volume 3/ issue 10/ 12.8.04
 
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More than a Face in the Crowd

By the Book

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More than a Face in the Crowd
The world's best carry the torch for golf's next generation
 
By Steve Ethun
Director of Media Relations

A young man is called to the podium at the Rolex Junior All-American Awards Banquet to receive his Rolex Junior Player of the Year honor. You can tell he is much more at home wearing a baseball cap and a golf shirt as opposed to his Sunday’s best. But tonight he stands erect, but with much less confidence as he did throughout his stellar season that brought him to this career-defining zenith in
Junior golf's finest typically find themselves at the podium. Tiger Woods was no exception.
his golf career. At this point, a six-foot putt for par to win an AJGA tournament would be less nerve-racking.

He should be ready for this, though. He has won countless junior titles in recent memory, easily seperating himself from the rest of his golfing peers that earned him this distinction. He’s also done this before. He stands at the microphone as one of a chosen few who earned this award more than once, a true testament to his prowess in the sport.

He begins to speak of all those who helped him achieve his goals: parents, coaches, friends. He looks into the crowd knowing that he is surrounded by the best in the game, golf’s next generation, so to speak. He knows that the players he walked the fairways with this season are those who will follow him to college and, possibly, onto the professional ranks. He is the guy that everyone looks at and shakes their head saying, “This kid is going to be so good someday.” – As if he already isn’t.

His potential, at this very moment, is limitless.

In 1980, his name is Tracy Phillips.

In 1987 (and 1988), his name is Phil Mickelson.
In 1992, his name is Tiger Woods.

And in 2004, his name is Brian Harman.
In combing through the AJGA’s archives, it is so ironic that no matter how many names change, the Association’s history is relatively constant. Every year, the world’s top junior boy and girl will be crowned Rolex Junior Player of the Year. They will stand before junior golf’s best as the torch-bearer of their generation.
Brian Harman became the first player since Tiger Woods to win the Rolex Junior Player of the Year award in back-to-back years.

In 1980, Phillips was joined by Billy Andrade, Heather Farr, Andrew Magee and Sherri Steinhauer.

In 1987, Mickelson spoke to the likes of Jim Furyk, Michelle McGann, Brandie Burton, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Bob May, Trip Kuehne and Chris Riley.

In 1992, Woods shared his feelings on this honor with Kellee Booth, Chris Riley, Heather Bowie, Emilee Klein, Kelli Kuehne and Grace Park.

This year it was Brian Harman and Julieta Granada, two players whose resume’s mirror that of the greats that came before them, as it should be. They stood in front of a group of Rolex Junior All-Americans who, like Brian and Julieta, will help define the future of the game.

Although history has created a precedent of success for these two, only time will tell how great they, and all of this year’s Rolex Junior All-Americans, will become.