List of world number one male golfers - wikipedia List of world number one male golfers The following is a list of golfers who have been top of the Official World Golf Ranking. As of May 27, 2018, Justin Thomas is the number one ranked golfer. Tiger Woods has spent the most consecutive weeks ( 281 ) and most total weeks ( 683 ) in that position. Three golfers have spent an entire calendar year atop the rankings : Nick Faldo ( 1993 ), Greg Norman ( 1996 ), and Woods ( 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 ). Contents 1 Number one ranked men 2 Weeks at number one 3 Weeks at number one by country 4 Weeks at number one by Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup zone 5 Earlier number ones 6 References 7 External links Number one ranked men Note 1 : In the first column, each number signifies the first time that golfer was ranked number one. Note 2 : In the `` Cumulative total '' column, each boldface number signifies the most recent time that golfer was ranked number one. * Current number one player as of May 27, 2018 # Country Player Start date End date Number of weeks Cumulative total Ref. 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 FRG Langer, Bernhard Bernhard Langer 000000001986 - 04 - 06 - 0000 April 6, 1986 000000001986 - 04 - 26 - 0000 April 26, 1986 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 ESP Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros 000000001986 - 04 - 27 - 0000 April 27, 1986 000000001986 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 1986 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman 000000001986 - 09 - 14 - 0000 September 14, 1986 000000001987 - 11 - 21 - 0000 November 21, 1987 7001620000000000000 ♠ 62 7001620000000000000 ♠ 62 7000200000000000000 ♠ ESP Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros ( 2 ) 000000001987 - 11 - 22 - 0000 November 22, 1987 000000001987 - 11 - 28 - 0000 November 28, 1987 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001210000000000000 ♠ 21 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 2 ) 000000001987 - 11 - 29 - 0000 November 29, 1987 000000001988 - 10 - 29 - 0000 October 29, 1988 7001480000000000000 ♠ 48 7002110000000000000 ♠ 110 7000200000000000000 ♠ ESP Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros ( 3 ) 000000001988 - 10 - 30 - 0000 October 30, 1988 000000001988 - 11 - 05 - 0000 November 5, 1988 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001220000000000000 ♠ 22 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 3 ) 000000001988 - 11 - 06 - 0000 November 6, 1988 000000001988 - 11 - 12 - 0000 November 12, 1988 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7002111000000000000 ♠ 111 7000200000000000000 ♠ ESP Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros ( 4 ) 000000001988 - 11 - 13 - 0000 November 13, 1988 000000001989 - 03 - 25 - 0000 March 25, 1989 7001190000000000000 ♠ 19 7001410000000000000 ♠ 41 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 4 ) 000000001989 - 03 - 26 - 0000 March 26, 1989 000000001989 - 04 - 01 - 0000 April 1, 1989 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7002112000000000000 ♠ 112 7000200000000000000 ♠ ESP Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros ( 5 ) 000000001989 - 04 - 02 - 0000 April 2, 1989 000000001989 - 08 - 19 - 0000 August 19, 1989 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20 7001610000000000000 ♠ 61 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 5 ) 000000001989 - 08 - 20 - 0000 August 20, 1989 000000001990 - 09 - 01 - 0000 September 1, 1990 7001540000000000000 ♠ 54 7002166000000000000 ♠ 166 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 ENG Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo 000000001990 - 09 - 02 - 0000 September 2, 1990 000000001990 - 10 - 13 - 0000 October 13, 1990 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 6 ) 000000001990 - 10 - 14 - 0000 October 14, 1990 000000001991 - 02 - 02 - 0000 February 2, 1991 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 7002182000000000000 ♠ 182 7000400000000000000 ♠ ENG Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo ( 2 ) 000000001991 - 02 - 03 - 0000 February 3, 1991 000000001991 - 04 - 06 - 0000 April 6, 1991 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 WAL Woosnam, Ian Ian Woosnam 000000001991 - 04 - 07 - 0000 April 7, 1991 000000001992 - 03 - 21 - 0000 March 21, 1992 7001500000000000000 ♠ 50 7001500000000000000 ♠ 50 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 USA Couples, Fred Fred Couples 000000001992 - 03 - 22 - 0000 March 22, 1992 000000001992 - 03 - 28 - 0000 March 28, 1992 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000400000000000000 ♠ ENG Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo ( 3 ) 000000001992 - 03 - 29 - 0000 March 29, 1992 000000001992 - 04 - 04 - 0000 April 4, 1992 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 7000600000000000000 ♠ USA Couples, Fred Fred Couples ( 2 ) 000000001992 - 04 - 05 - 0000 April 5, 1992 000000001992 - 07 - 18 - 0000 July 18, 1992 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 7000400000000000000 ♠ ENG Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo ( 4 ) 000000001992 - 07 - 19 - 0000 July 19, 1992 000000001994 - 02 - 05 - 0000 February 5, 1994 7001810000000000000 ♠ 81 7001970000000000000 ♠ 97 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 7 ) 000000001994 - 02 - 06 - 0000 February 6, 1994 000000001994 - 08 - 13 - 0000 August 13, 1994 7001270000000000000 ♠ 27 7002209000000000000 ♠ 209 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7 ZIM Price, Nick Nick Price 000000001994 - 08 - 14 - 0000 August 14, 1994 000000001995 - 06 - 17 - 0000 June 17, 1995 7001440000000000000 ♠ 44 7001440000000000000 ♠ 44 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 8 ) 000000001995 - 06 - 18 - 0000 June 18, 1995 000000001997 - 04 - 19 - 0000 April 19, 1997 7001960000000000000 ♠ 96 7002305000000000000 ♠ 305 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8 USA Lehman, Tom Tom Lehman 000000001997 - 04 - 20 - 0000 April 20, 1997 000000001997 - 04 - 26 - 0000 April 26, 1997 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 9 ) 000000001997 - 04 - 27 - 0000 April 27, 1997 000000001997 - 06 - 14 - 0000 June 14, 1997 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7 7002312000000000000 ♠ 312 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods 000000001997 - 06 - 15 - 0000 June 15, 1997 000000001997 - 06 - 21 - 0000 June 21, 1997 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10 ZAF Els, Ernie Ernie Els 000000001997 - 06 - 22 - 0000 June 22, 1997 000000001997 - 06 - 28 - 0000 June 28, 1997 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 10 ) 000000001997 - 06 - 29 - 0000 June 29, 1997 000000001997 - 07 - 05 - 0000 July 5, 1997 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7002313000000000000 ♠ 313 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 2 ) 000000001997 - 07 - 06 - 0000 July 6, 1997 000000001997 - 09 - 06 - 0000 September 6, 1997 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10 7000300000000000000 ♠ AUS Norman, Greg Greg Norman ( 11 ) 000000001997 - 09 - 07 - 0000 September 7, 1997 000000001998 - 01 - 10 - 0000 January 10, 1998 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 7002331000000000000 ♠ 331 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 3 ) 000000001998 - 01 - 11 - 0000 January 11, 1998 000000001998 - 04 - 11 - 0000 April 11, 1998 7001130000000000000 ♠ 13 7001230000000000000 ♠ 23 7001100000000000000 ♠ ZAF Els, Ernie Ernie Els ( 2 ) 000000001998 - 04 - 12 - 0000 April 12, 1998 000000001998 - 05 - 09 - 0000 May 9, 1998 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 4 ) 000000001998 - 05 - 10 - 0000 May 10, 1998 000000001998 - 05 - 16 - 0000 May 16, 1998 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001240000000000000 ♠ 24 7001100000000000000 ♠ ZAF Els, Ernie Ernie Els ( 3 ) 000000001998 - 05 - 17 - 0000 May 17, 1998 000000001998 - 06 - 13 - 0000 June 13, 1998 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 5 ) 000000001998 - 06 - 14 - 0000 June 14, 1998 000000001999 - 03 - 27 - 0000 March 27, 1999 7001410000000000000 ♠ 41 7001650000000000000 ♠ 65 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 USA Duval, David David Duval 000000001999 - 03 - 28 - 0000 March 28, 1999 000000001999 - 07 - 03 - 0000 July 3, 1999 7001140000000000000 ♠ 14 7001140000000000000 ♠ 14 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 6 ) 000000001999 - 07 - 04 - 0000 July 4, 1999 000000001999 - 08 - 07 - 0000 August 7, 1999 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 7001700000000000000 ♠ 70 7001110000000000000 ♠ USA Duval, David David Duval ( 2 ) 000000001999 - 08 - 08 - 0000 August 8, 1999 000000001999 - 08 - 14 - 0000 August 14, 1999 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 7 ) 000000001999 - 08 - 15 - 0000 August 15, 1999 000000002004 - 09 - 04 - 0000 September 4, 2004 7002264000000000000 ♠ 264 7002334000000000000 ♠ 334 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 FJI Singh, Vijay Vijay Singh 000000002004 - 09 - 05 - 0000 September 5, 2004 000000002005 - 03 - 05 - 0000 March 5, 2005 7001260000000000000 ♠ 26 7001260000000000000 ♠ 26 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 8 ) 000000002005 - 03 - 06 - 0000 March 6, 2005 000000002005 - 03 - 19 - 0000 March 19, 2005 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7002336000000000000 ♠ 336 7001120000000000000 ♠ FJI Singh, Vijay Vijay Singh ( 2 ) 000000002005 - 03 - 20 - 0000 March 20, 2005 000000002005 - 04 - 09 - 0000 April 9, 2005 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7001290000000000000 ♠ 29 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 9 ) 000000002005 - 04 - 10 - 0000 April 10, 2005 000000002005 - 05 - 21 - 0000 May 21, 2005 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 7002342000000000000 ♠ 342 7001120000000000000 ♠ FJI Singh, Vijay Vijay Singh ( 3 ) 000000002005 - 05 - 22 - 0000 May 22, 2005 000000002005 - 06 - 11 - 0000 June 11, 2005 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7001320000000000000 ♠ 32 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 10 ) 000000002005 - 06 - 12 - 0000 June 12, 2005 000000002010 - 10 - 30 - 0000 October 30, 2010 7002281000000000000 ♠ 281 ( record ) 7002623000000000000 ♠ 623 7001130000000000000 ♠ 13 ENG Westwood, Lee Lee Westwood 000000002010 - 10 - 31 - 0000 October 31, 2010 000000002011 - 02 - 26 - 0000 February 26, 2011 7001170000000000000 ♠ 17 7001170000000000000 ♠ 17 7001140000000000000 ♠ 14 DEU Kaymer, Martin Martin Kaymer 000000002011 - 02 - 27 - 0000 February 27, 2011 000000002011 - 04 - 23 - 0000 April 23, 2011 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8 7001130000000000000 ♠ ENG Westwood, Lee Lee Westwood ( 2 ) 000000002011 - 04 - 24 - 0000 April 24, 2011 000000002011 - 05 - 28 - 0000 May 28, 2011 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 7001220000000000000 ♠ 22 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 ENG Donald, Luke Luke Donald 000000002011 - 05 - 29 - 0000 May 29, 2011 000000002012 - 03 - 03 - 0000 March 3, 2012 7001400000000000000 ♠ 40 7001400000000000000 ♠ 40 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy 000000002012 - 03 - 04 - 0000 March 4, 2012 000000002012 - 03 - 17 - 0000 March 17, 2012 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7001150000000000000 ♠ ENG Donald, Luke Luke Donald ( 2 ) 000000002012 - 03 - 18 - 0000 March 18, 2012 000000002012 - 04 - 14 - 0000 April 14, 2012 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 7001440000000000000 ♠ 44 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 2 ) 000000002012 - 04 - 15 - 0000 April 15, 2012 000000002012 - 04 - 28 - 0000 April 28, 2012 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 7001150000000000000 ♠ ENG Donald, Luke Luke Donald ( 3 ) 000000002012 - 04 - 29 - 0000 April 29, 2012 000000002012 - 05 - 05 - 0000 May 5, 2012 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001450000000000000 ♠ 45 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 3 ) 000000002012 - 05 - 06 - 0000 May 6, 2012 000000002012 - 05 - 26 - 0000 May 26, 2012 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7 7001150000000000000 ♠ ENG Donald, Luke Luke Donald ( 4 ) 000000002012 - 05 - 27 - 0000 May 27, 2012 000000002012 - 08 - 11 - 0000 August 11, 2012 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 