Ranking the best golfers of the 21st century

How does one determine true greatness in sport? We could simply look at the numbers and discover who won the most. That's probably the ultimate barometer, but you also have to consider attributes like longevity and influence. 

For those who can remember the Millennium, it seems hard to believe that we're now a full quarter of the way through the century, so it felt like an appropriate time to reflect and consider which golfers have most defined this period thus far.

I have attempted to rank the 25 best golfers of the 21st century - with a few tenuous justifications along the way - and quickly found that it was an improbable task.

But having pondered over it carefully, let's see what you make of my choices.

1. Tiger Woods

The first nine years of this century were defined by the extraordinary dominance of Woods, the man who inspired a generation, before scandal, injury and personal strife brought with it headlines of a different kind. His journey from the depths to the height of winning the Masters in 2019 was the "moment" of that decade. Now 50 and facing an uncertain playing future as surgeries continue to tally up, his best days on the course may be behind him, but those were special, unforgettable times, and since 2000, Woods has won 13 majors and 67 PGA Tour titles.

2. Annika Sorenstam

She may have retired in 2008, but Sorenstam's achievements were truly remarkable. Like Woods, the Swede was dominant on the LPGA Tour, lifting 53 titles and eight major championships in the 21st century. Sorenstam was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 and shot a round of 59 in competition. Her individual season records and scoring averages remain a benchmark for subsequent generations to follow.

3. Rory McIlroy

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The closest that golf has had to a genuine superstar since Woods, Rory McIlroy has been a huge presence for close to two decades, and no player has been more consistently compelling in that time. By 2014, he had lifted four major titles, but we had to wait until April 2025 for the next - and what a scene it was when the Northern Irishman became the sixth man to complete the Career Grand Slam by winning the Masters. And there will surely be more to come.

4. Phil Mickelson

Mickelson spent the earliest years of this century as the best player in the world yet to win a major, but he made up for lost time by winning the Masters three times, the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2013, and a pair of disparate PGA Championships, including a second in 2021 that saw the controversial American become the oldest major winner in history. He also secured 32 PGA Tour titles in the 21st century and was a perennial runner-up at the US Open. He clearly divides opinion, but Mickelson was one of the most thrilling golfers that we've seen.

5. Inbee Park

Winner of the US Women's Open as a teenager, Park became the leading force in the game for several years, ultimately clinching seven majors among 21 LPGA Tour titles, including three consecutive in 2013. Until stepping away from the game to start a family, the South Korean legend remained a contender and was renowned for possessing one of the great putting strokes.

6. Scottie Scheffler

It seems hard to believe that Scheffler hadn't won on the PGA Tour until 2022, but once the floodgates were opened, the surge has been unrelenting. The American now has 19 victories on the circuit, including four majors, and he just requires the US Open to complete the Career Grand Slam. He has a firm grip over the world number one ranking and has posted statistical performances that rival that of peak Tiger Woods. There is little doubt that Scheffler will sit even higher on lists such as this in the coming years.

7. Karrie Webb

Australia's greatest player was a sensation in the 1990s but continued that success into the early 2000s, claiming six major titles and a total of 25 LPGA Tour victories since the Millennium. She became less of a force as time progressed, but was still winning until 2014, meaning that she remains one of the finest golfers of this century.

8. Lorena Ochoa

Succeeding Sorenstam as the top player in the women's game, Ochoa retired at 28 as the world number one in 2010, but she packed a considerable amount into a short career, including 27 LPGA Tour titles and two majors, with the first Women's Open staged at St Andrews in 2007 being a highlight. The Mexican ultimately could have achieved more had she not stepped away from the game, but her accomplishments merit her placing on this list.

9. Lydia Ko

Ko was a prodigal talent. Winner of the prestigious Canadian Open as a 15-year-old amateur in 2013 - before retaining that title a season later - the New Zealander became the youngest woman to win a major title in 2015 and has now won 23 times on the LPGA Tour. There were some quiet years, but she peaked once more in 2024 when she claimed the Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics and won the Women's Open at St Andrews.

10. Brooks Koepka

One of the most formidable competitors we've seen this century, a specialist in the biggest events, Koepka has won two US Opens and three PGA Championships in his career to date. In 2019, the American was in the top four in each of the majors. His success in regular tournaments has been comparatively ordinary, which is why the former world number one doesn't rank more highly.

11. Dustin Johnson

Perhaps it's due to his carefree personality, but do we understate just how good Dustin Johnson was at his peak? He spent 135 weeks as world number one (more than Rory McIlroy), won 24 times on the PGA Tour, and lifted two majors, the US Open at Oakmont in 2016 and the surreal November Masters of 2020. 

12. Yani Tseng

Few golfers have had higher highs and lower lows than Yani Tseng. She won five majors between 2008 and 2011, was a generational talent, before losing her game entirely and plummeting down the world rankings with made cuts a rarity. Following years in the wilderness, there are now signs of life, as Tseng made the cut at the Women's Open in August and won the LET's Wistron Ladies Open on home soil in Taiwan.

