Irish Golfers

The best Irish golfers of the world ranking era

Ranked by the highest world ranking each player reached, then by weeks spent inside the world top 10. Every figure comes from the weekly world ranking itself — not from an editor's opinion. Showing the top 50 of 66.

The Official World Golf Ranking began in April 1986, so this covers the ranking era. Players whose best years came earlier are missing or appear well below their true standing. Fred Daly all peaked before it began.

1. 1Padraig Harringtonnow #635#3597211995–20261995–2026597w top 5021 wins
2. 2Mark McNulty#7513361988–20061988–2006513w top 5036 wins
3. 3Shane Lowrynow #42#1049462009–20262009–2026494w top 506 wins
4. 4Paul McGinley#1811541991–20221991–2022115w top 504 wins
5. 5Seamus Powernow #137#287832005–20262005–202678w top 503 wins
6. 6Des Smyth#472231988–20121988–201222w top 503 wins
7. 7Christy O'Connor-Jnr#55—31988–20021988–20023 wins
8. 8Eamonn Darcy#56—21988–20041988–20042 wins
9. 9Paul Dunne#65—12014–20262014–20261 wins
10. 10Philip Walton#78—31988–20121988–20123 wins
11. 11Peter Lawrie#105—21999–20181999–20182 wins
12. 12Damien McGrane#119—11997–20251997–20251 wins
13. 13Gary Murphy#200—01996–20141996–2014
14. 14Conor Purcellnow #1067#262—22019–20262019–20262 wins
15. 15Simon Thornton#264—22005–20262005–20262 wins
16. 16David Higgins#296—31995–20241995–20243 wins
17. 17Kevin Phelannow #3307#300—02010–20262010–2026
18. 18Eoghan O'Connell#333—01990–20001990–2000
19. 19Gavin Moynihan#339—12013–20262013–20261 wins
20. 20John McHenry#352—01992–20061992–2006
21. 21Liam Nolannow #390#373——20262026
22. 22Niall Kearneynow #3826#396—02010–20262010–2026
23. 23Richie Coughlan#402—01998–20081998–2008
24. 24John Murphynow #1132#408—12017–20262017–20261 wins
25. 25Niall Turner#410—12009–20222009–20221 wins
26. 26Ruaidhri McGee#412—02013–20262013–2026
27. 27John O'Leary#425—01988–19901988–1990
28. 28Colm Moriarty#429—12002–20232002–20231 wins
29. 29Michael McGeady#434—12006–20222006–20221 wins
30. 30Francis Howley#456—01996–20041996–2004
31. 31Stephen Browne#458—22001–20102001–20102 wins
32. 32Gary Hurleynow #804#490—12014–20262014–20261 wins
33. 33Ciaran McMonagle#543—02002–20122002–2012
34. 34Max Kennedynow #889#593—02023–20262023–2026
35. 35Chris Selfridge#599—02009–20212009–2021
36. 36Eamonn Brady#599—12001–20182001–20181 wins
37. 37Mark Powernow #769#741——20262026
38. 38Paul McBridenow #785#769——20262026
39. 39Alex Maguirenow #945#851——20262026
40. 40Robert Morannow #1298#1189——20262026
41. 41Ronan Mullarneynow #1258#1199——20262026
42. 42James Sugruenow #1328#1209——20262026
43. 43Rowan Lesternow #1253#1253——20262026
44. 44Liam Grehannow #1421#1417——20262026
45. 45Sam Murphynow #1551#1550——20262026
46. 46Tyler Hogartynow #1676#1596——20262026
47. 47Hugh Foleynow #1687#1628——20262026
48. 48Robert Brazillnow #1777#1685——20262026
49. 49Paul Conroynow #1904#1726——20262026
50. 50Daniel Mulligannow #2224#2111——20262026

The best Irish women of the world ranking era

Ranked by the highest women's world ranking each player reached, then by weeks spent inside the top 10. Every figure comes from the weekly women's world ranking itself.

This covers every week in our records, from December 2001. Players whose best years came earlier are missing or appear well below their true standing.

1. 1Leona Maguirenow #92#101762010–20262010–2026176w top 50
2. 2Rebecca Codd#53—2003–20162003–2016
3. 3Lauren Walsh#151—2021–20262021–2026
4. 4Hazel Kavanagh#274—2003–20122003–2012
5. 5Anna Foster#295—2025–20262025–2026
6. 6Sara Byrne#373—2023–20262023–2026
7. 7Martina Gillen#459—2007–20132007–2013
8. 8Olivia Mehaffey#487—2020–20262020–2026
9. 9Tara Delaney#512—2009–20112009–2011
10. 10Aine Donegan#516—2023–20262023–2026
11. 11Annabel Wilson#529—2025–20262025–2026
12. 12Lisa Maguire#533—2010–20132010–2013
13. 13Danielle McVeigh#571—2010–20152010–2015
14. 14Beth Coulter#701—20262026
15. 15Claire Coughlan-Ryan#702—2007–20092007–2009
16. 16Canice Screene#796—2025–20262025–2026

Irish women in the world ranking

1 Irish golfer holds a women’s world ranking this week, listed by current position — a separate ranking from the men’s world ranking above.