World Amateur Golf Ranking

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The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by The R&A, the governing body of the sport of golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 2,600 amateur tournaments per year (and amateurs participating in certain professional events) and is updated each Wednesday. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in counting events over a rolling period. This period was 52 weeks initially but was gradually expanded during 2016 to 104 weeks, [1] similar to those of the Official World Golf Ranking.

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Like the Official World Golf Ranking for male professional golfers, the amateur ranking was initiated by The R&A to provide a more reliable means of selecting an appropriate field for one of its tournaments. The professional ranking was initially used to help set the field for The Open Championship and the amateur ranking plays a role in selecting the field for The Amateur Championship, which was previously selected mainly on the basis of national handicap systems. Other tournament organisers will be able to use the rankings to select players if they so wish.

The first set of rankings featured over 1,000 players from 46 countries and was headed by the 2006 U.S. Amateur champion, Richie Ramsay of Scotland.

In February 2011, the United States Golf Association (USGA) endorsed the rankings and announced it would use them for an exemption category in all their men's amateur championships, including the U.S. Amateur, beginning in 2011. [2]

The women's rankings were started in February 2011. [3] Japan's Mitsuki Katahira was the first number one. [4] American Rose Zhang holds the record for most weeks at the top of the rankings with 142 weeks.

Only three male and two female golfers have ever held the No. 1-ranking as both an amateur and a professional. The first to do so was Rory McIlroy, who was 17 years, 9 months and 2 days when he became the No. 1 amateur and 22 years and 10 months when he first became the world No. 1 professional. Jordan Spieth was the second to accomplish this feat, he was 18 years, 10 months and 24 days when he topped the amateur rankings and 22 years and 20 days when he reached No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Jon Rahm, who was ranked no. 1 for 60 weeks, became professional world no. 1 in July 2020. Lydia Ko was the first player to accomplish this feat in the female ranking. She was only 14 years and 3 days and held the ranking for a record 130 consecutive weeks, and she was a mere 17 years, 9 months and 9 days when she first reached the pinnacle of the Women's World Golf Rankings (WWGR). Atthaya Thitikul held the amateur No. 1 for 12 weeks in 2019–2020 and topped the WWGR on 31 October 2022.

