7 golfers you might not remember were No. 1 in the world

August 28, 2015

Share this story

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Bernhard Langer

The German was the first golfer to hold the top spot when the Official World Golf Ranking debuted on April 6, 1986. The 1985 Masters champ was on ranked No. 1 for three weeks before being replaced by Seve Ballesteros.

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ian Woosnam

Woosnam became World No. 1 and then won the Masters, the lone major title of his career, the following week. He held the top spot for just under a year until Fred Couples overtook him in March of 1992.

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tom Lehman

The top spot in the OWGR changed hands seven times during a volatile 1997 season. If you blinked, you missed Lehman's reign on top. It lasted for one week in April.

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ernie Els

A four-time (and counting) major champion, Els rising to No. 1 shouldn't surprise. What might, though, is that he held the top spot for a total of just nine weeks -- despite being golf's top player on three separate occasions.

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lee Westwood

Tiger Woods' record reign as World No. 1 (281 consecutive weeks) came to an end on Halloween in 2010. Woods didn't seem to upset about it when he posed with golf's new No. 1 in Shanghai the following week. Westwood wound up being No. 1 for two stints that lasted a total of 22 weeks.

Photo By: Yun long - Imaginechina

Martin Kaymer

If you don't remember the German's short reign on top, you probably remember this "buff" he wore during the 2011 WGC Match Play. Kaymer lost to Luke Donald in the final, but he became No. 1 in the process. He only lasted for eight weeks before falling into a long slump that he finally came out of in 2014 with wins at the Players and U.S. Open.

Photo By: AP

Luke Donald

Donald's victory over Kaymer at the Match Play propelled him to a career season in which he took over the top spot in May and went on to win the PGA Tour's Player of the Year Award. It was the first of four stints at No. 1 for the Englishman, who spent a total of 56 weeks there.

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shop This Look

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo By: Yun long - Imaginechina

Photo By: AP

Photo By: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charles Schwab Challenge

7 golfers you might not remember were No. 1 in the world

Bernhard Langer

Ian Woosnam

Tom Lehman

Ernie Els

Lee Westwood

Martin Kaymer

Luke Donald

Shop This Look

Next Up

15 Things You Might Not Remember Happened in 2016 15 Photos

Presidents Cup 2017: 11 Things You Might Not Remember Happened At The Presidents Cup 11 Photos

7 Lessons From A Golf Marathon 7 Photos

Before They Were Stars 19 Photos

Golf World: Past Issues 259 Photos

Golf World's 2010 Newsmakers 25 Photos

Golf World: Past Issues 259 Photos

When They Were Walker Cuppers 26 Photos

The World's Spookiest Golf Courses 16 Photos

Golf World's U.S. Open Covers 30 Photos

We Recommend

Golf World Players of the week: March 1-7

Sections

Support

Services

Magazine

Newsletter

Social

Sections

Support

Services

Social

Magazine