Golf

What is golf?

Golf is a club-and-ball sport played across a course of 18 holes, the object to hole the ball in the fewest strokes — no standardized arena, every course its own examination. Codified in Scotland and governed jointly by the USGA and the R&A, it is played by tens of millions worldwide, with the four major championships the summit of the professional game.^[1] [2]

How does golf work?

Professional golf is stroke play over 72 holes with a halfway cut; amateurs play under the World Handicap System, the USGA-R&A index that makes any two golfers' scores comparable — one of sport's oldest objective rating systems. The men's professional ladder runs through the Official World Golf Ranking, which allocates major-championship places, making ranking history the game's documented credential.^[2] [3]

Formats & circuits in golf

What are golf's origins?

Golf grew on Scotland's east-coast links — records at St Andrews reach the 15th century, the R&A was founded in 1754, and the Open Championship began in 1860. The USGA followed in 1894 as the American game exploded, and the two bodies have jointly governed the rules worldwide since.^[1] [2]

Where is golf popular?

The United States is the game's biggest market — over 25 million on-course players and the PGA Tour's home — with deep golf cultures in the British Isles, Japan, South Korea (a women's-game superpower), Australia, South Africa and Scandinavia, and fast growth across Latin America and Asia. Florida is professional golf's winter capital, home to PGA Tour headquarters and a large share of the world's top players.^[1] [4]

Who governs golf?

The USGA and the R&A jointly write the Rules of Golf, equipment standards and the World Handicap System — the USGA for the U.S. and Mexico, the R&A for the rest of the world. The professional tours govern their own competitions, the International Golf Federation (IGF) runs Olympic golf, and the PGA of America and national PGAs certify the teaching profession.^[2] [5]

What are the most important competitions in golf?

• The four men's majors — the Masters, the PGA Championship (Aaron Rai's 2026 breakthrough at Aronimink), the U.S. Open and The Open (Ryan Fox at Royal Birkdale 2026).^[4] [6]
• The five women's majors, led by the U.S. Women's Open and the Chevron.^[7]
• The Ryder Cup — and the women's Solheim Cup.^[8]
• The FedExCup and the Players Championship on the PGA Tour.^[4]
• The Olympic tournaments — golf's national-team stage since 2016.^[5]

How is golf awarded?

• The Official World Golf Ranking — the weekly ladder since 1986 that fills major fields; the Rolex Rankings its women's counterpart.^[3]
• Major championships — careers are measured in majors above all.^[1]
• FedExCup, money titles and Player of the Year awards on each tour.^[4]
• Team selection — Ryder, Solheim and Presidents Cup places are elite peer-and-points credentials.^[8]
• Amateur honors — the U.S. Amateur, world amateur ranking and college All-America teams that precede the professional record.^[2]

What is the college role in golf?

College golf is the American game's proven pathway: NCAA team and individual championships, GCAA All-America teams and the Jack Nicklaus Award for player of the year — and since 2020, PGA Tour University, which converts college ranking position directly into professional tour status: an explicit, published bridge from campus to the PGA Tour.^[4] [9]

Which media cover golf?

Golf Channel — the 24-hour network co-founded by Arnold Palmer — anchors coverage with the majors' broadcasters, Golf Digest and Golfweek in print, and the OWGR as the game's database of record.^[3] [10]

→ Full list: Top media in golf

Who has won the most in golf?

Men's majors recounted from the four championships' own winner lists, through the 2026 majors (Masters: Rory McIlroy; PGA Championship: Aaron Rai; US Open: Wyndham Clark; The Open: Ryan Fox). Women's majors as the LPGA recognises them, from each player's LPGA Hall of Fame page. Ryder Cup totals from the competition's own records, through Bethpage 2025.

Most men's major championships

Most women's majors

Ryder Cup results by team

Countries — most men's majors by players' nationality

Ties are broken by gold, then silver; a tie at tenth place is shown in full when four or fewer share it. Historic teams are kept as separate rows exactly as the source counts them. Verified September 2026.^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}

Which brands supply and sponsor golf?

Golf’s approval regime is run jointly by the United States Golf Association and The R&A, whose Equipment Rules take clubs in Part 2 and balls in Part 4. The USGA states that its conforming lists “identify golf balls and clubs that have been evaluated for conformance to the Rules of Golf”, and that they operate as Model Local Rule G-1 and G-3 “for professional events, all USGA championships and selected amateur competitions throughout the world”.^[18] The R&A says the driver head list “is updated every Monday morning”,^[19] while the ball list is reissued monthly and carries only balls submitted within the previous 12 months.^[20] On 6 December 2023 the two bodies announced revised ball testing conditions — 125 mph clubhead speed, 2,200 rpm, an 11-degree launch angle — applying to elite competition from January 2028 and all other play from January 2030.^[21]

Apparel is taken by the same rulebook, not by a supplier licence: the Equipment Rules take clothing in Part 6 under Rule 4.3, providing that articles of clothing “must not incorporate features: designed to assist the player with his alignment; or that might otherwise assist the player in making a stroke or in his play”.^[22] What may be carried on kit sits with the sponsorship and athlete marketing rules.

Separately and by designation, Rolex states that it has been Official Timekeeper of The Open since 1981 and a Premier Partner since 2018.^[23]

In timing and measurement the instrument and the name on it are different parties, and at a different competition again. The PGA Tour announced on 25 August 2025 an agreement with Trackman through 2030, calling Trackman “a key component to the PGA TOUR’s ShotLink powered by CDW technology”.^[24] CDW’s is a designation: “Official Technology Solutions Advisor”, extended through 2026 on 28 September 2021.^[25]