South African Golfers

The best South African 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 436.

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. Gary Player, Bobby Locke all peaked before it began.

1. 1Ernie Elsnow #3125#19w1093571989–20261989–20261093w top 5057 wins
2. 2Retief Goosen#3650271991–20241991–2024650w top 5027 wins
3. 3Louis Oosthuizennow #497#4632142002–20262002–2026632w top 5014 wins
4. 4Charl Schwartzelnow #733#6444152002–20262002–2026444w top 5015 wins
5. 5David Frost#7392191988–20261988–2026392w top 5019 wins
6. 6Branden Gracenow #261#10291132006–20262006–2026291w top 5013 wins
7. 7Trevor Immelman#12222101997–20221997–2022222w top 5010 wins
8. 8Tim Clark#1436581999–20181999–2018365w top 508 wins
9. 9Richard Sternenow #167#299992000–20262000–202699w top 509 wins
10. 10Christiaan Bezuidenhoutnow #104#339752013–20262013–202697w top 505 wins
11. 11Garrick Higgonow #133#381982018–20262018–202619w top 508 wins
12. 12Erik van Rooyennow #222#403652013–20262013–202636w top 505 wins
13. 13George Coetzeenow #979#4125132005–20262005–202625w top 5013 wins
14. 14Justin Hardingnow #445#421892005–20262005–202618w top 509 wins
15. 15Wayne Westner#432671988–20171988–201726w top 507 wins
16. 16Dylan Frittellinow #484#441162006–20262006–202611w top 506 wins
17. 17Thriston Lawrencenow #118#451882013–20262013–202618w top 508 wins
18. 18John Bland#487111988–19971988–19977w top 5011 wins
19. 19Jayden Schapernow #92#49222019–20262019–20262w top 502 wins
20. 20Aldrich Potgieternow #89#49222020–20262020–20262w top 502 wins
21. 21Jaco Van Zylnow #2015#49162001–20262001–20261w top 506 wins
22. 22Fulton Allem#52—141988–20141988–201414 wins
23. 23Shaun Norrisnow #102#54—142002–20262002–202614 wins
24. 24Dean Burmesternow #202#55—122010–20262010–202612 wins
25. 25Casey Jarvisnow #70#64—62019–20262019–20266 wins
26. 26James Kingston#65—61991–20241991–20246 wins
27. 27Brandon Stonenow #426#67—52011–20262011–20265 wins
28. 28Daniel van Tondernow #303#71—142011–20262011–202614 wins
29. 29Thomas Aikennow #1076#73—32002–20262002–20263 wins
30. 30Hennie Ottonow #756#73—101997–20261997–202610 wins
31. 31Darren Fichardtnow #582#75—151996–20261996–202615 wins
32. 32Anton Haig#81—22004–20242004–20242 wins
33. 33Oliver Bekkernow #404#84—92007–20262007–20269 wins
34. 34Jeff Hawkes#86—41988–20121988–20124 wins
35. 35Zander Lombardnow #490#96—12012–20262012–20261 wins
36. 36De wet Basson#108—11990–20031990–20031 wins
37. 37Jbe Krugernow #1257#109—82007–20262007–20268 wins
38. 38JC Ritchienow #176#111—122014–20262014–202612 wins
39. 39Ian Palmer#113—21988–20131988–20132 wins
40. 40Hugh Baiocchi#119—11988–20031988–20031 wins
41. 41Hennie Du Plessisnow #129#119—22015–20262015–20262 wins
42. 42Roger Wessels#123—11988–20071988–20071 wins
43. 43Garth Mulroy#124—42002–20222002–20224 wins
44. 44Wilco Nienabernow #526#131—22018–20262018–20262 wins
45. 45Ockie Strydomnow #827#133—32009–20262009–20263 wins
46. 46Brenden Pappas#136—21993–20151993–20152 wins
47. 47Christo Lamprechtnow #352#138—12018–20262018–20261 wins
48. 48Jaco Ahlersnow #715#139—122006–20262006–202612 wins
49. 49MJ Daffuenow #243#141—22013–20262013–20262 wins
50. 50Jean Hugonow #741#148—91999–20261999–20269 wins

South African women in the world ranking

1 South African golfer is in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking — a separate ranking from the men’s world ranking above.