Only three men occupied the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings in 2022. Switching between a few stars, Rory McIlroy is the player currently holding the position as he regained the title for the ninth time in his career with a victory at The CJ Cup in South Carolina in October. Having relinquished it before, and with the OWGR taking on a relatively new shape, will the Northern Irishman be able to hold on to the pole position for the entirety of 2023, or will someone else usurp him?

This prior year began with Jon Rahm atop the golf world. Beginning his 2022 in impressive fashion, Rahm finished runner-up at the Tournament of Champions and added another podium finish a few weeks later at the Farmers Insurance Open. Tacking on a top-10 result at the WM Phoenix Open, it was that very event which kickstarted Scottie Scheffler’s march to the top.

Beating Patrick Cantlay in a playoff in Phoenix, Scheffler went on to experience a historic run in the spring that included a victory two weeks later at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Making his way through the WGC Match Play, the Texan officially claimed the world No. 1 with his victory in his collegiate backyard of Austin, Texas. 

Adding some breathing room between him and the rest of professional golf, Scheffler notched his first career major championship at The Masters. Four wins in a six-week stretch cemented him as the best player in the world. His status would hold steady with runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open and the Charles Schwab Challenge but began to show cracks in the latter stages of the summer. Unable to convert his 54-hole lead at the Tour Championship into the FedEx Cup crown, Scheffler slowly saw an object grow larger in his rearview mirror. That object? Rory McIlroy. 

His win at East Lake accompanied another at the Canadian Open as well as four top-10 finishes at the major championships. With his victory this past fall in South Carolina, McIlroy completed his trek to the top but nearly gave it up during the winter months. Had Scheffler won the Hero World Challenge, where he ultimately finished second, he would have momentarily regained what he had lost.

With such fluidity in the rankings, 2023 has the potential to see numerous players make meaningful runs towards world No. 1. Previous holders like Scheffler and Rahm pose significant threats to McIlroy, as do Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Will those closest to McIlroy chase him down or will an outsider similar to Scheffler in 2022 make his mark?

Best potential paths to world No. 1

1. Patrick Cantlay (Current rank: 4)

He reached as high as world No. 3 multiple times throughout 2022 but was never able to crack inside the top two. Cantlay is consistently among the best players in the world, and it may be a change to the PGA Tour schedule which ultimately propels him to new heights. Looking at the OWGR website, there is only one player inside the top 50 (non-LIV division) who has less than 40 official events contributing to their ranking, and that player is Cantlay.

With all the top players likely to play in 13 elevated events, four major championships and a handful of other tournaments, Cantlay’s typical schedule of roughly 20 tournaments a season may become the new norm. If so, it will only aid him as his game remains as sturdy as ever. Posting +2.08 strokes gained per round the last two years, some variance went against him in 2022 as he lost in playoffs at the WM Phoenix Open and RBC Heritage and collected runner-up finishes at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and Shriners Children’s Open. Cantlay is good enough to post a four-win season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if does just that in 2023.

2. Jon Rahm (5)

Beginning this past year as world No. 1, Rahm did all the right things early on, and it looked as if a repeat of his 2021 was on the horizon. Plans were halted when he relinquished his No. 1 ranking at the WGC Match Play, and things went from bad to worse when he dropped out of the top five in the world for the first time in three years. 

Rahm bounced back with three wins in his last 14 worldwide starts of 2022, and while he is technically trending in the wrong direction from a strokes-gained perspective (+2.41 SG per round in 2019, +2.40 in 2020, +2.37 in 2021 and +2.20 in 2022), this year presents a prime bounce back spot. The Spaniard is still the best driver of the golf ball in the world, and over his last five measured tournaments he averaged +1.45 strokes gained putting per round. Unsustainable? Yes. But also potentially a sign of things to come.

3. Scottie Scheffler (2)

Well, he’s the closest to McIlroy to begin 2023 and nearly leapfrogged him had it not been for Viktor Hovland at the Hero World Challenge. Regardless, Scheffler’s downturn in quality after his red-hot spring was primarily a result of his short game. With his putter letting him down more times than not, the 26-year-old was still able to contend on a regular basis, thus displaying just how strong the rest of his game remains.

