Britain´s Big Three of Golf. 1998 was a key year

And, who are Britain´s Big Three of Golf ?

In my opinion none other than Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Justin Rose. Number one, two and four in the latest Official World Ranking published today.

The three of them are great golfers and great individuals.

Donald y McIlroy en Dubai 2012

Curiously, the three of them must look at 1998 as a significant year in their golf careers, since they achieved big wins and/or great performances, then, and that without a doubt marked their future in golf.

And I happened to be a witness of one of them, here, in my home country of Chile.

It was year end 1998 and we were hosting the World Amateur Championships. On the men´s side it´s the Eisenhower Trophy.

And, in a great come from behind victory, Great Britain and Ireland were the winners, with a very strong performance from Luke Donald. I was there that final day in Club de Golf Los Leones, and as a Chilean of British descent, I celebrated in true form.

It was a great year for Donald, who was at College in the USA, since he had recently won the NCAA Individual Championship and had been voted as College Player of the year.

Earlier that same year, at the British Open at Royal Birkdale, a 17 year old amateur by the name of Justin Rose, holed out a wedge shot on his final hole to capture fourth place, and to thrill the golfing world.

Justin Rose

Also, in 1998, a boy from Northern Ireland named Rory McIlroy, only nine years of age, travelled to Miami, Florida, to win his age braquet and his first international golf tournament at the Doral Junior Publix Chamionship.

That same year the BBC interviewed the young phenomenon and his swing instructor, Mike Bannon, who now travells the world full time with McIlroy. At that tender age, the young lad had clear in his mind that he would be a golf pro and that he would win Majors.

Fourteen long years have gone by and these three Champions are at the pinacle of World Golf. And it seems to me that they will be up there fore a long time. That´s why I call them the British Big Three of Golf, a bit of a reminder of the other "Big Three" of the sixties: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

Some could say........Not so fast !!!!! The old guys had won a bunch of Majors and two of your boys have won none. But, still, my response would be that it´s a different era, there is much more competition at the Majors now, and, carefull !!!!!.....my boys are still very young.

Anyway we look at it, McIlroy, Donald and Rose have had an impressive couple of years. They have between them won some 20 tournaments worldwide and McIlroy (2012) and Donald (2011) have, in the same year, won both money titles, on the PGA and European Tours, something never achieved before. They are, respectively number one and number two in the world, and McIlroy has won two Majors at the tender age of 22.

Rose is now number four in the world (Tiger Woods is number three) and was the hero of Europe´s amazing Ryder Cup win when he lead the charge and beat Phil Mickelson in spectacular fashion. He followed that up by beating Tiger and company at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final and then was second to McIlroy at the European season finale in Dubai, closing with a course record 62.

For those of us who closely watch the Mental side of the game it´s a probable fact that these three Champions have a brilliant future, because, each one of them, in their own way, have made a big effort to strengthen their Minds.

McIlroy and his successfull work with putting Guru, Dave Stockton. Donald and his interesting practice drills with Performance Coach, Dave Alred, who comes from the world of place kicking in Rugby. And, Justin Rose, has now worked for years with the excellent Mental Golf Coach, Gio Valiante.

I wouldn´t be surprised if the British Big Three win a bunch of Majors in the next few years.