Today’s Golfer, the Bauer Media-owned golf brand, has published a list of what it has judged to be the top 100 most influential people currently connected with golf.
The ‘Top 100 Most Influential People in Golf’ list was compiled by Today’s Golfer’s experienced team of editors and writers, including Editor Chris Jones, Features Editor Michael Catling, Deputy Editor Nick Harper, Digital Editor Rob Jerram, Equipment Editor Simon Daddow, Course Editor Chris Bertram and Travel Editor Kevin Brown, as well as freelance contributors Rob McGarr, Duncan Lennard and Keith Jackson.
The final Top 100 list was whittled down from a long list of 540 candidates, with those making the cut judged on their influence throughout all facets of the sport, whether as players, governance, media, rules, equipment design, tour officials, coaching, rights holders, agents and sponsors.
While it was perhaps no surprise that Tiger Woods was judged to be the most influential figure currently operating in golfing circles, there were other names inside the top-10 that might not be so familiar with those with only a passing interest in the game.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R&A and Secretary of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, took second spot in the list, and was judged to be ‘golf’s most powerful man in a suit’, while third place went to Greg Norman, whose role as commissioner of Saudi-backed start-up league LIV Golf has thrust the 67-year-old Australian into the media spotlight throughout 2022.
Fourth place went to Mike Whan, chief executive of the USGA and former commissioner of the LPGA Tour, while the top five was rounded out by another tour boss, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who has spent much of 2022 leading the response to the threat posed by LIV Golf.
Chip Brewer, president and CEO of Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp, was judged to be the most influential figure in the golf equipment industry (6), ahead of TaylorMade CEO David Abeles (11), Acushnet CEO David Maher (12) and Ping President John K Solheim (19).
Rory McIlroy (9) was rated the most influential current tour player whose name isn’t Tiger Woods, closely followed by Phil Mickelson (15) and Justin Rose (16), with the latter owing his growing influence courtesy of his investment in the Rose Ladies Series and the creation of his eponymous junior academy in association with American Golf.
PGA Professional Rick Shiels, the man behind the world’s no.1 golf YouTube channel, was judged the most influential social media figure, coming in at 24 on the list, ahead of rival YouTuber and podcasters Peter Finch (63) and Mark Crossfield (94).
Golf course architects enjoyed a strong presence in the list, with Tom Doak (43), Bill Coore (54) and Mike Keiser (54) ranking highest among those whose career was solely judged on their course design work, while Jack Nicklaus (18) and Gary Player (31) featured higher when taking into consideration their other golf industry interests.
The highest ranked woman on the list was Mary Lou Bohn, President of Titleist’s golf ball division, who took 28th spot. The other seven women to feature on the list were tour pro turned social media star Paige Spiranac (33), former Tour player Annika Sorenstam (35), LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan (56), LPGA Tour player Jin Young Ko (72), former Tour player turned YouTube coach Aimee Cho (73), LPGA Tour player Lydia Ko (82), and Ladies European Tour CEO Alexander Armas (85).
To check out the full list, visit www.todays-golfer.com/features/player-features/100-most-influential-people-in-golf/