Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, Patrick Rogers, Ollie Schniederjans, Emiliano Grillo, and Justin Thomas. All members of the high school graduation class of 2011, who have seemingly taken over the PGA Tour. They have been competing against each other since junior golf, and have all built impressive reputations on tour. But the most impressive player of this star-studded group this past season was Justin Thomas.

   “He was dominant, the best player in the game this year,” senior Jordan Fant said.

    The former stand out at the University of Alabama was nothing short of dominant on the Tour this year. He started the season out with a win a year ago in Malaysia at the CIMB Classic, defending his victory at the tournament the year before.

   He continued his breakout season in January, winning back-to back weeks, and continued racking up top 10’s for the next months until his first major victory at the PGA Championship in Charlotte.

       One month later, Thomas won the Dell Technologies Championship during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, followed by a 2nd place finish at the Tour Championship to win the FedEx Cup.

   This effort earned the 24 year old PGA Tour player of the year honors, and a spot on the Presidents Cup team. His breakout season could draw more fans to the sport by instilling a new rivalry that the PGA Tour lacked just a couple of years ago.

    “Its got to be one of the best seasons in the last 10 years. It even stacks up to Jordan Spieth’s season in 2015,” Fant said.

    Who finished second in the player of the year race? Jordan Spieth, Thomas’ class of ‘11 counterpart. Spieth also finished runner-up to Thomas this season in money standings and FedEx Cup Points.

   These two golfers have been competitors and friends since they were 13 years old and arguably the best junior golfers in America at the time. Spieth made an impact on tour quicker than Thomas was able to, but 79 top 10’s and 17 wins later, the two have both proved they are still two of the best in the world. Their history of competition at all levels and friendship they have built over the years makes this new rivalry intriguing.

   It will be interesting to see how the rivalry holds up, but if the 2018 season is anything like the last one, Thomas and Spieth will continue to put on a show.

   “If they can continue to be the two dominant players it will be something to remember,” junior Zach Brown said.