In his 16 starts since slipping on the green jacket at Augusta National, Scheffler has finished on the podium six times including runner-up finishes at the Charles Schwab Challenge, U.S. Open, Tour Championship and Hero World Challenge. During this stretch, Scheffler averaged -0.35 strokes gained putting per round, and while golf is hardly simple, a return to form on the greens in early 2023 may mean a return to world No. 1.

4. Xander Schauffele (6)

The way in which Schauffele’s peers gush about him and his game should hold weight and in 2022, he finally showcased what they have been preaching about for years. After squandering a 54-hole lead at the WM Phoenix Open for the second consecutive year, Schauffele hit a lull with the low point coming in the form of a rare missed cut at The Masters. 

Since the hiccup at Augusta National, Schauffele has rattled off three wins, four top fives and five additional top-20 finishes in his last 13 tournaments. This is the consistency we should expect to see from the 29-year-old — the consistency which allowed him to post greater than +2.10 strokes gained per round in 13 of his 22 starts in 2022. With consistency comes contention, and if the monkey is truly off his back, the opportunity to reach world No. 1 will come for Schauffele.

5. Justin Thomas (8)

Ask yourself this: Is there a player who, when on, can get it quite like JT? The answer is no. The 15-time winner on the PGA Tour hasn’t racked up wins in bunches the last two seasons, but expect that to change in 2023. His last two victories are the 2021 Players Championship and the 2022 PGA Championship, and while impressive, even Thomas understands that given his caliber, two wins a season should be the bare minimum.

Thomas’ three best strokes gained season were 2020 (+2.27 SG per round; 3 wins), 2018 (+2.27 SG per round; 3 wins) and 2017 (+2.22 SG per round; 5 wins). In 2022, Thomas eeked his way closer to the +2.20 range and posted +2.02 strokes gained per round thanks in part to a solid putting campaign. His typically strong iron play lagged ever so slightly, and should it return to historical levels, Thomas could reign atop the world for the third time in his career.

6. Tony Finau (12)

You know who the 12th-ranked player in the world was at the end of 2021? Scottie Scheffler. It is certainly within the realm of possibilities that Finau could match such a breakout, especially with the manner in which he culminated his 2022. Winning three times in his last seven starts, Finau’s quality shined through after a rough start to his season that included zero top-10 finishes in his first 10 events.

He is the eldest name on this list at the age of 33, but age is just a number; let us not forget that Phil Mickelson didn’t win his first major championship until the age of 34. His rolling strokes gained averages show the potential for him to roll to the world No. 1. Over the last 12 months, he ranks 10th in total strokes gained, fourth the last six months and fourth again over the last three months with only McIlroy, Cantlay and Rahm ahead of him.

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Shafts are often forgotten in the game improvement conversation, as they are overshadowed by the work of the clubhead and face. In this post, we change the narrative and address the best golf shafts for irons. I will explain how they impact your launch, ball speed, shot dispersion, and swing speed.

After putting them through their paces and reviewing the data, we had our six best iron shafts for 2022. I have covered all bases, including options for slow, moderate, and fast swing speeds. Plus, you have the best ladies’ and junior’s shafts to look forward to.

On the subject, I have a must-read article for faster swing speeds that you should bookmark for later. Learn the ins and outs of stiff vs extra stiff iron shafts.

What to Look for in an Iron Shaft

Material

Modern golf shafts are constructed from two predominant materials: steel and graphite composite. Steel shafts typically contain extra weight compared to graphite, and you’ll notice that they are more affordable.

Graphite is the go-to material for hybrids, fairway woods, and driver shafts because they prevent additional unnecessary mass. The lighter construction of graphite shafts promotes accelerated swing speed for a powerful strike.

You’ll find that slower swing speed golfers and I enjoy graphite irons shafts because they make it easy to frequently launch your golf ball.

