"If you wait until you're 18 or 20, to be honest, you've lost out."

John Paul Newport contemplates the state of American golf, how golfers are developed here and compares us to European countries. While I don't doubt this is true, it's still a concern that starting players in programs at such a young age is what is necessary to create a modern day champion.

"When I was that age, we were just guessing about what it took to make it as a professional golfer," said six-time major champion Nick Faldo. "But now the knowledge is out there. There's a blueprint, it's global really, about the biomechanics you need, the dietary stuff, the physical training you need to do, the mental stuff."

In 1996 Faldo, as the lone Englishman among the world's top players, started the Faldo Series of developmental tournaments to give players, age 12 to 21, better places to compete. The events now take place in 35 countries, including in Asia. McIlroy and women's world No. 1 Yani Tseng are among his star alumni.

"If you get a kid who's 15 and give him five years of the best information and competition, that's the way to go. All he really needs is commitment," Faldo said. "If you wait until you're 18 or 20, to be honest, you've lost out."