Bubba Watson has said that there is a "changing of the guard", with young players dominating the golf world rankings.

Rory McIlroy, 26, and Jordan Spieth, 21, currently lead the board.

"There is a clutch of young guys coming through now," Watson told Sport360.com.

"You can say there's been a changing of the guard. That's great for the game. We are so wrapped up in the likes of Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and those guys who have dominated over the last ten years or so. But they are getting older and the younger talent are really stepping up to the plate.

"Obviously, Rory is number right now and maybe soon enough, we may start thinking of him getting older and he is only 26. Jordan is coming through, Dustin's [Johnson] time will certainly come again for sure. Our talent level across the board in golf is pretty remarkable."

Spieth will become world number one if he wins The Open next week.