Flex

The flex of your iron shafts impacts their spring leading into impact. A ladies’ flex is the least stiff option and provides maximum whip into the ball at contact. You’ll notice this provides consistent ball speed and a high launch. These shafts work for golfers who swing a 6-iron below 65 mph.

You’ll see that the next flexible option is a seniors flex, built for older golfers and slow-swinging high handicappers. However, most amateurs will fit into the moderate speed bracket and perform best with a regular flex shaft.

Finally, lower handicappers and tour professionals typically register fast and super fast speeds, setting them up for success with a stiff or extra stiff shaft. I have provided a table below highlighting which shaft flex is right for your swing.

Finally, lower handicappers and tour professionals typically register fast and super fast speeds, setting them up for success with a stiff or extra stiff shaft. I have provided a table below to highlight which shaft flex is right for your swing.

Shaft Flex vs Swing Speed

Weight

The more grams your shaft contains, the harder it becomes to optimize your clubhead speed on the downswing. However, additional mass can prompt some players to activate the necessary muscles to boost power as you transition from the top of your swing to impact.

Powerful golfers with faster swing speeds find that heavy golf shafts enhance stability to deliver a controlled launch. Conversely, slower golf swingers may struggle to transfer sufficient energy to the ball at impact, generating weak launch with minimal distance.

You’ll find that most heavy shafts carry stiff or extra stiff flex, making it ideal for higher swing speeds. On the contrary, lightweight shafts generally offer increased flex to aid slow-swinging players.

Torque

The degree of torque your shafts carry influences the rate of twist during your swing. Therefore, it has the greatest bearing on your shot dispersion. Shafts with a lower torque degree twist less and help golfers to keep their clubface square at contact. Contrarily, a high degree of torque prompts the clubface open at impact, which can produce a slice.

In tests conducted by the TPT Golf, they found that shots with higher torque shafts finished right of the target on most occasions for right-handers. Conversely, lower torque iron shafts delivered a dispersion to the left of the target.

As a result, you should think about a lower torque shaft if your ball finishes right of your target more often than not.

Kick Point

The final factor to consider is the kick point of a shaft which impacts the elevation of your launch. A shaft offers one of three kick points to promote the optimal launch, flight, and carry distance.

The type of kick point your shaft possesses depends on the area that contorts the heaviest during your swing. A high kick point is present near the grip and produces a low launching shot, welcomed by higher swing speeds.

A mid-kick point appears in the middle of the shaft and is built to propel a neutral launch which suits average swing speeds. Lastly, a low kick point features near the club head and bends hard into impact, generating a towering launch for slower swing speeds.

If you are concerned that you are launching the ball too low, try shafts with a lower kick point. Conversely, players afraid of ballooning shots should consider a high to mid-design.

7 Best Golf Shafts for Irons

UST Mamiya Recoil 460 ESX – Best For Moderate Swing Speed

The UST Mamiya Recoil are ideal graphite shafts for amateur golfers with a moderate swing speed, ranging from 80 to 95 mph. Engineers constructed the 460 ESX shaft with regular flex to boost energy transfer at impact.

I found that Recoil Technology is the star feature of the shaft because it encouraged increased spring in the walls of the shaft. This boosted the energy transfer from the clubface to the golf ball at contact, prompting accelerated ball speed for maximum distance.

You’ll find that the rapid velocity and controlled spin prompts a moderate to high launch for consistent carry distance with your iron golf clubs. Finally, UST Mamiya suggests that the 460 ESX contains 4.7 degrees of torque, leading to increased flex during your swing, which can produce erratic results.

Pros

• Promotes rapid ball speed
• Greater spring in the walls of the shaft
• Suits average swing speeds
• Promotes high ball flight
• Encourages optimal carry distance

Cons

• Expensive
• It doesn’t suit faster swing speeds

KBS TGI Tour – Best For Seniors

The KBS TGI Tour shafts with a senior flex profile are graphite constructions designed to give older players greater control on the golf course. The engineers worked to reduce spin and launch for greater distance in your mid and long irons.

