The 2019 golf season was certainly one to remember. Fans will long remember the scenes of Tiger Woods on the 18th green at Augusta National, or Shane Lowry walking down the final fairway at Royal Portrush in the rain.
There was plenty to get excited about for next year, too. European stars including Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm look primed to make a run at the majors, whilst young guns Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa are just a few of the names to watch during 2020.
We've picked out our top five male golfers of the 2019 season, with details on their achievements for the year and a full what's in the bag for each. So in no particular order:
Rory McIlroy
World Ranking: 2
Wins: 4
Money Earned: $25 million (including $15 million bonus for FedEx Cup win)
The Highlight: McIlroy compiled one of the most lucrative seasons in golfing history by winning the Tour Championship in August to take the FedEx Cup title, which came with an incredible $15 million winning bonus. This victory propelled him to the PGA Tour's Player of the Year title, and therefore must be the highlight of a fantastic year for the Northern Irishman who also won a WGC event and The Players Championship.
Rory McIlroy What's In The Bag:
Brooks Koepka
World Ranking: 1
Wins: 2 (including one major)
Money Earned: $9.7 million
The Highlight: Golf's best big-game player lived up to his reputation again with another stellar season in which he won the PGA Championship for a second consecutive year at Bethpage Black. Koepka also finished in the top five in all four majors and won his first WGC event in Memphis.
Brooks Koepka What's In The Bag:
Tiger Woods
World Ranking: 6
Wins: 2 (including one major)
Money Earned: $4.8 million
The Highlight: Tiger's win at The Masters, his fifth victory there and first major win for 11 years, was not only the highlight of his season but probably of his career too, completing a comeback that almost nobody expected would happen. Whilst not at the top of his game for most of 2019 following that win, Tiger did also manage to claim the ZOZO Championship and led the US Team to a comeback Presidents Cup victory as Player-Captain, where he was unbeaten in three matches.
Tiger Woods What's In The Bag:
- Bridgestone Tour B XS Ball
Bernd Wiesberger
World Ranking: 22
Wins: 3
Money Earned: €4 million
The Highlight: Whilst his ASI Scottish Open win was a Rolex Series event, the Made in Denmark victory was more impressive as Wiesberger's career was seriously stalling having missed almost a year due to injury and fallen to 378th in the World Rankings. Fast forward to the end of 2019 and the Austrian is now knocking on the door of the world's Top 20 and looks set to earn a spot in the European Ryder Cup team for 2020.
Bernd Wiesberger What's In The Bag:
Jon Rahm
World Ranking: 3
Wins: 3 (plus the Zurich Classic with Ryan Palmer)
Money Earned: €10.6 million
The Highlight: Rahm has become one of golf's most consistent figures and completed yet another excellent season in which he won three times (plus one other), finished second three times, and had 11 other Top 10 finishes. The highlight for Rahm, was undoubtedly the DP World Tour Championship, where a one-stroke victory over Tommy Fleetwood gave him the Race to Dubai title, rendering him the best player on the European Tour during 2019. The next target for Rahm must surely be to pick up that first major in 2020.
Jon Rahm What's In The Bag: