Scheffler Holds No. 1 Ranking as the 2026 Player-of-Year Race Heats Up

The Power 18 Golf Rankings have listed Scottie Scheffler as the world’s No. 1 player from January through August. After opening the year with a victory, Scheffler has not won again, finishing runner-up in five events, most recently at the 3M Open where Jackson Koivun prevailed. Throughout the season he was bested by Rory McIlroy at the Masters, Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage, Cameron Young at the Cadillac Championship, and Viktor Hovland at the Travelers Championship.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

Other contenders have capitalized on opportunities. Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup each secured multiple victories, with Gotterup adding a third win at the John Deere Classic. Cameron Young rose to third in the rankings after a strong stretch that included a near-win at The Open, where Ryan Fox’s final-hole birdie kept Young out of a playoff. Wyndham Clark posted one of the season’s most consistent stretches from late May through July. Rory McIlroy remains second in the rankings despite frequent rounds of 72 or higher that have hampered his third-round play.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

• Scheffler’s streak of 35 consecutive top-25 finishes ended after missing the cut at the Scottish Open.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

• Sam Burns matched Scheffler’s 20-under cumulative score across the four majors but did not capture a major title.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

• Tommy Fleetwood (ranked sixth) logged his 11th top-20 finish in 18 worldwide starts, while Xander Schauffele (seventh) recorded top-20 finishes in all four majors.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

• Collin Morikawa returns from a back injury with restored iron play and improved putting, positioning him as a postseason watch-list candidate.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

The FedEx Cup Playoffs present the final opportunity for any player to shift the Player-of-Year narrative. With Scheffler entering the postseason without a 54-hole lead, a strong playoff performance could reaffirm his dominance, while a victory by any of the trailing contenders—particularly Fitzpatrick, Gotterup, Young, or Clark—could propel them to the top of the rankings.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up

As the playoffs approach, analysts note that a single major-level showing could define the season’s biggest story. The field, including seasoned names such as Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg, Bryson DeChambeau, Hideki Matsuyama, and Ryan Gerard, remains poised to challenge Scheffler’s standard-setting play and reshape the 2026 Player-of-Year race.

Scottie Scheffler Still No. 1, But Golf’s 2026 Player of the Year Race Heats Up