Chronology of men's world number ones

#PlayerCountryFirst weekLast weekWeeksTotal weeks
1 Richie Ramsay Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 23 Jan 200730 Jan 200722
2 Rory McIlroy Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 6 Feb 20076 Feb 200711
3 Jamie Moul Flag of England.svg  England 13 Feb 200730 May 200717
4 Jamie Lovemark Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 6 Jun 20076 Jun 20071
Jamie Moul (2)Flag of England.svg  England 13 Jun 200713 Jun 2007118
Jamie Lovemark (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 20 Jun 20073 Aug 200778
5 Rickie Fowler Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 7 Aug 200721 Aug 20073
6 Colt Knost Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 29 Aug 200724 Sep 200755
Rickie Fowler (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5 Oct 200727 Feb 200822
7 Danny Willett Flag of England.svg  England 5 Mar 200821 May 20081212
Rickie Fowler (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 28 May 200825 Jun 20085
8 Michael Thompson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2 Jul 20082 Jul 200811
Rickie Fowler (4)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 9 Jul 200813 Aug 2008636
9 Danny Lee Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 20 Aug 200815 Apr 20093434
10 Scott Arnold Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 23 Apr 200920 May 200955
11 Morgan Hoffmann Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 27 May 200910 Jun 200922
12 Nick Taylor Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 17 Jun 200928 Oct 20092020
13 Victor Dubuisson Flag of France.svg  France 4 Nov 200923 Dec 200988
14 Matteo Manassero Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30 Dec 200928 Apr 20101818
15 Peter Uihlein Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5 May 201016 Jun 20107
16 Jin Jeong Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 23 Jun 201030 Jun 20102
Peter Uihlein (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 7 Jul 201021 Jul 20103
Jin Jeong (2)Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 28 Jul 201011 Aug 201035
Peter Uihlein (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 18 Aug 201022 Dec 201019
17 David Chung Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 29 Dec 20105 Jan 201122
Peter Uihlein (4)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 12 Jan 201116 Mar 201110
18 Patrick Cantlay Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 23 Mar 201123 Mar 20111
Peter Uihlein (5)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 30 Mar 20111 Jun 20111049
Patrick Cantlay (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 8 Jun 201113 Jun 20125455
19 Jordan Spieth Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 20 Jun 201218 Jul 201255
20 Chris Williams Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 25 Jul 201225 Jul 20121
21 Hideki Matsuyama Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1 Aug 20121 Aug 201211
Chris Williams (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 8 Aug 201212 Jun 20134546
22 Brady Watt Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 19 Jun 201319 Jun 201311
23 Pan Cheng-tsung Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 26 Jun 201314 Aug 201388
24 Matt Fitzpatrick Flag of England.svg  England 21 Aug 201316 Oct 20139
25 Cory Whitsett Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 23 Oct 201327 Nov 201366
Matt Fitzpatrick (2)Flag of England.svg  England 4 Dec 201319 Feb 20141221
26 Patrick Rodgers Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 26 Feb 201411 Jun 20141616
27 Ollie Schniederjans Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 18 Jun 201425 Mar 20154141
28 Jon Rahm Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1 Apr 201516 Sep 201525
29 Maverick McNealy Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 23 Sep 201521 Oct 20155
Jon Rahm (2)Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 28 Oct 201522 Jun 20163560
Maverick McNealy (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 29 Jun 20168 Mar 201737
30 Curtis Luck Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 15 Mar 201715 Mar 20171
Maverick McNealy (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 22 Mar 201722 Mar 20171
Curtis Luck (2)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 29 Mar 201712 Apr 201734
Maverick McNealy (4)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 19 Apr 201710 May 2017447
31 Joaquín Niemann Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 17 May 201711 Apr 20184848
32 Braden Thornberry Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 18 Apr 201825 Apr 20182
33 Collin Morikawa Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2 May 201816 May 201833
34 Doug Ghim Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 23 May 201820 Jun 201855
Braden Thornberry (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 27 Jun 201810 Oct 20181618
35 Justin Suh Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 17 Oct 201810 Apr 20192626
36 Viktor Hovland Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 17 Apr 201919 Jun 20191010
37 Cole Hammer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 26 Jun 201921 Aug 20199
38 Takumi Kanaya Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 28 Aug 201928 Aug 20191
Cole Hammer (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4 Sep 201918 Sep 2019312
Takumi Kanaya (2)Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 25 Sep 201930 Sep 20205455
39 Ricky Castillo Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 7 Oct 20204 Nov 202055
40 Davis Thompson Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 11 Nov 202011 Nov 20201
41 Kevin Yu Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 18 Nov 202018 Nov 202011
42 Keita Nakajima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 25 Nov 202017 Feb 202113
Davis Thompson (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 24 Feb 20217 Apr 202178
43 Pierceson Coody Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14 Apr 202114 Apr 202111
Keita Nakajima (2)Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 21 Apr 202114 Sep 20227487^
44 Ludvig Åberg Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 21 Sep 202221 Sep 20221
45 Taiga Semikawa Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 28 Sep 202226 Oct 202255
Ludvig Åberg (2)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2 Nov 20228 Feb 202315
46 Gordon Sargent Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 15 Feb 202322 Feb 20232
Ludvig Åberg (3)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1 Mar 202315 Mar 20233
Gordon Sargent (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 22 Mar 202329 Mar 20232
Ludvig Åberg (4)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 5 Apr 20237 Jun 20231029
Gordon Sargent (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14 Jun 202313 Sep 202314
47 Christo Lamprecht Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20 Sep 202327 Sep 20232
Gordon Sargent (4)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4 Oct 20234 Oct 20231
Christo Lamprecht (2)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 11 Oct 202318 Oct 20232
Gordon Sargent (5)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 25 Oct 20231 Nov 20232
Christo Lamprecht (3)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 8 Nov 202329 Nov 20234
Gordon Sargent (6)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 6 Dec 202317 Jan 20247
48 Nick Dunlap Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 24 Jan 202431 Jan 202422
Christo Lamprecht (4)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 7 Feb 20247 Feb 20241
Gordon Sargent (7)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14 Feb 202421 Feb 20242
Christo Lamprecht (5)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 28 Feb 202410 Apr 20247
Gordon Sargent (8)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 17 Apr 202417 Apr 20241
Christo Lamprecht (6)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 24 Apr 202429 May 2024622
Gordon Sargent (9)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5 Jun 20247 Aug 20241041
49 Luke Clanton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14 Aug 202418 Dec 20241919
Key
^Record