7001560000000000000 ♠ 56 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 4 ) 000000002012 - 08 - 12 - 0000 August 12, 2012 000000002013 - 03 - 24 - 0000 March 24, 2013 7001320000000000000 ♠ 32 7001390000000000000 ♠ 39 7000900000000000000 ♠ USA Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods ( 11 ) 000000002013 - 03 - 25 - 0000 March 25, 2013 000000002014 - 05 - 17 - 0000 May 17, 2014 7001600000000000000 ♠ 60 7002683000000000000 ♠ 683 ( record ) 7001170000000000000 ♠ 17 AUS Scott, Adam Adam Scott 000000002014 - 05 - 18 - 0000 May 18, 2014 000000002014 - 08 - 02 - 0000 August 2, 2014 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 5 ) 000000002014 - 08 - 03 - 0000 August 3, 2014 000000002015 - 08 - 15 - 0000 August 15, 2015 7001540000000000000 ♠ 54 7001930000000000000 ♠ 93 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 USA Spieth, Jordan Jordan Spieth 000000002015 - 08 - 16 - 0000 August 16, 2015 000000002015 - 08 - 29 - 0000 August 29, 2015 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 6 ) 000000002015 - 08 - 30 - 0000 August 30, 2015 000000002015 - 09 - 05 - 0000 September 5, 2015 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001940000000000000 ♠ 94 7001180000000000000 ♠ USA Spieth, Jordan Jordan Spieth ( 2 ) 000000002015 - 09 - 06 - 0000 September 6, 2015 000000002015 - 09 - 12 - 0000 September 12, 2015 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7001160000000000000 ♠ NIR McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy ( 7 ) 000000002015 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 2015 000000002015 - 09 - 19 - 0000 September 19, 2015 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001950000000000000 ♠ 95 7001190000000000000 ♠ 19 AUS Day, Jason Jason Day 000000002015 - 09 - 20 - 0000 September 20, 2015 000000002015 - 09 - 26 - 0000 September 26, 2015 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 7001180000000000000 ♠ USA Spieth, Jordan Jordan Spieth ( 3 ) 000000002015 - 09 - 27 - 0000 September 27, 2015 000000002015 - 10 - 17 - 0000 October 17, 2015 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 7001190000000000000 ♠ AUS Day, Jason Jason Day ( 2 ) 000000002015 - 10 - 18 - 0000 October 18, 2015 000000002015 - 11 - 07 - 0000 November 7, 2015 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 7001180000000000000 ♠ USA Spieth, Jordan Jordan Spieth ( 4 ) 000000002015 - 11 - 08 - 0000 November 8, 2015 000000002016 - 03 - 26 - 0000 March 26, 2016 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20 7001260000000000000 ♠ 26 7001190000000000000 ♠ AUS Day, Jason Jason Day ( 3 ) 000000002016 - 03 - 27 - 0000 March 27, 2016 000000002017 - 02 - 18 - 0000 February 18, 2017 7001470000000000000 ♠ 47 7001510000000000000 ♠ 51 7001200000000000000 ♠ 20 USA Johnson, Dustin Dustin Johnson 000000002017 - 02 - 19 - 0000 February 19, 2017 000000002018 - 05 - 12 - 0000 May 12, 2018 7001640000000000000 ♠ 64 7001640000000000000 ♠ 64 7001210000000000000 ♠ 21 USA Thomas, Justin Justin Thomas * 000000002018 - 05 - 13 - 0000 May 13, 2018 Present 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 Weeks at number one * Current number one player as of May 27, 2018 Rank Player Country Weeks Order Majors 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods United States 683 9 14 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 Norman, Greg Greg Norman Australia 331 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo England 97 6 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland 95 16 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 Johnson, Dustin Dustin Johnson United States 64 20 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros Spain 61 5 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7 Donald, Luke Luke Donald England 56 15 0 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8 Day, Jason Jason Day Australia 51 19 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 Woosnam, Ian Ian Woosnam Wales 50 5 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10 Price, Nick Nick Price Zimbabwe 44 7 7001110000000000000 ♠ 11 Singh, Vijay Vijay Singh Fiji 32 12 7001120000000000000 ♠ 12 Spieth, Jordan