Dustin Johnson Becomes 20th Golf World Number One
2016 US Open champion Dustin Johnson becomes 20th golf world number one after winning his 13th PGA Tour title at the Genesis Open at Riviera. Here are all of golf's world number ones...
2016 US Open champion Dustin Johnson becomes 20th golf world number one after winning his 13th PGA Tour title at the Genesis Open at Riviera. Here are all of golf's world number ones...
Dustin Johnson Becomes 20th Golf World Number One
The Official World Golf Ranking was created in 1986, formerly known as the Sony Ranking until 1997, with Bernhard Langer the first man to officially become world number one.
Since then, the #1 position has changed hands 66 times, with 20 golfers holding the prized position.
The latest of those is 2016 US Open Champion Dustin Johnson, who overtook Jason Day with victory at the Genesis Open at Riviera in what was DJ's 13th PGA Tour victory.
Tiger Woods has held the #1 spot considerably longer than anybody at 683 weeks, Greg Norman is in second with 331 weeks as golf world number one.
Related: Which of Tiger Woods' major wins was best?
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Woods held the top spot consecutively between August '99 and September '04 and then from June '05 to October 2010.
Three Englishman have been world number one - Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. The USA lead with six men to have held the number one position.
Here are the 20 men to have topped the Official World Golf Ranking:
Bernhard Langer - 3 weeks
Seve Ballesteros - 61 weeks
Greg Norman - 331 weeks
Nick Faldo - 97 weeks
Ian Woosnam - 50 weeks
Fred Couples - 16 weeks
Nick Price - 44 weeks
Tom Lehman - 1 week
Ernie Els - 9 weeks
David Duval - 15 weeks
Vijay Singh - 32 weeks
Tiger Woods - 683 weeks
Lee Westwood - 22 weeks
Martin Kaymer - 8 weeks
Luke Donald - 56 weeks
Rory McIlroy - 95 weeks
Adam Scott - 11 weeks
Jordan Spieth - 26 weeks
Jason Day - 51 weeks
Dustin Johnson - 1 week
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Should You Get A Free Drop If Your Ball Is In A Puddle In A Bunker?
What happens if your ball ends up in a puddle in a bunker. Are you entitled to a free drop and how should you take it?
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Lotte Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
Grace Kim defends her title as the Hawaii event offers and increased payout for the 2024 edition
By Mike Hall Published