Beyond sporting success measured in MVP awards and trophies, there are certain aspects that can make an athlete the “face” of their sport. Sometimes, it’s obvious, such as Lebron James being the current face of the NBA, or Tom Brady’s tenure as the face of the NFL during his storied career. At times, it can be shared, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in soccer. Of course, all of this is unofficial and is often the subject of heated debate.
When it comes to golf, it is also difficult to parse out. There isn’t a single championship that crowns the world’s best player at the end of the season in the same manner as an NFL MVP. Yet, there are world rankings, the four majors and the marketability of players that can help us make a good stab at determining who is the face of the sport.
We have whittled it down to four candidates, arguing that these four players are the most recognizable in gold today:
Rory McIlroy
Outside of Tiger Woods, McIlroy is probably the best-known player in the world. He has been in and around the top of the game over the last twenty years. He’s the guy that the cameras point to on the course, and he’s also the one who has become a de facto spokesperson for the rest of the pro players. The fact that he is often referred to mononymously as “Rory” tells you a lot. He arguably has the strongest case for the face of modern golf, taking over the mantle from Tiger Woods after the latter started to wind down his career.
Scottie Scheffler
If you have bet on the Masters with DraftKings, or basically any other significant golf tournament over the past few years, the person at the top of the odds has been Scottie Scheffler. The world number one is approaching Tiger Woods’ level of dominance on the course, though he is not as commercially appealing (not a criticism; simply an observation) off the course. There’s no doubting that he’s the best in the world right now, but he’s not the type of guy to be featured on the front cover of Vanity Fair.
Bryson DeChambeau
Perhaps a leftfield choice, but there is an argument for the player known as The “Mad” Scientist. DeChambeau is unique in his approach to the game, putting power above everything else. His unorthodox strategies – and his success – made him the most interesting player in the game. He is also highly active on socials, perhaps engaging with fans more so than any other golfer. His issue is down to the fact he joined the LIV Golf tour, a breakaway golf league backed by Saudi Arabia. He’ll make a lot of money from that, but it means he misses many of the prestigious PGA tournaments, which lowers his profile.
Tiger Woods
Can Woods be included on a list like this? He is currently inactive in the game, but he remains the biggest star the sport of golf has ever produced. He still fronts video games and is perhaps the only one who can make the cameras turn away from McIlroy. His net worth is astronomical, as he reached Michael Jordan levels of marketability during his peak, and well after. Woods’ personal issues have put him in the spotlight again recently, making him a little less media-friendly. Still, there has been nobody who transcended golf quite like the game’s greatest ever player.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
