Ava Romero
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced in 2007 by The R&A, the governing body for golf outside the US and Mexico. The ranking is based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year and is updated each Wednesday. The first set of rankings featured over 1,000 players from 46 countries and was topped by Scotland's Richie Ramsay. The women's rankings began in 2011, with Japan's Mitsuki Katahira taking the first number-one spot. Only three male and two female golfers have ever held the No. 1-ranking as both amateurs and professionals, with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth achieving this feat for men, and Lydia Ko becoming the first female player to do so.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking Body | The R&A |
| Ranking Basis | Results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year |
| Ranking Frequency | Every Wednesday |
| Ranking Criteria | Average performance in counting events |
| Rolling Period | 104 weeks |
| Number of Ranked Players | Over 1,000 |
| Number of Countries Represented | 46 |
| First Ranking Leader | Richie Ramsay, Scotland |
| Women's Ranking Initiated | February 2011 |
| First Women's Ranking Leader | Mitsuki Katahira, Japan |
| Longest Number of Weeks at Number One | Rose Zhang (142 weeks) |
| Number of Male Golfers Ranked Number One as Amateur and Professional | Three |
| Number of Female Golfers Ranked Number One as Amateur and Professional | Two |
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What You'll Learn
Male and female No. 1-ranking amateurs who became No. 1 professionals
The Official World Golf Ranking, originally known as the Sony Ranking, applies to male professional golfers. A separate World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced later, on 23 January 2007. The R&A, the governing body of golf outside the US and Mexico, initiated the amateur ranking. The ranking is based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year and is updated each Wednesday.
The first set of rankings featured over 1,000 players from 46 countries. The inaugural No. 1-ranked amateur was the 2006 US Amateur champion, Richie Ramsay of Scotland.
The women's amateur golf rankings are also available online. However, I could not find specific information on No. 1-ranking female amateurs.
Some male golfers who were once amateurs and eventually rose to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking include:
- Tiger Woods: He spent the most consecutive weeks (281) and the most total weeks (683) at the top of the rankings.
- Nick Faldo: He spent the entire year of 1993 as the No. 1-ranked golfer.
- Greg Norman: He was ranked No. 1 throughout 1996.
- Scottie Scheffler: He is the current world No. 1, as of 15 June 2025.
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The Amateur Championship selection
The Amateur Championship, also known as the British Amateur or British Amateur Championship outside the UK, is one of the leading golf tournaments for non-professional players. It has been held annually in the United Kingdom since 1885, except during the two World Wars and in 1949 and 2019 when it was hosted by Ireland. The tournament is open to amateur golfers of all nationalities, provided they are in good standing with their national federations.
The Amateur Championship usually features the widest international representation of any individual amateur event. For example, 38 golf federations from all six continents were represented in the 2018 championship. The tournament has a simple knockout format, with extra holes played in the case of a tie after 18 holes.
The winner of The Amateur Championship receives invitations to three major championships: the following month's Open Championship, and the subsequent year's Masters Tournament and U.S. Open, provided they remain an amateur before each event. The winner also receives gold and silver medals, along with a share of the prize fund.
Some of the most famous golfers in history have won The Amateur Championship, including Bobby Jones, Sergio Garcia, and José María Olazábal. Briton John Ball holds the record for the most career titles, with eight. In modern times, Briton Michael Bonallack's five titles are the most of any player.
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US Amateur exemption category
The US Amateur exemption category has seen several modifications and additions in recent years. The United States Golf Association (USGA) has introduced changes to the qualifying process for amateur events, including the US Amateur Championship.
One notable revision for the 2024 US Amateur Championship is the shift from a one-stage, 36-hole qualifying format to a two-stage process. This new format includes 45 18-hole local qualifying sites and 19 18-hole final qualifying sites.
The USGA has also expanded the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) exemption category. Initially, the top 50 ranked players were exempt, but this has been increased to the top 100. Local exemptions have been established for top finishers in USGA championships, state/AGA amateur championships, and the top 600 WAGR players.
