Golf is one of the oldest and most prestigious sports in the world, characterized by a combination of skill, precision and strategy. Although often associated with an elitist audience, golf has become more popular and accessible to a wider public, especially with television coverage of prestigious tournaments and the emergence of global icons of the sport. Today we’re going to meet the best golfers in the world today!
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Read on to find out about the best golfers in the world today.
Golf has its origins traced back to the 15th century in Scotland, where the modern game began to take shape.
Although there is evidence of similar games in Ancient Rome and China, it is in Scotland that golf began to resemble what we know today.
In 1457, the game was banned by King James II of Scotland, who considered that it was distracting men from archery practice, which was essential for the country’s defense.
However, the popularity of golf overcame the ban, and in 1502, King James IV became the first monarch to play golf.
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In the 18th century, golf began to expand outside Scotland. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, founded in 1754, became one of the most important in the world, establishing the first official rules of the game.
Golf was taken to North America and other continents by British colonizers and immigrants, gaining increasing popularity.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, golf became firmly established in the United States, with the creation of iconic courses such as Augusta National Golf Club and the formation of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).
The sport was included in the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games, but was then left out until it returned at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
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Best golfers in the world today: rules, disciplines and curiosities
The aim of golf is to play a ball, using different types of clubs, from a starting area to a hole, usually on an 18-hole course, with as few strokes as possible.
Equipment
- Clubs: players can carry up to 14 different clubs in their bag, including woods, irons, hybrids and putters, each with a specific purpose.
- Golf ball: must have a minimum diameter of 42.67 mm and weigh no more than 45.93 grams.
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Game structure
- Golf course: made up of a series of holes, each starting from a tee area and ending at a green.
- Par: each hole has a predetermined number of strokes (par) that a skilled player must take to complete it. The holes are usually par 3, par 4 or par 5.
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Score
- Eagle: two shots under par.
- Birdie: one shot under par.
- Par: exact number of shots.
- Bogey: one shot over par.
- Double Bogey: two shots over par.
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Types of golf
- Stroke Play: the most common format, where the winner is the player who completes the course with the fewest total strokes.
- Match Play: players compete hole by hole, earning points for each hole they win.
- Scramble: a game in which the players on a team hit the ball and choose the best shot to continue playing.
- Foursome: two players play alternately with the same ball against an opposing team.
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Curiosities
- First golf course in the USA: the first golf course established in the United States was Oakhurst Links in West Virginia in 1884.
- First rules of golf: the first known rules of golf were written down in 1744 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
- Golf and the moon: in 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard played a round of golf on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission.
- Women in golf: Mary, Queen of Scots, is credited with being the first woman to play golf in the mid-16th century.
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Best golfers in the world today – Men
Jon Rahm
- Story: Spanish-born Jon Rahm has quickly made a name for himself on the professional golf scene, winning several tournaments since turning professional in 2016.
- Titles: winner of the 2021 U.S. Open and the DP World Tour Championship.
- Fun facts: Rahm was the first Spaniard to win the U.S. Open and reached number one in the world rankings in 2020.
Rory McIlroy
- Story: A Northern Irishman, McIlroy is one of golf’s most popular players, known for his aggressive style of play and long drives.
- Titles: winner of four majors, including the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship.
- Fun facts: Rory started playing golf at the age of two and, at 16, he became the youngest person to win the World Amateur Championship.
Dustin Johnson
- Story: Johnson, from the United States, is known for his power and consistency, with a career marked by victories on all the major golf circuits.
- Titles: winner of the 2016 U.S. Open and the 2020 Masters Tournament.
- Fun facts: Johnson has been world number one for more than 130 weeks, one of the longest streaks in the history of golf.
Collin Morikawa
- Story: A young American golf prodigy, Morikawa quickly became a household name with important victories in top-level tournaments.
- Titles: winner of the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship.
- Fun facts: He is known for his accurate irons and consistency in major tournaments, winning two majors in his first eight appearances.
Best golfers in the world today – Women
Nelly Korda
- Story: Nelly Korda, from the United States, comes from a family of athletes and quickly made a name for herself in women’s golf.
- Titles: winner of the Women’s PGA Championship 2021; several victories on the LPGA Tour.
- Fun facts: in 2021, Nelly became world number one and also won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Jin Young Ko
- Story: Jin Young Ko, from South Korea, is known for her calm and consistent style of play, which has taken her to the top of the world rankings.
- Títulos: vencedora de dois majors: ANA Inspiration 2019 e Evian Championship 2019.
- Fun facts: Ko broke the record for the lowest single-season stroke average in LPGA history in 2019.
Inbee Park
- Story: Another South Korean star, Inbee Park has one of the most successful careers in women’s golf, standing out for her precision putting.
- Titles: seven majors, including three consecutive Women’s PGA Championships.
- Fun facts: Embee won Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.
Lydia Ko
- Story: Born in South Korea and a naturalized New Zealander, Lydia Ko was a golfing phenomenon from a young age, becoming world number one at the age of 17.
- Titles: winner of two majors: ANA Inspiration 2016 and Evian Championship 2015.
- Fun facts: Lydia was the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour tournament, at the age of 15.
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