Chronology of women's world number ones

#PlayerCountryFirst weekLast weekWeeksTotal weeks
1 Mitsuki Katahira Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 16 Feb 20112 Mar 20113
2 Cecilia Cho Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 9 Mar 20119 Mar 201111
Mitsuki Katahira (2)Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 16 Mar 201120 Apr 201169
3 Lydia Ko Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 27 Apr 201116 Oct 2013130130
4 Su-Hyun Oh Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 23 Oct 201323 Oct 20131
5 Alison Lee Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 30 Oct 201320 Nov 20134
Su-Hyun Oh (2)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 27 Nov 201327 Nov 201312
Alison Lee (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4 Dec 201319 Feb 20141216
6 Minjee Lee Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 26 Feb 20143 Sep 20142828
7 Brooke Henderson Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 10 Sep 201417 Dec 20141515
8 Céline Boutier Flag of France.svg  France 24 Dec 20141 Apr 20151515
9 Andrea Lee Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 8 Apr 20156 May 20155
10 Leona Maguire Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 13 May 20154 May 201652
11 Hannah O'Sullivan Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 11 May 201627 Jul 20161212
Leona Maguire (2)Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 3 Aug 201628 Feb 201883135
12 Lilia Kha-Tu Vu Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 7 Mar 20184 Jul 201818
13 Jennifer Kupcho Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 11 Jul 201825 Jul 20183
Lilia Kha-Tu Vu (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 1 Aug 20181 Aug 20181
Jennifer Kupcho (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 8 Aug 201824 Oct 201812
Lilia Kha-Tu Vu (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 31 Oct 201816 Jan 20191231
Jennifer Kupcho (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 23 Jan 201929 May 20191934
Andrea Lee (2)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5 Jun 20195 Jun 20191
14 Frida Kinhult Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 12 Jun 201912 Jun 20191
Andrea Lee (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 19 Jun 201919 Jun 20191
15 Atthaya Thitikul Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 26 Jun 201926 Jun 20191
Frida Kinhult (2)Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 3 Jul 20197 Aug 201967
Andrea Lee (4)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14 Aug 201916 Oct 20191017
Atthaya Thitikul (2)Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 23 Oct 20191 Jan 20201112
16 Pauline Roussin-Bouchard Flag of France.svg  France 8 Jan 202026 Aug 20203434
17 Yu-Chiang Hou Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 2 Sep 20209 Sep 202022
18 Rose Zhang Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 16 Sep 202031 May 2023142142^
19 Ingrid Lindblad Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 7 Jun 20235 Jun 20245353
20 Lottie Woad Flag of England.svg  England 12 Jun 202410 Jul 20245
21 Helen Briem Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 17 Jul 202424 Jul 202422
Lottie Woad (2)Flag of England.svg  England 31 Jul 202418 Dec 20242126
Key
^Record

Elite events

Prior to 2020, events were ranked in eight categories: Elite, A, B, C, D, E, F or G. The Elite events are listed below. The calculation of the ranking changed in 2020 and there are no longer any categories. [5]

Men

Women

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References

  1. 1 2 "Notice Regarding 2016 Amendments". WAGR. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. "The R&A, USGA Commence World Amateur Golf Ranking Partnership". USGA. 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011.
  3. "The R&A to launch Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking". The R&A. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  4. "Harvey breaks Law, while Boineau wins at home". The R&A. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  5. "Power Method FAQs – Will there still be Elite events?". WAGR. Retrieved 29 January 2020.