"Low American has almost become a separate category along with low amateur."
/In short, there is no reason to panic or even to start looking for reasons for the U.S. "slump." The junior system doesn't need to be blown up, and players don't have to start following the European model of turning pro as teenagers in order to succeed. What's happened is fairly simple: For a good long while Woods and Mickelson were the two best players in the world. Now, they're not. That has left a void.
I'd counter that it's a fine time to question whether the U.S. junior and college systems are really doing our players justice? I'd say no simply because we seem to be ingraining a sense of entitlement that appears to be holding back our players from reaching another level.