Brooks Koepka believes the days of one player dominating the sport of golf is over.
The 27-year-old from Florida claimed his first major with a four-stroke victory at the US Open at Erin Hills last month.
The last seven majors have gone to first-time winners and Koepka believes this trend is set to continue in the coming years.
Ahead of this week’s Open championship, he said: “There are so many good players in that younger generation now.
“We saw how it was at Erin Hills when pretty much everyone up there at the top of the leaderboard hadn’t won a major.
“Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Hideki Matsuyama haven’t won majors but I think everyone in this room knows they are going to win one.
“It is only a question of when, not if.
“There are so many good young players, even at the college level, and some of them are going to win majors, you just know it.
“It’s the Tiger effect. These are the guys who grew up watching him.”
Most golfers prefer to play a competitive tournament the week before a major but world number 11 Koepka has opted to take time away from the game.
The American has not played a competitive event since winning the US Open but doesn’t feel underprepared for the third major of the season.
He said: “Taking four weeks off was a nice little break.
“I’m refreshed but I was playing the entire time.
“It didn’t have anything to do with the US Open win. I planned to take some time off and regroup in the middle of the season. I thought it was important.
“I was home last week and got over to Royal Birkdale last Friday.
“I’ve been ready to get back into it and I’m excited to get back inside the ropes.
“Four weeks off is quite a long time so I’m excited.
“I found it pretty easy to get away and felt I needed a break mentally more than anything.
“But last week I was getting antsy to get back out here so it felt good to get out on the course on Saturday and feel like I was back in the normal routine.”
Koepka tees off tomorrow with Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood at 10.09am.