level can be daunting, as seen with other players.
3. David Ford
Age: 23
OWGR rank: 509
Main tour: PGA Tour
Why he might succeed: Ford displayed impressive driving ability as a rookie, showing potential through a commendable T-3 finish in Utah.
Why he might not: Injuries have plagued him during college, raising concerns about his health, and he faced difficulties in putting last season.
2. Blades Brown
Age: 18
OWGR rank: 482
Main tour: Korn Ferry Tour
Why he might succeed: After a promising start at 17, Brown secured a full KFT card with solid performances and exhibits no significant weaknesses in his game.
Why he might not: As a teenager, he may occasionally experience inconsistent rounds.
1. Wenyi Ding
Age: 21
OWGR rank: 168
Main tour: DP World Tour
Why he might succeed: Ding nearly clinched the Aussie PGA title recently and has an excellent track record with very few missed cuts.
Why he might not: Though he has been professional for over a year, his youth could present challenges; nevertheless, he stands as a strong contender for success on the DPWT in 2026.
