Scheffler begins 178th consecutive week as world No. 1

Scottie Scheffler is the latest golfer to join the group of 25 players who have topped the Official World Golf Ranking since it was introduced in 1986. The American has had four separate spells at No. 1 in his career. As of October 12, his latest run, which began in May 2023, was still going: he was entering his 178th consecutive week as the world’s top-ranked player.

His advantage over second-ranked Rory McIlroy was greater than the Northern Irishman’s lead over almost every other active professional. Scheffler has become the dominant No. 1 in men’s golf, though how long he can stay there—and whether he can threaten Tiger Woods’ records—remain open questions.

The path to this extended run has not been uninterrupted. After winning the WM Phoenix Open in 2023, Scheffler returned to the top for one week. He then spent four weeks at No. 1 after winning The Players the following month. Jon Rahm moved ahead of him after securing his second major victory at Augusta National.

Scheffler’s career standing puts his current reign in perspective: only Woods and Greg Norman have spent longer at the top of the world rankings. To surpass Woods’ career total of 683 weeks, Scheffler would need to remain No. 1 until October 2035. The record for the longest consecutive spell would be within reach if he held the spot until mid-October 2028, although he still has considerable ground to cover.

Andrew Coltart sees a clear gap: “He’s the best player in the world by a country mile.” Nick Dougherty points to Scheffler’s lack of weaknesses as a reason he has stayed on top. He believes Rory McIlroy could return to No. 1, while stressing how difficult that would be: McIlroy can match Scheffler at his best, Dougherty said, but is not as consistent. Coltart also considers a return to the summit difficult, given that McIlroy is at a different stage of life and has different aspirations.

There is no consensus on whether Scheffler can surpass Woods’ marks. Dougherty said he could see no valid reason why Scheffler would not pass 281 weeks, given his current form, but noted that the level of competition rises. Dame Laura Davies does not expect the record to fall, pointing to the strength of the players behind him and the difficulty of staying at the top for another two years. Woods has no ranking in the OWGR standings. His most recent official event was The Open in July 2024, and he has finished just four 72-hole tournaments in the past six seasons.