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Who are the most famous golfers in the world? Talk about a tough question as the game of golf is packed with history and tradition. However, if you have to start listing players you might start with players that helped develop the game such as Tom Morris Sr., Tom Morris Jr., Harry Varden and Bob Ferguson. The problem is that these names may be historic – but are they among the most famous golfers in the world when it comes to modern fans?
Possibly not, so that means we are starting this list with the most famous professional golfer of the modern game! Let’s get things going with a player that can be instantly recognized by his nickname, which is Tiger!
#1 Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods may not be playing a full schedule any longer due to his age and recovery from his injuries suffered from a car wreck. However, his name is mentioned during the broadcast of almost every golf tournament. He casts a long shadow on the game because of his accomplishments, which include 82 wins on the PGA Tour, 41 wins on the European Tour and five wins at the Masters. You also have to count his four PGA Championship titles and three victories at both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship (British Open), as well as over 20 wins on other Tours such as the Asian Tour and the Japan Tour.
#2 Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has become one of the world’s most recognizable professional golf players. The player from Northern Ireland stormed onto the scene as a young member of the European Jr Ryder Cup team and forgo a scholarship at East Tennessee State to continue his amateur golfer climb. In 2010, he secured his first PGA TOUR win and has logged 23 as of the 2023 season. Rory has also won over twenty times on the European Tour (DP World) and other Tours. He’s also won the PGA Championship, the Canadian Open, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship (British Open).
#3 Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm is an Arizona State alum who resides in the state and is originally from Barrica, Biscay, Spain. After several close tries, he won his first Masters in 2023. Rahm left his mark on the amateur game, but turned pro in 2016 after winning the Low Amateur title at the U.S. Open. He has won multiple times on both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour with wins including his victory at the Masters and a U.S. Open title. Rahm has made an effort, like McIlroy, to represent both the PGA and DP World Tours, which keeps him in the eye of global golf fans.
#4 Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler turned pro in 2018 and has not looked back. He has been a constant force toward the top of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) and won the Masters in 2022. Scheffler has won on both the PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry Tour. He sports an impressive resume during college at the University of Texas, including a win as a member of the 2017 Walker Cup team. Scheffler became a recognizable name in the world of golf with his 2022 Masters win, but reinforced it with a T8 at the 2021 Open Championship and a T2 at the 2022 U.S. Open. He also carded a T2 at the 2023 PGA Championship.
#5 Jack Nicklaus
It’s time to bring a legend into the mix! Jack Nicklaus, aka the Golden Bear, is one of the most famous golfers who span multiple generations. Nicklaus turned professional in 1961 after a stellar amateur career and playing days at Ohio State. He ended his playing career with a total of 117 wins with 73 of them coming on the PGA TOUR and ten while playing on the PGA TOUR Champions Tour. He won the Masters, PGA Championship and the U.S. Open four times each while winning the Open Championship (British Open) three times. Nicklaus is credited with becoming one of the first modern-day professional golfers and media stars. His familiar face and smile were attached to several marketing campaigns including working with Eastern Airlines. Nicklaus is also known worldwide for his golf course designs including Muirfield Village which hosts the Memorial Tournament.
#6 Armold Palmer
Another legendary golfer that has to be on the most famous golfers in the world list is Arnold Palmer who was sometimes referred to as “the King” by his fanbase aptly called Arnie’s Army. Palmer gained the nickname from his level of play combined with his neighborly, friendly and outgoing personality. Simply put – he was a nice guy and easy to pull for. Palmer was also easy for fans to relate to as he often showed his emotions as any everyday person would do. Palmer garnished 95 professional wins with 62 on the PGA TOUR with four Masters titles, two Open Championship wins and a win at the 1960 U.S. Open. He finished T2 at the PGA Championship three times. Like Nicklaus, Palmer helped put professional golf on the world media stage.
#7 Phil Mickelson
The player known as “lefty” to his fans is a recognizable name in the world of professional golf. Phil Mickelson is closing in on surpassing the 60 professional win mark with 45 victories on the PGA TOUR. The former Arizona State alum won three NCAA Individual Championships and was on the school’s National Championship team in 1990. He turned pro in 1992 following a win as an amateur on the PGA TOUR. Mickelson has won the Masters three times, the PGA Championship twice and the Open Championship (British Open) once. His biggest failure, if you can call it that, is that he has never won the U.S. Open, but has finished 2nd or T2 a total of six times. Mickelson has moved from the PGA TOUR to the LIV Tour recently.