Additionally, the USGA has started granting exemptions to winners of State Amateur Championships, provided the championship is WAGR-recognized. For example, the winner of the Nevada State Amateur Championship will receive an invitation and exemption to compete in the US Amateur in the same year.
Other exemption categories for the US Amateur Championship include:
- Playing members of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Teams, with a four-year exemption once appointed.
- Winners of the Rolex Junior All-American First Team, Amateur Championship, U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Asia Pacific Amateur, European Amateur, and Latin American Amateur.
- Runners-up of the U.S. Amateur Championship, Amateur Championship conducted by the R&A, and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
- Top-ranked players in collegiate ranking systems, such as the NCAA Division I SCOREBOARD.
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Ranking calculation
Golf rankings are calculated using a points-based system, with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and the FedEx Cup points system (specific to the PGA Tour) being the most prominent ones. The FedEx Cup focuses on performance across a season, usually from April to August. Players accumulate points based on their performance in PGA Tour events, with higher-profile events like major championships yielding more points. The player with the most points at the end of the season is crowned the FedEx Cup Champion and receives a large cash prize.
The OWGR, on the other hand, calculates rankings over a rolling 52-week period, taking into account the player's performance in tournaments over the last two years. The ranking is based on the player's average points during this period, factoring in the tournament strength and their finish position. Major tournaments like The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship carry more weight in these calculations, offering more ranking points. The strength of the field, or the number of top-ranked players competing, also influences the ranking points awarded.
The World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) is the global standard for ranking amateur golfers and was established in 2007 by The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA). WAGR rankings are calculated similarly to the OWGR, evaluating players' performances in recognised events over a rolling 52-week period. Points are awarded based on finishing positions and the strength of the competition, with separate rankings for male and female golfers. WAGR-certified events, including regional, national, and international amateur competitions, are crucial for golfers to earn points and climb the leaderboard.
Another simple ranking system is the money list, which ranks golfers based on the amount of official prize money they have earned throughout the year. While it may be considered uncouth by some, the money list was once a primary factor in determining tour cards and PGA Player of the Year. Prize money remains an important aspect of performance tracking and can still influence golf rankings today.
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Record-holders
The Official World Golf Ranking (known as the Sony Ranking until 1997) has seen 25 golfers hold the number-one spot since its creation, with the first being Bernhard Langer on April 6, 1986. Tiger Woods holds multiple records related to the ranking. He has spent the most total weeks at number one, with 683 non-consecutive weeks between June 15, 1997, and May 17, 2014. He also holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at number one, with 281 weeks from June 12, 2005, to October 30, 2010. Additionally, Woods reached the highest-ever average points total of 32.44 on June 3, 2001, shortly before the 2001 US Open. On May 20, 2001, he also built the biggest-ever lead in the rankings, with an average of 32.33 points, 19.40 points ahead of the then-world number two, Phil Mickelson.
Jon Rahm became the world number one in July 2020 and held the ranking for 60 weeks. Dustin Johnson reached his 30th week at number one on March 14, 2021, bringing his total to 125 weeks.
In the women's rankings, Lydia Ko became the first player to be ranked number one at just 14 years and 3 days old. She held the ranking for a record 130 consecutive weeks and reached number one again at 17 years, 9 months, and 9 days old. Atthaya Thitikul topped the Women's World Golf Rankings (WWGR) on October 31, 2022, after holding the amateur number one ranking for 12 weeks in 2019–2020.
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced on January 23, 2007. It is based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year and is updated each Wednesday. The ranking was initiated to provide a more reliable means of selecting the field for The Amateur Championship, similar to how the Official World Golf Ranking for male professionals helps determine the field for The Open Championship.
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Frequently asked questions
AM golf rankings refer to the World Amateur Golf Ranking, which was introduced by The R&A, the governing body of golf outside the US and Mexico, on 23 January 2007.
AM golf rankings are based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year, as well as the performance of amateurs in certain professional events. Rankings are based on players' average performance over a rolling period, which has now been expanded to 104 weeks.
Notable players who have topped the AM golf rankings and gone on to become No. 1 in the professional rankings include Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Lydia Ko, and Atthaya Thitikul.
