World Golf Rankings

About the Official World Golf Rankings

Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer was ranked No. 1 in the first Official World Golf Rankings in April 1986. Stuart Franklin / Getty Images

When golfers talk about the "world golf rankings," we are almost always referring to the Official World Golf Ranking - the rankings of male touring pros that are recognized by and sanctioned by the major golf tours and organizations of men's golf. (Other versions can be found on the Golf Rankings page.)

When did the world golf rankings debut?




1. Bernhard Langer
2. Seve Ballesteros
3. Sandy Lyle
4. Tom Watson
5. Mark O'Meara
6. Greg Norman
7. Tommy Nakajima
8. Hal Sutton
9. Corey Pavin
10. Calvin Peete

Who sanctions the world golf rankings?

The Official World Golf Ranking is sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which is comprised of the PGA Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Japan Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour; plus the governing bodies of the four men's professional majors (Augusta National Golf Club, USGA, R&A, PGA of America).

Which players are included in the world golf rankings?


How are the world golf rankings calculated?


  5. A player's accumulated points are divided by his number of tournaments played, and the player is ranked relative to other players' averages. (If a golfer has played fewer than 40 tournaments, then his point total is divided by 40.)