13. Vijay Singh

Winner of the PGA Championship in 1998, Singh went to another level in the 2000s, winning the Masters to begin the century, and the PGA once more in 2004 during a remarkable season that saw the Fijian end Tiger Woods' 264 weeks at the summit of the world rankings. Singh won 22 times after the age of 40 on the PGA Tour and secured the FedEx Cup in 2008, but his form declined from there.

14. Se-ri Pak

The South Korean presence on the LPGA Tour was inspired by Se-ri Pak, who won two majors in 1998. She was a significant contender into the 2000s with a further three majors and 17 triumphs on tour, and she remained a factor in the biggest events as we progressed into the 2010s before stepping away in 2016.

15. Ernie Els

Another player whose greatest moments began in the 1990s, Els was a regular name on leaderboards throughout the 2000s, claiming the Open Championship in 2002 and 2012. The South African was a runner-up in five other majors in this century, including on three occasions in the Millenium year. He claimed a total of 12 PGA Tour wins in this century, and enjoyed other triumphs around the world. 

16. Jon Rahm

There have been questions about his standing since he joined LIV Golf, but Rahm is still a player to reckon with, and we can't overlook just how good he was for a significant period. The Spaniard spent 52 weeks as world number one, won both the US Open and Masters, lifted the DP World Tour Championship three times, and has become a stalwart for Europe in the Ryder Cup.

17. Jordan Spieth

His peak years flickered somewhat briefly, but what a ride it was. The Texan won his first PGA Tour event at 19, finished second at the Masters on debut, before a thrilling 2015 season that saw him run away with the title at Augusta National, win the US Open, and contend in both the Open and PGA Championship. His results have been more inconsistent since then, but lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale in 2017 saw him secure three of the four majors.

18. Padraig Harrington

We're not sure that anyone loves golf more than the Irishman, who has worked tirelessly to squeeze everything from his ability. That peaked in 2007 and 2008 when he twice won the Open Championship - completing a rare successful defence of the title - before edging out Sergio Garcia to lift the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship. Harrington has won around the world and has been a big hit on the senior tour since turning 50.

19. Jin Young Ko

Since the women's world rankings were introduced in 2006, who has spent the longest time at the top? The answer is Jin Young Ko, a 15-time winner on the LPGA Tour, twice a major champion, who produced a series of the most impressive performance statistics that we've seen. Few have played better golf for a more sustained period this century on the LPGA Tour.

20. Nelly Korda

American golf has been desperate for a female superstar and Korda has been the most likely candidate of late. Spending over 100 weeks at number one, she has won 15 times on the LPGA Tour and claimed two majors and has finished runner-up in three other championships. Korda also took gold at the Olympic Games in 2021.

21. Justin Rose

When you think that Rose had his stunning breakthrough as an amateur at the 1998 Open and agonisingly lost in that dramatic playoff to Rory McIlroy at the Masters in 2025, the Englishman has been part of the game at the highest level for close to 30 years. There have been lows along the way, but the highs of this admirable longevity include a US Open, a Gold Medal at the Olympics, a world number one ranking, a FedEx Cup, a European Tour Order of Merit, five runner-up finishes in majors, and numerous Ryder Cup appearances.

22. Sergio Garcia

The Spaniard has produced a career not without moments of controversy, but we shouldn't forget how good he has been, and for how long. Garcia spent over 450 weeks in the top ten of the world rankings, won 11 times on the PGA Tour, and 14 times on the European Tour since 2000. Included among these triumphs were a Players Championship success in 2008 and Masters Tournament in 2017. Garcia remains Europe's record points scorer in the Ryder Cup.

23. Justin Thomas

Do we underrate Justin Thomas? If you look through his list of achievements, he's accumulated 16 PGA Tour victories, including two PGA Championships, a Players Championship and two World Golf Championships. He's also been a FedEx Cup champion and spent a period as world number one.

24. Minjee Lee

Winner of three major championships since 2021, with the promise of more to come, the Australian has 11 LPGA Tour titles to her name, and she has numerous other wins around the world. This professional success followed a formidable amateur career that saw Lee reach the summit of the rankings.

25. Adam Scott

The Australian has played in every major championship since the 2001 Open and has won across numerous continents. He has 14 PGA Tour victories to his name, including the 2004 Players Championship and the 2013 Masters Tournament. Scott also spent a period as world number one and has been a perennial member of the International team in the Presidents Cup.

So, there we have it. No ranking is definitive and I'm already questioning some of my choices and omissions. The likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Retief Goosen and Anna Nordqvist just narrowly missed out, but I had to go with my gut instinct, including the internal biases that we all possess. Even Bernhard Langer's 47 victories (including 12 majors) on the Champions Tour are worthy to mention.

But hopefully this was a fun read as I sought to rank the best golfers of the 21st century.