Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy enter 2015 with huge expectations.

The two golfers have won a combined 18 career major championships, and the earnings couldn't possibly be higher.

McIlroy has won the last two majors, the 2014 British Open and the 2014 PGA Championship. In the prime of his career, McIlroy is still just 25 years old. The young man from Northern Ireland is on pace to pass Jack Nicklaus at the rate he is winning. Of course, that has quite a way to go, but with four majors at just 25 years old, McIlroy is making history.

On the other side, there's Tiger Woods.

Woods is still the most polarizing golfer. With 14 career majors, Woods has the second most in PGA history, only behind the "Golden Bear" who was Nicklaus. Unfortunately, Woods' career hasn't been living up to expectations lately. Injuries and poor performances on the course have halted Woods' progression over the years.

Woods has not won a single major since the 2008 U.S. Open.

2014 was extremely disappointing for Woods, as he was unable to compete in both the Masters and the U.S. Open because of back surgery. Not only did Woods miss the two first majors of the years, but he placed 69th overall at the British Open, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Woods hasn't even won a Masters since 2005, a tournament he has won four times in his incredible career.

So what does 2015 hold in store for golf fans?

The biggest golf competition, the Masters, will be played in April. Althougrh Woods has failed to take home the green jacket since 2005, McIlroy has yet to win at Augusta either. McIlroy, who is the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world, suffered a devastating defeat at the 2011 Masters despite leading after three days of play.

The Masters is the only major McIlroy has not won. Winning the Masters would give McIlroy the Career slam, an incredible achievement that Woods has already accomplished.

Other players to keep an eye on are Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. Garcia is ranked No. 5 in the world, but the Spain-born golfer has yet to win a major in his accomplished career. Mickelson, on the other hand, is trying to win his sixth major, and fourth Masters championship. Mickelson is 44 years old, and he is ranked No. 14 in the world.

In many ways, McIlroy is today what Woods used to be. He delivers amazing power off the tee with great accuracy, and an above average middle game. McIlroy's putting has been good enough in his career to get the job done as well. For Woods, it looked like a certainty that he would pass Nicklaus in career majors, but not having won one since 2008 brings a lot of doubt for 2015.

Still, we can't count Woods. He has placed in the top six at the Masters in eight of the last 10 years.

Currently, the only European golfers who have more major victories than McIlroy are John Taylor (5), James Braid (5), Nick Faldo (6) and Harry Vardon, who won seven career majors.

With the rise of McIlroy and the questionable return of Woods, 2015 promises to be a very exciting year for golf fans. Can Woods regain his throne and possibly get back to top 10 in the World Golf Rankings, or is McIlroy truly the future of golf?

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