Jordan Spieth United States 26 18 7001130000000000000 ♠ 13 Westwood, Lee Lee Westwood England 22 13 0 7001140000000000000 ♠ 14 Couples, Fred Fred Couples United States 16 6 7001150000000000000 ♠ 15 Duval, David David Duval United States 15 11 7001160000000000000 ♠ 16 Scott, Adam Adam Scott Australia 11 17 7001170000000000000 ♠ 17 Els, Ernie Ernie Els South Africa 9 10 7001180000000000000 ♠ 18 Kaymer, Martin Martin Kaymer Germany 8 14 7001190000000000000 ♠ 19 Langer, Bernhard Bernhard Langer West Germany Thomas, Justin Justin Thomas * United States 21 7001210000000000000 ♠ 21 Lehman, Tom Tom Lehman United States 8 Order -- indicates the sequence in which the players first reached number 1. Majors -- number of major championships each player has won throughout his golfing career. Weeks at number one by country * Country with the current number one player as of May 27, 2018 Rank Country Weeks Order Majors Players Top player First player Latest player Zone 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 United States 808 6 22 7 Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods Couples, Fred Fred Couples Thomas, Justin Justin Thomas USA 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 Australia 393 Norman, Greg Greg Norman Norman, Greg Greg Norman Day, Jason Jason Day IT 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 England 175 6 Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo Donald, Luke Luke Donald EUR 7000400000000000000 ♠ 4 Northern Ireland 95 10 McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy EUR 7000500000000000000 ♠ 5 Spain 61 5 Ballesteros, Seve Seve Ballesteros EUR 7000600000000000000 ♠ 6 Wales 50 5 Woosnam, Ian Ian Woosnam EUR 7000700000000000000 ♠ 7 Zimbabwe 44 7 Price, Nick Nick Price IT 7000800000000000000 ♠ 8 Fiji 32 9 Singh, Vijay Vijay Singh IT 7000900000000000000 ♠ 9 Germany ( including West Germany ) 11 Kaymer, Martin Martin Kaymer Langer, Bernhard Bernhard Langer Kaymer, Martin Martin Kaymer EUR 7001100000000000000 ♠ 10 South Africa 9 8 Els, Ernie Ernie Els IT Order -- indicates the sequence in which the country first had a number 1 player. Majors -- number of major championships the country 's world - ranked number 1 players have won throughout their golfing careers. Players -- number of players from that country who have been world - ranked number 1. Top player -- the player from that country who has spent most weeks as the world - ranked number 1 player. First player -- the player from that country who was first to be world - ranked number 1 player, left blank if that country has only one such player. Latest player -- the player from that country who was most recently world - ranked number 1 player, left blank if that country has only one such player. Zone -- The zone to which that country now belongs for Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup purposes : EUR = Europe ( plays in Ryder Cup ) IT = International Team ( plays in Presidents Cup ) USA = United States of America ( plays in both cups ) Weeks at number one by Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup zone * Zone with the current number one player as of May 27, 2018 Rank Zone Weeks Order Majors Players Top player First player Latest player 7000100000000000000 ♠ 1 United States ( plays in both cups ) 808 22 7 Woods, Tiger Tiger Woods Couples, Fred Fred Couples Thomas, Justin Justin Thomas 7000200000000000000 ♠ 2 International team ( plays in Presidents Cup ) 478 14 6 Norman, Greg Greg Norman Norman, Greg Greg Norman Day, Jason Jason Day 7000300000000000000 ♠ 3 Europe ( plays in Ryder Cup ) 392 20 8 Faldo, Nick Nick Faldo Langer, Bernhard Bernhard Langer McIlroy, Rory Rory McIlroy Weeks -- the total number of weeks players from the zone have been world - ranked number 1, including any weeks Australia 's Greg Norman was world - ranked number 1 before the Presidents Cup and its International Team zone were first created. It was first played in September 1994, shortly after the August 1994 end of Greg Norman 's first 7 periods ( starting in September 1986 ) and 209 weeks at Number 1 ( out of his total of 11 periods and 331 weeks ). Order -- indicates the sequence in which the zone first had a number 1 player. Majors -- number of major championships the zone 's world - ranked number 1 players have won throughout their golfing careers. Players -- number of players from that zone who have been world - ranked number 1. Top player -- the player from that zone who has spent most weeks as the world - ranked number 1 player. First player -- the player from that zone who was first to be world - ranked number 1 player. Latest player -- the player from that zone who was most recently world - ranked number 1 player. Earlier number ones Before the start of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986, unofficial world golf rankings were published in Mark McCormack 's World of Professional Golf Annual from 1968 to 1985. These annual world golf rankings gave Jack Nicklaus as the number one from 1968 to 1977, Tom Watson from 1978 to 1982 and Seve Ballesteros from 1983 to 1985. References General `` Official World Golf Ranking ''. Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 03. `` Number 1 Golf Rankings ''. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Specific Jump up ^ `` Week ending April 6th 1986 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending November 22nd 1987 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending November 29th 1987 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending October 30th 1988 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending November 6th 1988 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending November 13th 1988 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending March 26th 1989 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending April 2nd 1989 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending August 20th 1989 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending September 2nd 1990 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Week ending October 14th 1990 '' ( pdf ). Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Lee Westwood is world golf No. 1 ''. ESPN. 2010 - 10 - 31. Retrieved 2010 - 11 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Lee Westwood becomes world number one as Kaymer falters ''. BBC Sport. 2010 - 10 - 31. Retrieved 2010 - 10 - 31. Jump up ^ Donegan, Lawrence ( 2012 - 03 - 05 ). `` Rory McIlroy climbs to world No1 after Honda Classic win ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Luke Donald back to World Number One after play - off victory at the Transitions Championship ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 05 - 21. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Luke Donald loses world No 1 ranking to Rory McIlroy ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. 2012 - 04 - 16. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Luke Donald finishes third in New Orleans to regain No1 spot ''. The Guardian. London. 2012 - 04 - 30. Retrieved 2012 - 04 - 30. Jump up ^ `` McIlroy snatches world No. 1 ranking from Donald ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 07. Jump up ^ Corrigan, James ( 2012 - 05 - 27 ). `` Luke Donald 's PGA Championship master class at Wentworth takes him back to world No 1 spot ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 28. External links Official website World Number One golfers since 1986 Seve Ballesteros Fred Couples Jason Day Luke Donald David Duval Ernie Els Nick Faldo Dustin Johnson Martin Kaymer Bernhard Langer Tom Lehman Rory McIlroy Greg Norman Nick Price Adam Scott Vijay Singh Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas Lee Westwood Tiger Woods Ian Woosnam Player in bold denotes current number one Official World Golf Ranking Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_World_Number_One_male_golfers&oldid=843277581 '' Categories : Lists of male golfers Golf rankings Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Official website not in Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Română Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 28 May 2018, at 02 : 29. About Wikipedia

Question: who has been number 1 in golf the longest
Answer: Tiger Woods