List of world number one male golfers
Before the start of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986, unofficial end of year world golf rankings were published by Mark McCormack in his "World of Professional Golf" annual from 1968 to 1985. McCormack's rankings listed Jack Nicklaus as the number one from 1968 to 1977, Tom Watson from 1978 to 1982 and Seve Ballesteros from 1983 to 1985.
Earlier number ones
The following is a list of golfers who have been top of the Official World Golf Ranking since the rankings started on April 6, 1986.