There are 6 rookies on Ernie Els International team in the upcoming Presidents Cup. They come from China, Taiwan, Columbia, Korea, Mexico and Australia. My point is that there are young guns that many of you don't know playing all around the world.
In this week's Race to Dubai stop at the Turkish Airlines Open at a ridiculously extravagant resort in Antalya there are several more, including a young baby faced Scot called Robert MacIntyre, but they are chasing a very impressive calm young Austrian, Mattias Schwab.
After posting rounds of 65 67 66 he is at -18, and will take a three shot lead into the final round as he continues his terrific form of late at The Montgomerie Maxx Roy.
Consider this, he has been in the top 5 at the Italian Open and WGC-HSBC Champions in the last few weeks, and that makes 9 top 10's this year.
There are three events left in this European Tour season (47 events in total) and Schwab leads Ross Fisher and Tyrrell Hatton from England, Frenchman Benjamin Hebert, Scot Robert MacIntyre and recent Presidents Cup pick, Patrick Reed.
The thing about this 23 year old tall slim Austrian is his calm demeanor. He rarely changes his facial expression, allowed himself a little fist pump when he birdied his final hole today and had this to say afterwards.
"The game plan is going to be the same as it's been the last three days. "The course is gettable and there are a lot of birdies out there so I'll just stay aggressive because pars won't be enough"
I've got a feeling his main competition will come from Reed who wasn't satisfied with his 65 today, saying he left at least 3 shots out there and predicted with the calm conditions a "59,60 or 61" is out there.
Whomever it is that makes a run at him, I don't see Mattias getting flustered. I'm not sure he knows how to !
Bryan Angus
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