PGA players usually peaked aged 30-40

Not every player has the same drive and determination for greatness as Tiger. The guys are coming out early, making significant sums of money by 26-29, and becoming rather famous. They don’t need to push hard anymore outside of majors. They need to do just enough every year and most do. Jordan had a pretty significant slump and has regained form, to an extent. JT had a similar slump. Rickie has been the most obvious but his recent comeback is admirable.
All of these guys are worth north of $50m, Rory likely 200-250

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just extra little bit of stress is the difference and winning and losing.

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This is it, and it’s not just the added stress of more scrutiny. I was watching the final round of the U.S. Open Sunday with someone who doesn’t really follow golf. I was trying to explain to her how Rickie basically had no chance. He was giving up too many yard off the tee, was using a putter he had just started using this year, and hadn’t been in the thick of a final round major in 6-7 years and his nerves weren’t gonna be able to hold up at 34 like they might have at 28, and that pressure eventually exposes your weaknesses. I’ve never understood it, but the phenomena of not being able to putt under pressure after 30 is real for most mortals. You’d think that’s the one skill that you could manage with age—or even get better at—but only the all-timers seem be able to handle it.

Guys are much longer now, so they’ll be able to compete at an older age, and we’ll see more older major winners than anytime in history, but running off a bunch in a short span like Rory, Speith, and Brooks still seems like it will still have to be done in their 20s. Those guys may sprinkle in a couple after 30, but it will be over a much longer span, and according to just about every analyst I’ve ever heard talk about it, it’s a direct result of not being able to control their nerves standing over Sunday putts like they were able to in their 20s. Again, it seems counterintuitive, but for whatever reason, it’s real.

David Duval downvoted you

somewhere in that decade wide window?

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By the way, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus never caught this disease.

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Tiger literally couldn’t chip a golf ball

Tf are you taking about?

Jack peaked at 46

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Jack peaked at 46

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no sir.
one last great showing is not a peak. his peak was when he was one of a few players who won every week and he was the best more often than not.
it lasted 15 years.

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By the way, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus never caught this disease.

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Tiger’s game suffered after his divorce. He actually had the chipping yips temporarily.

Either way, players are coming out of junior and college golf way more ready to play competitive golf at the highest level. Way more options today to play in big amateur events.

Plus, Tiger provided a blueprint for the level of hard work and preparation required to win.

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especially Jack, who played against much, much less talented fields.

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Really? The only real completion TW had was Phil Mikelson.

Phil screwed himself out of 4-5 majors by being ultra-aggressive when he should have laid up and played conservative.

Not saying that TWs is not one of the all-time greats in golf.

Jack played against and won against some of the best players in golf of all time.

Palmer, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Tom Wieskoff, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Billy Casper, Greg Norman...

JN had 19 runners up in the Majors. 5 of those were in playoffs.

Numerous top 5 finishes, and lots of top 10 finishes.

I don't really get the TWs worship by some.

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1. no one peaks at 36 to 40.

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Ben Hogan won six of his nine majors in that timeframe (he won two at age 35). . Phil didn’t win a major until age 34. O’Meara was actually older than 40 when he peaked. Steve Stricker certainly peaked at age 40 and thrived after that. Vijay won his first major at 35 and had one of the greatest seasons in PGA history at age 41 (winning 9 times). Miguel Angel Jimenez peaked after age 40 winning 13 times after that age. Stewart Cink won two majors at age 47, his peak year.

To the OP, some of the newer players began playing at a young age. When they get money and married they drop off. It takes a few years before they get back to normal after being married. Rory, Rickie, Brooks, JT now, and Spieth are all examples of young players struggling after getting married.