I noticed that the 60-gram construction was light enough to boost club head speed, and the mid to low kick point delivered ample height on my shots. In addition, the similarity in play to a steel iron shaft provides superior control compared to other graphite designs.

Furthermore, you’ll find that the KBS TGI Tour features a mid to low kick point, which prompts ample height for improved distance consistency. Lastly, only golfers with a 6-iron swing speed should think about these shafts.

Pros

• Mid to high launch
• Encourages increased club head speed
• Produces consistent distance
• Specifically constructed for seniors
• Moderately priced

Cons

• Expensive
• It’s too flexible for moderate swing speeds

True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S300 – Best For Fast Swing Speeds

Amateurs who swing a 6-iron between 84 and 91 mph are considered faster swingers and are best fitted to stiff shafts. The True Temper New Dynamic Gold S300 are steel shafts that offer limited flex and high kick point for a low launch.

The reduced flex of the shaft enhances the stability of the clubhead into impact, ensuring low spin to send your ball along a piercing trajectory. You’ll find that this encourages optimal roll once your golf ball touches down.

Finally, True Temper suggests that the Dynamic Gold AMT S300 works for experienced players with a moderate tempo.

Pros

• Promotes a low trajectory
• Lowers spin
• Boosts ball speed
• Suits faster swingers with a moderate tempo
• Affordable

Cons

• The stiff flex may cause some players to produce low trajectory
• The increased mass may slow your swing speed down

True Temper Project X Rifle 6.0 .355 – Best For Low Handicappers and Professionals

Low handicappers and professionals with faster swing speed will appreciate the extra stiff construction of the True Temper Project X Rifle 6.0 .355 shaft. True Temper built these for the players who generate over 92 mph of clubhead speed with a 6-iron.

The Stepless Design Technology (SDT) was my highlight because it ensured optimal energy transfer at contact. I found this produced rampant velocity and optimal length. In addition, I found that the technology prompted a solid feel when the clubface struck the golf ball.

Furthermore, you’ll see that shots with these high kick point iron shafts encourage a flat, penetrating ball flight for improved control and increased roll. Lastly, these shafts control spin for optimal flight, length, and roll.

Pros

• Moderately affordable
• Penetrating ball flight
• Limited flex at impact
• Increased roll
• Low spin

Cons

• The low launch can lead to inconsistent results for slower swingers
• The heavier design causes you to lose clubhead speed

Mitsubishi MMT 50 – Best Golf Shaft For Ladies

The Mitsubishi MMT 50 is our top ladies shaft flex which offers a lightweight construction that encourages rapid swing speed and consistent results. You’ll find that Mitsubishi developed this shaft for those players who swing a 6-iron below 65 mph.

I noticed that the MMT 50 was crafted using metal mesh material. In addition, the engineers took it a step further to include Metal Mesh Technology. The technology elevates the density and stability despite the shaft possessing 5.9-degrees of torque, which leads to increased twisting during your swing.

Furthermore, I enjoyed a mid-to-high launch, brought about by the mid-to-low kick point. This made it easy to launch my shots and ensure ample carry distance. Overall, it is a suitable iron shaft for slower swing speeds.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to swing
• Prompts a mid to high launch
• Offers an improved feel
• Amplifies acoustics
• Optimal spring into impact for accelerated ball speed

Cons

• Expensive compared to steel shafts
• The lighter design can cause some players to balloon shots

KBS 560 – Best For Juniors

We have covered every type of golfer except for the little guys and girls. The KBS 500 is ideal for your youngster to produce consistent distance and accuracy with the irons. These shafts are specially constructed for youngsters in the development phase of their golf careers.

The engineers developed the KBS 560 with two flex options, including regular-stiff and regular, to cater to all junior swing types. You’ll notice that these shafts are moderately heavier than standard junior shafts, as they are built to operate with adult clubheads.

