OWGR shows golf is becoming more global

A worker cleans the leaderboard at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

MARANA, Ariz.– If you have a second to get away from your 64-man WGC-Accenture Match Play bracket, here’s an idea of how much the fabric at the top level has changed in the past 25 years. Consider the difference between the Official World Golf Ranking now versus when it debuted in April 1986.

Ten countries were represented in the top 64 then. Now there are 16 nations.

Thirty-nine Americans were in the lead 64 then. Now there are 25.

Check back in another quarter century and we’ll see how many more flag poles adorn the grounds at the 2036 WGC-Match Play.