The ten golfers who made considerable strides to become top 50 players in the final Official World Golf Rankings of 2021
Why is this important? The top 50 players of 2021 will earn a lust-after position in the 2022 Masters. We’ve listed the ten golfer’s whose ranking position has taken the most significant stride into the top 50 from their positioning twelve months ago.
Sam Burns
25-year-old Sam Burns has climbed 142 ranking positions since 2020, going from #154 to #12. The Louisiana native became a professional in 2017, a truly remarkable rise into golfs elite rankings comes behind a tremendous 2021.
Burns claimed the Valspar Championship and the Sanderson Farms Championship in 2021, including five top-five finishes and seven top-ten finishes.
Currently, there’s no faster-rising standout than Burns; he’s been the golden ticket for sports bettors in 2021 when overcoming the odds on countless occasions. Bookmakers have continuously underestimated Burns’ chances of finishing in the top-10 all year long, and those utilizing DraftKings New York bonuses would’ve stumbled across some handsome returns.
2022 looks promising for the young star, and I doubt there’s a player currently ranked beyond #100 who can match his 142 ranking positional jump.
Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee is another youngster who deserves attention with great potential to become a serious contender in years to come.
As two years a professional, Lee captured his second tournament win in 2021 at the Aberdeen Scottish Open in addition to three other top-ten finishes.
The Australian has moved 123 positions from #172 to #49.
Takumi Kanaya
Eleven top-ten finishes and the capture of the Token Homemade Cup have jolted the Japanese standout to the 50th place in the world rankings.
Yet another youngster making a name for himself, aged 23-years-old, Kanaya dominated his national circuit in Japan this year, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finishes.
Many speculated if Kanaya could match his incredibly successful amateur career, but he’s living up to the expectations with class.
Kanaya has gained 73 positions in the rankings from #123 to #50
Jordan Spieth
Texan native Jordan Spieth has gained 68 places in this year’s rankings, going from #82 to #14.
Spieth claimed the Valero Texas Open in front of a home crowd in addition to taking eight top-ten finishes.
As a former world number one, Spieth’s #82 ranking mustered up a serious comeback attitude for 2021, where he returned to winning ways.
Max Homa
Fortinet Championship and Genesis Invitational winner Max Homa has also enjoyed a comeback year following a quiet 2020.
The 31-year-old Los Angeles resident banked 64 ranking position gains this year, going from #100 to #36 with two tournament wins and four top-ten finishes.
Making Them Count!
Max Homa gained 4+ strokes with the putter in five different events in 2021.
He was the only golfer on TOUR to earn a Top 10 every single time* he gained 4+ strokes putting.
*min 4 occurrences
Stats via https://t.co/LgPqJKy49s pic.twitter.com/zhp7ftXKh8
— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) December 20, 2021
Talor Gooch
Despite claiming just two top-ten finishes this year, winning the RSM Classic was all Talor Gooch needed to reposition his #81 ranking to a respectable #32 with 49 ranking spots leapfrogged.
Winning the RSM Classic became Gooch’s first-ever tournament win since his professional debut in 2019.
Phil Mickelson
The next climb in rank should come as no surprise; after winning 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six majors, three Masters, two PGA Championships, and an Open Championship, Phil Mickelson has earned his dues within the sport of golf.
However, a #66 ranking heading into 2021 wasn’t good enough. The savvy veteran didn’t compete much in 2021 but winning the PGA Championship was another to boast his #66 ranking to #32, jumping 31 spots.
Lucas Hebert
This year, Australia’s own Lucas Herbert took home the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open titles. With an additional two top-ten finishes, he jumped 29 ranking positions from #70 to #41.
Will Zalatoris
26 spots, 59 to 33
Four top-ten finishes and an impressive second-place finish at the 2021 Masters was all Will Zalatoris needed to jolt his ranking up 26 spots.
The 25-year-old American nearly shocked the world during the 2021 Masters and has gone from #59 ranked to #33 for his efforts this year.
Scottie Scheffler
Despite failing to win a championship in 2021, Texas’s own Scottie Scheffler improved his #31 ranking to #11 by claiming nine top-ten finishes, including three T2’s.
Slow and steady wins the race and aged just 25 means that 2022 could be his breakout year to win multiple championships – after coming so close in 2021.
