Youngsters making their mark on the PGA Tour

ATLANTA — One of the knocks on the PGA Tour has been the lack of young faces — specifically those in their 20s — in the winner's circle.

It looks like that trend has been broken this season, with eight 20-somethings finishing first: Trevor Immelman, J.B. Holmes, Sean O'Hair, Andres Romero, Adam Scott, D.J. Trahan, Johnson Wagner and Anthony Kim.

Other 20-something you have won in past seasons include Aaron Baddeley, Lucas Glover, Charles Howell III, Hunter Mahan, Troy Matteson, Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney.

"Perhaps we're headed in a more aggressive direction of young players coming on in the cycle and we'll see how that develops the rest of the year," said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

With the door caved in, who will be the next crop of youngsters likely to win on a Sunday afternoon? Here are six likely candidates, some of whom will be competing at the AT&T Classic at TPC Sugarloaf next week:

Ryan Moore, 25

Seemed destined for stardom after winning the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Public Links and NCAA Championship in 2004. Healthy after a wrist injury, he's posted four second-place finishes and lost to Scott in a playoff last month.

2008 earnings: No. 37, $905,606.

Justin Rose, 27

OK, this is a sleight of hand. Rose was first on the 2007 European Tour's Order of Merit and had six international wins. He's just never closed the deal on the PGA Tour. The Briton had 11 top-25s last year in only 16 starts a year ago.

2008 earnings: No. 111, $331,193

Camilo Villegas, 26

When the PGA Tour's marketing staff goes to bed at night, it prays that Villegas will win a tournament soon. He's got a big female fan base. He's won twice internationally, but is a bridesmaid on the PGA Tour. You can watch him compete in Duluth next week.

2008 earnings: No. 87, $465,423.

Bubba Watson, 29

The long-hitting lefty has a soft touch around the greens that might surprise the casual observer. He has been in the mix quite a few times, but never finished better than second. He will also be in Duluth next week.

2008 earnings: No. 95, $422,0502.

Nicholas Thompson, 25

Supremely confident, the former Georgia Tech All-American and Walker Cup player has three top-10s this year. Thompson benefited greatly from losing his card and spending 2007 on the Nationwide Tour. The more-mature Thompson is ready to win, and will get a chance at Sugarloaf next week.

2008 earnings: No. 36: $925,080.

Jeff Quinney, 29

The 2000 U.S. Amateur champion worked his way up the ranks, through the Nationwide Tour and had a successful rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2007. His best showing of the year was second place at Riviera, behind Phil Mickelson. 2008 earnings: No. 2, $1,039,764.

Others to watch who will be at the AT&T: Steve Marino, Nick Flanagan and Jeff Overton.

Stan Awtrey writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.