In addition, the increased mass trains youngsters to swing an adult club. Plus, the KBS 560 golf shaft encourages controlled flight to prevent ballooning shots and losing yards. Finally, these models promote rapid ball speed for optimal yardage.

Pros

• They help juniors transition to adult clubs
• Delivers a controlled launch
• Prompts accelerated ball velocity
• Encourages maximum distance
• They work with adult clubheads

Cons

• The stiffness of the shaft may prove excessive for some juniors to launch
• The low launch may lead slower swinging juniors to lose carry distance

Fujikura Pro Series 95i – Best Graphite Iron Shafts

The Fujikura Pro Series 95i is my top pick for the best graphite iron shafts, thanks to the selection of flex profiles, durability, and glare-resistant finish. Fujikura offers the Pro Series 95i in three flex options, regular, stiff, and extra stiff, making them ideal for moderate to fast swing speeds.

Besides the flex options, these shafts are built to deliver medium spin and launch. As a result, they deliver controlled ball flight on approach.

Furthermore, the engineers created them to allow for a hard or soft step. For example, a hard step represents placing a 7-iron iron shaft in a 6-iron head. Conversely, a soft step requires setting a 6-iron shaft in a 7-iron clubhead.

The use of High-Density Composite Core (HDCC) enhances the shaft’s durability, and it lightens the mass to promote rapid club speed. When you combine a rampant clubhead with a medium launch, you produce a controlled shot with optimal distance and spin.

Lastly, the HDCC material works wonders for feedback, as it eliminates unwanted vibrations that run up the shaft on off-center strikes. Therefore, it protects your hands for a smooth, pleasant feel.

Pros

• Soft feel
• Light construction encourages accelerated clubhead speed
• Customizable for a hard or soft step procedure
• Affordable per unit for graphite shafts
• Built for moderate to fast swing speed

Cons

• The shafts do not suit slower swing speeds
• They are still more expensive than steel shafts

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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There’s a new No. 1 golfer in the world who doubles as an old No. 1 golfer in the world. With his victory at the 2022 CJ Cup on Sunday afternoon, Rory McIlroy returned to the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time since July 2020 and ninth time in his career.

In taking down Kurt Kitayama and K.H. Lee, it was McIlroy who overtook Scottie Scheffler, ending the 2022 Masters champion’s 30-week run at No. 1.

Even more remarkable than McIlroy regaining the No. 1 ranking is that he has sustained a level of greatness over the last decade. This marks McIlroy’s ninth different stint at No. 1 just over 10 years after his debut in March 2012 shortly after he became a professional.

A lot has happened over the last decade, but McIlroy has not fallen out of the top 15 in the world in that time. He’s one of just three golfers who have a 10-year gap between their first appearance as world No. 1 and their most recent. The other two are Tiger Woods (17 years) and Greg Norman (11.5). Nobody else more than a 3.5-year gap between appearances.

“I guess that’s where I say like the cool thing about it is you get to No. 1, and it feels great in the moment,” said McIlroy earlier this week. “The bad thing is you almost [have] to … maybe work harder to stay there. I think, when you’re striving toward something, not that it’s easier to get there, but like once you get there, it’s great. But I think the hard work is actually staying there.

“I think if I get back to No. 1 this week, it’s like my ninth time getting back. It sort of illustrates you can have your runs and you can stay there, but I think the cool part is the journey and the journey getting back there. It’s sort of like a heavyweight boxer losing a world title and it’s a journey to get that title back. I feel like that’s the cool part of it and that’s the journey that I’ve sort of been through over the past 12 months.”

McIlroy has indeed been playing some of the best golf of his career over the last year. In his last 15 starts worldwide, he has 12 top 10s, 10 top fives, three wins and just one missed cut. Since the start of 2022, he’s been far and away the best statistical player in the world at over 2.7 strokes gained per round. The next closest coming into this week at the CJ Cup was Scheffler (2.5).

