Which golfers have risen the most in the Official World Golf Ranking since start of 2025?

USA Today

16-06-2025

Which golfers have risen the most in the Official World Golf Ranking since start of 2025?
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J.J. Spaun relives the dramatic 64-foot birdie on 18 to win U.S. Open
A 64-foot birdie to seal it. J.J. Spaun is your 2025 U.S. Open champion after a dramatic finish at Oakmont.
USGA
The Official World Golf Ranking is constantly changing, with players jockeying up and down the standings every single week.
But each year, there are certain players who make big jumps thanks to their play, and this year, there are numerous players who have made substantial movement up the rankings.
J.J. Spaun, who won the U.S. Open on Sunday at Oakmont Country Club, moved to eighth in the world rankings, the highest spot of his career. When 2025 began, he was outside the top 100. But even he hasn't made the biggest jump this year.
Here's a look at the golfers ranked in the top 100 who have risen the most in OWGR since the start of 2025.
Joe Highsmith, 162 to 69 (93 spots)
Highsmith picked up his first PGA Tour win at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, coming after he made the cut on the number, shooting a pair of 7-under 64s on the weekend to win.
Daniel Berger, 126 to 29 (97 spots)
In his first full season returning from injury, Berger has a runner-up finish at the WM Phoenix Open and a T-3 at the RBC Heritage.
Michael Kim, 155 to 56 (99 spots)
The one-time PGA Tour winner has made 15 cuts this year in 18 starts and had three top-five finishes, including a T-2 at the WM Phoenix Open.
Gary Woodland, 200 to 96 (104 spots)
Woodland's return from brain surgery has been well documented, and his runner-up finish at the Texas Children's Houston Open was his best finish of the season.
J.J. Spaun, 119 to 8 (111 spots)
Spaun finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy at the Players following a Monday playoff, but he's now a major champion after conquering Oakmont Country Club for his second PGA Tour win. Ryder Cup spot coming soon?
Jacob Bridgeman, 189 to 70 (119 spots)
Bridgeman finished runner-up at the Cognizant Classic and has three more top-10 finishes, including a third at the Valspar and a T-4 at the Truist Championship.
John Keefer, 213 to 81 (132 spots)
Keefer mainly plays on the Korn Ferry Tour, but with a win at the Veritex Bank Championship and runner-up finish at the Visit Knoxville Open, he's quickly moving up the ranks.
Ryan Gerard, 206 to 71 (135 spots)
Gerard finished runner-up at the Valero Texas Open, but his consistency shines through, with 16 made cuts in 18 starts this season.
Bud Cauley, 303 to 60 (243 spots)
Bud Cauley's jump is substantial, with four top-six finishes, including three straight at the Players Championship (T-6), Valspar Championship (T-4) and the Valero Texas Open (T-5). He also finished solo third at the Charles Schwab.
Kristoffer Reitan, 425 to 99 (326 spots)
A T-2 finish at the DP World Tour's Hainan Classic moved Reitan from 392 to 285, and four weeks later he won the Soudal Open, going from 278 to 131. The rise has only continued since then, too, getting into the top 100 this week.