Jordan Spieth believes that he, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy are poised to form a new golfing trinity which will dominate the game as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer did in the past.
Between them, from 1959 to 1986, the majors were the domain of Nicklaus (18), Player (9) and Palmer (7).
In just four years, from 2011 to 2015, McIlroy, Spieth and Day have between them snatched seven of the 16 grand slam trophies on offer, with the Northern Irishman taking four (two US PGA, one British and One US Open), Spieth two (One Masters, one US Open) and Day one (the US PGA).
Spieth is just 22 but he already sees the three – all under 28 – shutting out their rivals as he predicts a new era in the game.
“I believe we have made a step in the right direction, and if we can ride that it will be significant,” Speith said.
“For Rory, it’s different, because he has been consistent for quite a few years now. Jason and I have played solid golf, but to create an era you need to do it for a decade.
"We have the potential to do so – this was the first year of it. But people need to remember that we still have to keep our heads down and to get the luck. There are a lot of factors needed to create this.”
McIlroy's 2015 season has been hampered by torn ankle ligaments sustained playing football before the British Open so the question of what would have happened in that tournament were he fit will never be known.
Spieth sent a chill down his competitors' spines – if one was needed – when he predicting that he would be a better player than he was this year when he won the US Masters, the US Open and close to $100 million.
“The more specific you get with it, the more you find out there are ways that you can improve in every single category,” he said. “There are definitely things we can fine-tune.”
Part of Spieth's success, according to his mother Christine, is that he remains extraordinarily grounded, eyeing nothing but the next prize.
None of his vast collection of trophies is on display at his home in Dallas.
“I’ve never wanted just to display stuff. That’s what we try to win, and when we win we get satisfaction. Then, we go on to the next goal, the next trophy. I feel uncomfortable if it’s all out in the open," he said.
“Achieving those goals and having the trophies in your possession, that’s what important to me. People already know that I won. So what good does it do for me to have my friends over and just flaunt it in their face? I just keep it in my room and go for the next one.”
For a player so young, Spieth has already decided to commit more than on-course brilliance to the game.
“To see it take shape is spectacular, but with it comes responsibility. We have to continue to have years like this to keep it that way," he said.