In a year in which McIlroy disappointingly did not win a major championship — though he finished in the top 10 in all four — it’s a bit of a reprieve that he essentially accomplished everything else: a FedEx Cup victory, three wins on the PGA Tour, close to $30 million in on-course earnings (including FedEx Cup bonus money) and a return trip to the top of the OWGR table. It’s been a remarkable showing.

Here’s a look at all nine times McIlroy has been the No. 1 player in the world.

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LIV Golf‘s attempt to gain world ranking points for its players via a backdoor deal with the Mena Tour have been snubbed by the body that organises the rankings, leaving the Saudi-backed series with no immediate prospect of being granted official status.

The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has confirmed that LIV Golf events this season will not offer world ranking points, despite the Saudi-backed circuit’s new partnership with the MENA Tour, a Dubai-based tour that has offered world ranking points since 2016.

On Wednesday the Mena Tour announced a ‘strategic alliance’ with LIV Golf that would see all its events added to their schedule and all members of the LIV Golf circuit joining their tour. LIV Golf believed the move would make their events eligible to receive official world ranking points, potentially as soon as the Thailand tournament beginning today (Friday), although the OWGR said it had been given insufficient notice of the development and that a decision would only be made following a review.

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The divergent worlds of LIV Golf and golf’s two most dominant tours, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, look on course for another major fallout after LIV Golf announced the formation of a new ‘strategic alliance’ with the little-known Middle East & North Africa Tour that could potentially see LIV Golf events being accorded Official World Golf Ranking points.

With LIV Golf events currently not qualifying for OWGR points due to their unique set up and format – 54 holes with no cut and qualification by invitation only – by aligning with the Mena Tour, players on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series could conceivably be allowed to earn OWGR points, which are used in the qualification process for the four majors and other high-profile events, including the Ryder Cup.

The Mena Tour was launched in 2011 and traditionally stages around 15 events each season, with total prize funds of around $75,000 per event. The tour, whose events are also 54 holes, has been recognised by the OWGR since 2016, although due to the weak fields does not attract anywhere near the points on offer on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour or even the Challenge Tour. The Mena Tour was suspended during the pandemic, and has so far only staged four events this year.

The alliance with the LIV Golf Invitational series will see the MENA Tour run as normal, with LIV Golf events interspersed within the Mena Tour’s schedule – almost as a tour within a tour. The alliance could come into effect as early as this Friday (October 7), the first day of the LIV Golf’s next event in Thailand, but it would require the board of the OWGR to ratify the new alliance before any points might be awarded.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Mena Tour said: “The Mena Tour today announced a strategic alliance which will result in LIV Golf Invitational events becoming part of and sanctioned by the Mena Tour, a Dubai-based golf tour which has been recognized by the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) since 2016.

“The alliance will boost the Mena Tour’s development programs and immediately qualify LIV Golf for OWGR points, starting with the LIV Golf Thailand event at Stonehill this week.

“The final field for LIV Golf Thailand, the opening event of the 2022-23 Mena Tour season, will be submitted to OWGR by the Mena Tour ahead of play commencing on Friday when the final field rating and winners’ points are expected to be confirmed. As a result of the alliance, all LIV Golf players have joined the Mena Tour.”

Atul Khosla, the president of LIV Golf, said: “We are taking this mutually beneficial action to support the game at the developmental level and because of the importance and fairness of LIV golfers qualifying for OWGR points. We’re pleased to create pathways that give more opportunities for young players, while also giving fans rankings that include all the world’s best golfers.”

Neither the PGA Tour nor the DP World Tour has so far commented on this latest development, but as both bodies have board members on the OWGR it is likely that they will have a major role to play in whether LIV Golf’s latest move is successful or not.

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There’s no question that the teams at the 2022 Presidents Cup are lopsided. It’s not necessarily accurate that the United States has the 12 best players and the international team has the 12 worst, but you could posit something close to that and not be far off.

There’s also no question that this is a problem hampering interest in this year’s event. Following an outrageously good 2019 Presidents Cup, it was not irrational to believe that future Presidents Cups were going to be a lot closer than those of the past — and perhaps even more competitive than Ryder Cups.

