So, I responded to a post on Premium about Sam Bennett and the Memorial, and it got me thinking, what would you say Sam Bennett's career upside is? In other words, who, if everything goes right, could his career potentially mimic?

My vote is Zach Johnson. Longevity of career, 12 Tour wins in 20+ years, 2 Majors, and the respect of a lot of guys on Tour. Interested in the board's thoughts...

That's a high bar plus golf is a really hard sport to try to project out but that's entirely possible.

I'd say more likely someone in the Keegan Bradley/Jimmy Walker/Brandt Snedeker bracket...5-10 wins, 1 major, a couple President and Ryder Cup teams, with some pretty decent name recognition and marketability.

Not elite but a respectable career with some longevity.

Zach Johnson is a good comparison as far as his game goes. Not a long hitter but a good ball striker who manages his away around the course.

Successful pro golf careers are maybe the hardest professional sport to predict because winning is just so difficult. A ZJ career is a hall of fame career, so I think thats probably a bit of huge stretch goal. Looking at the last 20 years of US Am winners and runners up the ones who have so far put together a PGA Tour career worth noting:

• Vik Hovland, 3 tour wins. Currently #7 ranked player in the world.
• Doug Ghim seems to be on a decent track, but no wins yet.
• Bryson - 8 wins, 1 major
• Corey Conners - 2 wins
• Matt Fitz - 2 wins, 8 euro wins, 1 major
• Cantlay - 8 wins
• Ryan Moore, 5 wins
• Ricky Barnes, 1 win
• Hunter Mahan, 6 wins

All thats to say, its really hard to win on Tour. There have been a ton of highly ranked and "sure thing" am's that come out struggle. Putting together a Ryan Moore esque career would be a huge victory with 10 years as a journeyman and racking up a few wins. Its also just as likely to be a Kelly Kraft

Zach Johnson success would be awesome and maybe it's the Ag in me talking, but I think Sam's ceiling is higher...

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I wonder what his longevity will look like though with his swing mechanics as they are currently.

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This is my thought as well. His swing is a lot like Joaquin Nieman with that huge drop in to the ball and bend on his right side. easy to do now as a young guy but not sure how long he can maintain it in to his 30's. Been a while since we've had a noteworthy pro on Tour so hope he plays well and stays healthy.

Unless he can find some extra length off the tee, it's going to be difficult for him to consistently contend. I think he'll have a Kevin Kisner type of career which is not bad.

Bruce Lietsky-Lee Trevino

I'm gonna prove all you sumbiches wrong, you just watch.

Floor: Horace Rawlins
Ceiling: Bob Ferguson

Who has a better pro career: Sam Bennett or Ryan Palmer?

if he had been born 20 years earlier, a justin Leonard type career. Somebody mentioned Zach Johnson Kevin Kisner. agree. It's just tougher now to not be a bomber and win majors.