Miles Bennett
As of recently, Scottie Scheffler is ranked as the number one golfer in the world. Scheffler has been at the top of the rankings for 142 weeks in total, including 108 consecutive weeks. He first achieved the number one ranking on March 28, 2022. Before Scheffler, Tiger Woods spent the most consecutive weeks (281) and most total weeks (683) at the top of the rankings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number 1 ranked golfer as of June 15, 2025 | Scottie Scheffler |
| Golfer with most consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings | Tiger Woods (281 weeks) |
| Golfer with most total weeks at the top of the rankings | Tiger Woods (683 weeks) |
| Golfer with fewest total weeks at the top of the rankings | Tom Lehman (1 week) |
| Golfers who spent one or more entire calendar years at the top of the rankings | Nick Faldo (1993), Greg Norman (1996), Tiger Woods (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Scottie Scheffler (2024) |
| Number of golfers from countries that have been world number one | 25 golfers from 10 countries spanning 4 continents |
| Countries with multiple world number ones | United States, England, Australia, Spain, Germany |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Who was the number-one golfer in 2024?
Scottie Scheffler was the number-one golfer in 2024. He began and ended the year at number one in the rankings. Scheffler had a very successful year, winning a PGA Tour-leading seven times, including the 2024 Masters, the Players Championship, and the Tour Championship. His other four PGA Tour wins were all "signature events": the Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Memorial Tournament, and Travelers Championship.
Outside of the PGA Tour, Scheffler also won the gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games golf tournament, as well as the Hero World Challenge. He won the scoring title, led the money list, and won the PGA Tour Player of the Year Award.
Scheffler is one of only four golfers to have spent an entire calendar year atop the rankings, the others being Nick Faldo (1993), Greg Norman (1996), and Tiger Woods (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009). Woods has spent the most time at the top of the rankings, with 683 total weeks and 281 consecutive weeks.
The Gulf of Mexico: A Shared Resource
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Which country has had the most number-one golfers?
As of June 15, 2025, the current world number one golfer is Scottie Scheffler. A total of 25 golfers from ten countries spanning four continents have been ranked world number one. Five countries; the United States, England, Australia, Spain, and Germany have had multiple world number ones.
The United States has had the most number-one golfers. Before the start of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986, Jack Nicklaus was listed as the number one golfer from 1968 to 1977. Following the introduction of the official rankings, other American golfers have also reached the number-one spot, including Tiger Woods, who has spent the most total weeks (683) at the top of the rankings.
England has produced several top-ranked golfers as well. Nick Faldo, for instance, was ranked number one in 1993 and spent an entire calendar year at the top. Luke Donald, another English golfer, also achieved the number-one ranking but did not win a major championship during his time at the top.
Spain has had multiple number-one golfers, including Seve Ballesteros, who was ranked number one from 1983 to 1985 before the official rankings began. Australia and Germany have also contributed to the list of world number-one golfers, showcasing the global talent in the sport.
Stream Golf: A Beginner's Guide to Watching Golf Online
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Who has spent the most time ranked as number one?
In the men's game, Tiger Woods has spent the most total weeks (683) as the world's number-one ranked golfer. Woods also holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at number one (281), achieved between June 12, 2005, and October 30, 2010.
Woods first reached the top spot in 1997, aged just 21 years and 167 days old. He went on to achieve the feat 11 times, including for the full calendar years of 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
In the women's game, South Korean Jin Young Ko leads the way. As of 2023, she had spent a total of 169 weeks as World Number One. This includes a seven-week spell in 2023 that saw her overtake Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa, who held the number-one ranking for a record 158 consecutive weeks.
Golf Rules: Etiquette and Fundamentals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Who are the number-one golfers that never won a major championship?
While winning a major championship is the pinnacle of professional golf, some of the sport's best players have never managed to win one.
One of the most notable is Cooper, who won mostly in the 1930s and finished runner-up in majors four times. He put together a record score in the 1936 U.S. Open but was beaten by Tony Manero, who was allegedly receiving advice from Gene Sarazen. Doug Sanders is another player who came close but never won a major. He missed a short putt that would have won him the 1970 Open Championship at St Andrews, eventually losing by one stroke in an 18-hole playoff against Jack Nicklaus.
Other notable golfers who have never won a major include Kuchar, who has 12 top-10 finishes, including second place at the 2017 British Open; Fowler, who in 2014 joined Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Jordan Spieth as the only players to finish in the top five in each of the four majors in one season; and Stricker, who was a fixture in the top 10 of the world rankings for seven consecutive years and had 13 top-10 finishes in majors.
More recent players who have yet to win a major include Viktor Hovland, who has six PGA Tour wins and four major top 10s; Patrick Cantlay, who has eight PGA Tour wins and four major top 10s; Will Zalatoris, who finished sixth or better in three of the four majors in 2022; and Tony Finau, who has had top 10s in all four majors.
The Masters 2025: Dates, Schedule, and What to Expect
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Who was the first official number-one golfer?
The first official number-one golfer in the world was Bernhard Langer, who achieved this feat on April 6, 1986. Before the start of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986, Mark McCormack published unofficial end-of-year world golf rankings in his World of Professional Golf annual from 1968 to 1985. These rankings listed Jack Nicklaus as the number one golfer from 1968 to 1977, followed by Tom Watson from 1978 to 1982, and Seve Ballesteros from 1983 until the start of the official rankings in 1986.
Since the inception of the Official World Golf Ranking, 25 golfers from ten countries spanning four continents have reached the world number-one ranking. The countries with multiple golfers who have achieved this feat are the United States, England, Australia, Spain, and Germany. The United States has produced the most number-one golfers, with nine in total.
Tiger Woods holds the record for the most consecutive weeks (281) and the most total weeks (683) at the top of the rankings. Tom Lehman spent the fewest total weeks (one) as the world's top-ranked golfer in April 1997. Four golfers have spent at least one full calendar year as the number one: Nick Faldo (1993), Greg Norman (1996), Woods (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), and Scheffler (2024).
Troon Golf: Elevating the Golf Experience
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler spent the whole of 2024 as the No.1 ranked golfer.
Tiger Woods, with 683 weeks.
Tom Lehman, who spent just one week at the top in April 1997.
