European Golfers to reach World Number One

Jon Rahm became the 10th European golfer to top the Official World Golf Rankings following his victory at The Memorial Tournament on Sunday.

Rahm joined an elite list of European golfers after he became World Number One for the first time, overtaking Rory McIlroy at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings.

European golfers to reach World Number One

Bernhard Langer (3 weeks)

With 42 career wins on the European Tour, Langer became the first golfer to be named World Number One when the Official World Golf Rankings were introduced on 6th of April 1986. The German would stay there for three weeks.

Seve Ballesteros (61 weeks)

Taking top spot from Langer, Seve would sit top of the Official World Golf Rankings for 20 weeks. Further spells at World Number One would follow between 1987-1989.

Sir Nick Faldo (97 weeks)

Fourth in the all-time weeks at World Number One, Faldo first reached the summit in September 1990. From July 19, 1992 until February 5, 1994, Faldo would spend 81 consecutive weeks at World Number One

Ian Woosnam (50 weeks)

In a solitary stint at World Number One from April 7, 1991, Woosie would hold top spot for almost a year before prior to the 1992 Masters

Lee Westwood (22 weeks)

Tiger Woods set a record of 281 consecutive weeks at World Number One between June 2005-October 2010, finally being passed by Westwood on October 31, 2010.

Martin Kaymer (8 weeks)

Taking Westwood off top spot on February 27, 2011, Kaymer’s only stint at the top of the rankings lasted eight weeks.

Luke Donald (56 weeks)

During a two year run of European dominance Englishman Luke Donald would climb to number one on May 19, 2011 following his victory at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Rory McIlroy (106 weeks)

Only Tiger Woods and Greg Norman have spent more weeks at World Number One. McIlroy first reached the top on March 4, 2012, and holds the record for the longest period between weeks at Number One, losing the top spot in September 2015 and reclaiming it 53 months later on February 9, 2020.

Justin Rose (13 weeks)

Rose first reached the top of the Official World Golf Rankings on September 10, 2018. Since then he has had four further spells at the top, most recently April 13, 2019.

Jon Rahm (1 week)

Taking top spot for the first time in his career, Rahm becomes the fastest European player to do so (4 years, 27 days) and just the 10th European.

*On the day of publishing July 20, 2020
**In the Men’s Official World Golf Rankings