#8 Ernie Els
Who has the best nickname in professional golf? That honor could be given to Ernie Els who is often referred to as “The Big Easy” due to being 6’3” in height, his good nature and his naturally smooth swing. The South African-born player burst onto the world golf radar by dominating the European Tour after a marvelous amateur career. He won 28 times on the European Tour and 19 times on the PGA Tour with four Majors. He won the Open Championship and the U.S. Open twice. He never won the Masters or the PGA Championship, but finished 2nd twice and 3rd/T3 four times respectively. He has also become a well-known course designer and a supporter of Autism Speaks.
#9 Nick Faldo
Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo, aka Nick Faldo, is one of the most recognized names in the modern golf era. The Englishman was the gold standard according to many during his playing career. He is said to have fallen in love with the game of golf when he was about 14 years old while watching Jack Nicklaus play in the 1971 Masters on his family’s new color TV. He picked up some affordable clubs for the first time and within three years he qualified for the 1974 English Amateur – an event he won the next season. Faldo attended the University of Houston, but realized he wanted to take the next step with his game. He withdrew from school and turned pro in 1976. He racked up wins on both the European and PGA TOUR and became a common name on the European Ryder Cup Team. Faldo racked up 49 professional wins including six Majors with three Masters championships.
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#10 Gary Player
Gary Player gained the nickname “The Black Knight” due to his favored black pants and shirt complete with a black hat as his playing garb. Player hails from South Africa and is the only non-US player to have won all four Majors, which is known as golf’s grand slam. The famed legend notched a staggering number of professional wins during his career. He won 159 events between the PGA Tour, Sunshine Tour and others, including nine Majors. Player is also known as one of the most talented golf course designers of the modern era with over 400 courses designed in over 40 countries.
#11 Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was a golf superstar during his career until he retired in 1930. Jones cut his teeth at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Georgia Tech. He helped create and found Augusta National and the Masters Tournament. He was legendary as an amateur and won nine PGA tournaments. He was also constantly fighting pain from injuries and his mental health. However, he excelled as a lawyer after attending Harvard and Emory University.
#12 Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan won a total of 71 times as a professional and had an incredible amateur career. He fought past the suicide of his father and near poverty by becoming a caddy at the age of eleven. He became a club pro at the age of 18 and didn’t win his first pro event until 1940. Then, WWII started and he became a pilot with the rank of lieutenant stationed in Fort Worth. He ended his service as a Captain. Hogan and his wife were involved in a head-on car wreck which nearly ended his career. He returned to the game and won 71 times as a professional with wins at all four Majors.
#13 Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is one of the most famous LPGA players in the world with a global fan base. Sörenstam was born in Sweden and played at the University of Arizona for two seasons. She turned professional in 1992 and has won over 90 times in her career. She won the U.S. Women’s Open three times and carded a win at the 2003 Women’s Open Championship. She was one of the winningest female players before her retirement from full-time play in 2008. She quickly became a famous name in broadcasting and Solheim Cup captain. She returned to play as a Senior and won the 2021 U.S. Women’s Senior Open with her husband Mike McKee as her caddy.
#14 Sergio García
Sergio García of Borriol, Castellón, Spain started playing with golf clubs at the age of three as his father Victor was a club professional. García took to the game and won his first tournament at the age of 12. He then made the cut at a European Tour event only four years later and became the youngest player to win the European Amateur. He went on to shoot the lowest score as an amateur at the 1999 Masters. He would eventually take home the famed green jacket in 2017. He also won the U.S. Open in 2005. García devoted himself to representing both the PGA and European Tours and eventually won 36 times as a professional as well as being a staple on the European Ryder Cup Team. He has moved from the European and PGA Tours and now plays on the LIV Tour.
#15 Greg Norman
Greg Norman is known as The Shark among golf fans due to his Australian roots and ability to take advantage of other players making a mistake down the stretch. The nickname took hold following the 1981 Masters. Norman won 88 times as a pro with 22 on the PGA TOUR. However, Norman is also known for his business ability. Early during his career he realized the worth of marketing and developed his own brand which included his own apparel line and other business interests. His two Major wins were the 1986 and 1983 Open Championships.
This list of the most famous golfers in the world does not come close to listing all of the famous names that the game of golf has produced. It has only touched the surface as there are more and more players making their names known in the sport.
