Most PGA Tour players tiptoe around challenging Scottie Scheffler‘s dominance. They choose their words carefully. They acknowledge the World No. 1’s supremacy with diplomatic respect. Not Harry Hall. The 28-year-old Englishman has done something few dare. He’s drawn a line in the sand with a declaration that’s equal parts audacious and calculated.

In an exclusive interview with Golf Monthly, Hall didn’t just express hope or cautious optimism. He made it crystal clear. “I think I can be World No. 1, and I want to have a Green Jacket,” he stated boldly. However, what sets this apart from typical player bravado is that Hall has done the math. He’s crunched the numbers. He’s identified exactly what it takes. And after his breakthrough 2025 season that saw him finish 26th in the FedEx Cup and nearly crack the Ryder Cup roster, his bold words suddenly carry serious weight.

Hall isn’t just talking. He’s got a blueprint. “I need to gain around 2/2.2 strokes, so if I can get 0.3 strokes better in every single category, then I’ll be number one in the world,” he explained. This level of specificity separates empty swagger from genuine ambition. Meanwhile, Scheffler sits comfortably at World No. 1 with six PGA Tour victories in 2025 alone. His statistical dominance is staggering. He leads with +2.667 in Strokes Gained: Total. His +2.287 in putting makes him virtually untouchable.

Yet Hall’s transformation journey lends credibility to his claim. Before July 2024, he had zero top-25 finishes that season. Then came the turning point. At the ISCO Championship, Hall holed a magical chip-in from 45 feet on the first playoff hole. That moment changed everything for the native of Cornwall. The victory earned him $720,000 and 300 FedEx Cup points. More importantly, it unlocked his potential.

The 2025 season proved it wasn’t a fluke. Hall earned six top-10 finishes, including a T8 at The Sentry and T6 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Between May and September, his worst finish was T28 at The Open Championship. That consistency caught Luke Donald’s attention. Hall finished 9th on the European Points List. Just one spot short of automatic Ryder Cup selection. Donald ultimately stuck with 11 of the 12 players who won at Marco Simone. Hall agreed with the decision, even before Europe’s 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black.

The New Generation’s Bold Challenge to Golf’s Elite

Hall represents something bigger than just one player’s dreams. He’s part of a generational shift. Today’s young stars aren’t waiting for their turn. They’re calling their shots. Ludvig Åberg openly discusses winning majors without shying away from the magnitude of the achievement. Tom Kim has declared his intention to become the World’s No. 1 player before the age of 25. Akshay Bhatia draws comparisons to Tiger Woods for his bold confidence. Sahith Theegala has expressed ambitions to expand the global appeal of golf.

This contrasts sharply with previous eras. Players once paid respectful deference to established champions. They waited for invitations to the elite conversation. Not anymore. The average age of the world’s top 10 golfers is now 30.8 years. Rising stars like Åberg (25), Kim (23), and Bhatia (23) are already cracking the world’s top 20. They’re bringing fresh energy. They’re bringing vocal confidence. They’re bringing mathematical precision to their championship pursuits.

Hall’s approach mirrors Jordan Spieth‘s early career. Spieth famously declared he wanted to win The Masters before turning 22. He did precisely that in 2015. Tiger Woods set the template. He expected to win every time he teed up. Rory McIlroy predicted his own ascent to World No. 1 as a teenager. History shows that players who verbalize specific goals are more likely to achieve them.

Hall graded his 2025 season an emphatic ‘A’. “I’m 28, it’s my third season on tour, and I made the Tour Championship, finishing 26th in the FedEx Cup, so I’m really happy with that,” he said. Now he’s setting his sights higher. The 6-foot-4 Englishman from Cornwall has many years to improve. His putting already ranks among the best on the Tour. His consistent ball-striking continues to develop. Whether Hall can back up his words will define his legacy. But one thing’s sure. The new generation isn’t waiting for permission to challenge the throne.