While a 23-Year-Old Tiger Woods Struggled in 1998, a Plymouth Golf Enthusiast Has Achieved the Unthinkable at the Same Age

Just days after winning his third US Amateur title, a 20-year-old Tiger Woods made his pro debut on August 29, 1996. Success came quickly, with the golfer getting his first-ever PGA Tour win at the Las Vegas Invitational in a matter of months. Woods then made history in 1997 by becoming the youngest player ever to win the Masters!

In 1998, however, the legend’s career had hit a couple of roadblocks. While he did end the season as the world’s top-ranked player, the then 23-year-old Woods had only managed to win two tournaments and had finished fourth on the money list after leading in 1997. Now, twenty-five years later, another young golf enthusiast is faring much better out on the fairways, albeit in a different and unique way!

Buying a golf course at just 23! Really?

It is not unusual for golf fans to indulge in expensive equipment or unique memorabilia. But, a young man from Plymouth, Wisconsin, has gone above and beyond to demonstrate his love for the game. Tyler Luedtke, a lifelong golf lover, just bought his very own golf course. And he is just 23!

Luedtke had grown up living minutes away from the Crystal Lake Golf Course and had even jokingly claimed to his friend that he would buy it one day. “I joked with Jared [friend and current general manager of the Crystal Lake Golf Course] back in college that I was going to buy this golf course down the road one day and that he was going to run it,” Golf Digest reported Luedtke as saying. “Eight months later, the ‘For Sale’ sign went up.”

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The Plymouth native wasn’t the only one who was eyeing the course. Per Dale Lanser, the previous owner, many companies had made an offer to him to purchase the land and develop it. But, Lanser wasn’t keen on selling it to a developer and wished to preserve its rich history. He eventually ended up selling it to Leudkte in June 2022 for an incredible $1.6 million!

While the young buyer is making news with his stunning purchase, several up-and-coming youngsters are making news with their heroics on the golf course. These players, much like Tiger Woods did back in the day, have currently taken over the game, and how!

Years after Tiger Woods’ golfing exploits, young players are revamping the golfing landscape

At age 21, Tiger Woods became the youngest player ever to win at Augusta National, the first of his five Masters wins. Later, in 1999-2000, the golfer put together an unparalleled stretch of play, winning four major titles and numerous other trophies. Years later, several other young players, especially in women’s golf, are generating significant buzz and redefining golf, much like the 15-time major winner did back in the day!

In fact, 20-year-old prodigy, Rose Zhang, has already been hailed by many as the next Tiger Woods. The comparisons had started even before she went pro. After all, the ex-Stanford star’s record of 12 wins in 20 starts surpassed Woods’ record of 11 wins in 26 starts from his time with the Cardinal. She then turned heads at the Mizuho Americas Open, becoming the first player in 72 years to win on their LPGA debut.

Then, there is Ruoning Yin. Last month, at Baltusrol, the 20-year-old bested many of the biggest names in golf to claim her maiden major title. A couple days later, the historic US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach became the turf for 25-year-old Allisen Corpuz’s first-ever major win.

Currently, female golfers in their 20s hold majority of the top spots in the world rankings. “I love that all the major champions are so young,” former major winner Michelle Wie West said recently. “The next generation is here.”

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Which young talent do you think will redefine the sport in the coming years? Tell us in the comments!