With the defections of international players like Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann and Louis Oosthuizen to LIV Golf, that narrative has changed quite a bit. Nowhere is that more clear than in the individual player rankings. If you’re looking at the rosters as a whole, you can squint and possibly talk yourself into a competitive week. If you look at the player rankings based on current form and past performance at team events, though, there’s absolutely no chance.

2022 Presidents Cup teams, ranked

1. Justin Thomas (U.S.): J.T. gets the narrow nod over Scottie Scheffler because of his incredible play in team events (he’s 10-2-3 in non-singles play at Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups). He knows what’s expected of him, and unlike a lot of talented athletes, he definitely wants the ball when the lights go on.

2. Scottie Scheffler (U.S.): The No. 1 player in the world deservingly received the PGA Tour Player of the Year trophy two weeks ago. Though he hasn’t won since the Masters, his ball-striking numbers have remained similar, and his level of play outside of putting has hardly dropped off at all. He’s probably ready to shoulder a massive load at U.S. team events.

3. Xander Schauffele (U.S.): No matter which way you slice it, Schauffele has been one of the top three players at this event over the last six months. He’s a menace from tee to green, and he has a 6-3-0 career record at U.S. team events, including a 4-0-0 mark in foursomes play alongside Patrick Cantlay (with whom he’ll be paired often this week).

4. Sungjae Im (international): This is maybe a stretch for Im, but I’m trying to find some hope for Trevor Immelman’s side, and Im has been playing fantastic golf. He’s second in this field in ball-striking over his last 20 rounds and nearly won the Tour Championship over Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Nobody on either team scored more than the 3.5 points he posted in 2019 at Royal Melbourne.

5. Tony Finau (U.S.): One of the breakout stars of last year’s Ryder Cup has also been one of the best players in the world over the last six months. Finau ranks behind only Scheffler and Schauffele in ball-striking in the last six months.

6. Patrick Cantlay (U.S.): He’s been good on this course, good in match play at team events and terrific overall in the last two months. There’s a lot to like. Cantlay and Finau are the only players averaging at least 0.3 strokes gained per round across all four categories (driving, approach play, around the green and putting).

7. Max Homa (U.S.): He’s rolling in off his fifth win last week in Napa, California, into his first-ever team event where he should thrive. It helps that he’s won at Quail Hollow before and has been one of the top six players at this event over his last 20 rounds.

8. Cameron Young (U.S.): He’s been the longest player of anyone in this event over the last 12 months, and only Taylor Pendrith is close. According to Data Golf, Young gets the biggest course fit bump of any of the 24 golfers who will tee it up this week. If he’s paired with Tony Finau, it’s going to be an absolute bonanza off the tee.

9. Jordan Spieth (U.S.): He’s been showing real glimpses of his old iron-playing self, but the putter has not been magical of late (to say the least). I’m confident he’s going to play solidly, but I’m not going to scream it from the rooftops like I have at past team events because this last season was statistically the worst season of his PGA Tour career.

10. Sam Burns (U.S.): Burns cooled a bit at the end of last season and has not been a great ball-striker over the last few months. However, he seems perfectly constructed for match play at Quail Hollow (long, great iron player who putts well) and should thrive in his pod alongside Scheffler, Billy Horschel and Kevin Kisner.

11. Hideki Matsuyama (international): The 2021 Masters champion is playing his fifth Presidents Cup. He has the second-best strokes-gained number at Quail Hollow of everyone at this event behind only Thomas and just ahead of Spieth and Billy Horschel.

12. Adam Scott (international): Closed out last season with two top fives in his last four starts. However, his overall match play record at the Presidents Cup is 16-22-6, which is not great considering most of that came in the middle of the prime of his career. He also continues to insist on dressing most like a dad of anyone at this event.

13. Collin Morikawa (U.S.): How scary is it that the U.S. has a two-time major winner this low? The internationals don’t have a single multiple-time major winner on their squad, and the U.S. can roll out somebody who did that last year as their 10th-best player.

