Decline of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk opens up space for a new guard

The three big-name Americans, anchors of the world top five for years, have left the door open for the next wave of young players, writes Steve Elling.

Jim Furyk watches his second shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the Pebble Beach Golf Links on February 14, 2015 in Pebble Beach, California. JeffShow more

Plenty of trees have been sacrificed during the discussion of the greening of the new guard in golf. The notion is not pulp fiction.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both went winless in 2014 for the first time in the same season since Woods was an amateur. The struggling Woods last week retreated to his rabbit hole in South Florida to lick his wounds and repair his psyche, while Mickelson’s putting has been a public exercise in trial and error.

Young players have rushed to fill the leadership vacuum.

A third major figure, former world No 2 Jim Furyk, took yet another step towards irrelevance on Sunday.

Furyk at Pebble Beach failed for the ninth consecutive time to win after holding at least a share of the lead heading into the final round, finishing with a 74, the worst score by any player in the final top 50.

“So, I’m not good – not good enough,” said Furyk, 44, who is winless since 2010.

If his story qualifies as news, it is because Furyk is well-regarded and rarely has been torched in print for his inability to finish tournaments. Clearly, though, many top-shelf veterans, including players such as Ernie Els, have reached the back nine in terms of longevity, desire or ­productivity.

But the three big-name Americans, anchors of the world top five for years, not only have left the door open for the next wave of young players, but invited them in for tea and coffee.

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