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The young guns, with all their raw talent and power, have been outdone by the old guys Where are the “young guns” that the mainstream media keeps telling us about? Why aren’t the youthful, brash, chiseled players of the future performing in the majors? Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey all have failed to make much of a splash in recent years. Sure, they may eek out a regular PGA Tour or European Tour win. But, in the majors they buckle like a cheap belt. 

As has been discussed of late

, the major golf championship winners and contenders this year have largely been older, more experienced players. They include gray-haired Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera, Tom Watson and guys who are not exactly old but well into their 30s including Stewart Cink and challengers such as Jim Furyk and Lee Westwood. U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who will be 29 for another four months, looks and acts like he’s already over 30.

Does oldness equate to excellence? Are the young bucks more worried about their wardrobe and magazine photo shoots than winning something meaningful? Are they content to just wait until their 30s and 40s to start winning? Um, see how that is working out for Sergio Garcia. There doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency amongst them. When will they step up and begin to take their place atop the tour? 

In defense of youthful exuberance, we do think it takes time to learn to win and get comfortable with staying out of your own way mentally. The older guys are better at that and so far the top younger players continue to fold. Sean O’Hair has been humbled. Charles Howell III is a head case. Adam Scott can’t get it done. Sergio Garcia has been close but still seems to be a world away from winning. 

They haven’t learned to do it and get it in their head that they can win. Golf is a mental exercise as much a physical sport, and sometimes you have to convince yourself that you can do it. Runners and weightlifters sometimes think they can’t run a certain distance or lift a certain weight, but sometimes it’s just in their head. Golf is no different. 

That doesn’t mean that the young up-and-comers don’t also have it easy. Perhaps their drive to practice and succeed is dulled by their multimillionaire status. Between prize money and corporate endorsements, some talented young golfers are worth $25 million at 25 years old. They fly private jets, own custom homes, date supermodels and enjoy fine dining around the world. They are already set for life, so maybe they don’t care if they win. 

But of the guys who are really trying, like O’Hair who we think is a solid guy, they are learning to get it done. It takes time. O’Hair could win the PGA this year or a major in the future. Cink, the 2009 champion golfer of the year, is a great example. He’s been a solid player for the past decade, but he rarely won. He made a mental mistake in missing a U.S. Open playoff at Southern Hills in the past and he admits to having dwelled on it for years. But he finally stayed strong and got it done at Turnberry where he won as a balding relative youngster compared to the 59-year-old Watson. 

In the end, it takes time to learn to win. Save for the extraordinary youngster like Tiger Woods, who made winning majors look easy in his 20s, today’s youthful stars will need more seasoning and must learn how to grow into and harness all their power.