14. Corey Conners (international): How is this Conners’ first Presidents Cup?! He’s an immense ball-striker (fifth in the field in his last 20 rounds), but the short game might hold him back from winning many matches and could especially be a problem in alternate shot.

15. Tom Kim (international): Maybe the biggest difference between floor and ceiling of anybody in the field. Kim is an outstanding iron player (best in the field over his last 20 rounds), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win two or three matches against against players who outmatch him off the tee (which is most of them).

16. Billy Horschel (U.S.): An up and down year for Horschel, who both won Memorial but also didn’t finish in the top 20 on the PGA Tour after that through the Tour Championship. Quail Hollow is not a great fit for him statistically, but I also wouldn’t want to face him in match play at any point.

17. Cameron Davis (international): Consider me intrigued here. He’s one of the four or five longest players in the field and one of the few international players who has the firepower to keep with most of the U.S. guys off the tee. He also ended this most recent PGA Tour season with five top 20s in his last six starts. He’ll likely prove to be a nice captain’s pick by Immelman.

18. Taylor Pendrith (international): Along with Davis, he was clearly picked because of his length, but he’s also been hitting his irons quite well and had six top 15s in his last seven PGA Tour starts last season (T67 at last week’s Fortinet Championship).

19. Si Woo Kim (international): His putting has been scary bad recently, but you know the talent is in there to take on anybody the U.S. can throw at him. Always an unknown at events like this, but who could forget him going full “shhhhh” at the 2017 Presidents Cup with his team down two touchdowns on Sunday. 

20. Mito Pereira (international): The near-PGA Championship winner has had a strong season, but he didn’t have a single top 40 over his last six events and doesn’t bring a lot of ball-striking momentum into Quail Hollow.

21. Kevin Kisner (U.S.): He’s been the worst ball-striker in the field over the last 12 months, and a lot of that is due to the fact that he’s the shortest player off the tee by a fairly healthy margin (although Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Tom Kim are close). Kisner might in fact clean up in match play like he does at the WGC event, but on paper, he’s not a great fit for this golf course.

22. K.H. Lee (international): He posted one top 10 after his win at the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year.

23. Sebastian Munoz (international): He posted zero top 10s after his T3 at the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year.

24. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (international): He’s one of just two golfers in the event that has a negative strokes-gained ball-striking number over his last 20 rounds (Kisner is the other). That’s not going to go well at Quail Hollow.

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Fifty members of LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed tour which launched in June, have jointly issued a signed statement requesting that LIV Golf tournaments earn points towards the Official World Golf Ranking.

As things currently stand, LIV Golf tournaments do not qualify for ranking points, meaning that players who have only taken part in LIV Golf events since its launch are slipping down the world rankings, leaving some in danger of missing out on qualifying for the Majors and the Olympics.

The OWGR, which was first established in 1986, ranks players based on their position in individual tournaments over a rolling two-year period, taking into account the strength of the field. New rankings are calculated each week. In 2022, the results from 23 global tours factored into the world rankings, but have not included those from the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which has so far held five events – one in the UK and four in the USA, with three more due to take place this year, and 14 tournaments planned for next season.

The governing board of the OWGR is headed by chairman Peter Dawson, the former chief executive of the R&A, and has its headquarters at the European Tour Group’s offices at Wentworth Club in Surrey. There are seven other directors, including representatives from the PGA of America, the International Federation of PGA Tours, the USGA, the PGA Tour, Augusta National, the R&A and the DP World Tour.

In a letter addressed to Mr Dawson, the 50 signatories, including world no.2 Cameron Smith and two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson, who has slipped down from 13th to 22nd in the world ranking since moving to LIV Golf, have demanded that the results of LIV Golf events be included in OWGR’s ranking calculations on a retrospective basis.

The letter insists that to leave LIV Golf results out of the OWGR would be the equivalent to ‘leaving Belgium, Argentina and England out of the FIFA rankings’.

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