The end of the year arrives, and with it, the closing of the annual ranking. Once again, since the OWGR scoring system was introduced in 1986, there will be a Spaniard among the top one hundred players in the world.
However, 2024 will not be remembered as one of the best. In fact, for the first time since 1996 and only the second time in history, just one of our own will finish within the top 100 of the world ranking: Jon Rahm in 25th place. At the moment, David Puig is right at the 100th position, but the prediction from guru Nosferatu is that next Monday he will drop out of the privileged positions, and therefore, only the one from Barrika will finish in those spots. Back in 1996, the only member of the Armada was Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
This fact, without further context, gives a certain jolt to Spanish golf, as it hasn’t happened for almost thirty years, but it is true that if it weren’t for LIV Golf, both Sergio García and David Puig would very likely be among the top one hundred in the world. It’s a fact that invites reflection but by no means should trigger a red alert. Attention must be paid, but we shouldn’t get carried away.
Taking advantage of the summary, we bring to light some numbers regarding Spaniards and the annual closing of the world ranking. The total number of Spaniards who have finished the year within the top 100 worldwide is 19. Severiano Ballesteros and Jon Rahm stand out as the two who have managed to climb to number one and end the year at the top (1988 and 2021).
The Spaniard who has finished in the top 100 the most times is none other than Sergio García, who has achieved it on 22 occasions. He is closely followed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez with 21 and José María Olazábal with 19. On 22 occasions, one of our own has finished the year among the top ten in the world.
The closing with the most of our own in these places of honour dates back to 2012 when six members of the Armada finished in the top 100: Sergio García (16), Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (33), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (54), Rafa Cabrera Bello (58), Pablo Larrazábal (85), Álvaro Quirós (90).
– List of Spaniards who have finished the year among the top one hundred, with the ranking they closed the year in parentheses:
- 1987: Seve Ballesteros (2) | José María Olazábal (43) | José Rivero (62) | Josemaria Cañizares (94)
- 1988: Seve Ballesteros (1) | José María Olazábal (20) | José Rivero (61)
- 1989: Seve Ballesteros (3) | José María Olazábal (7) | Josemaria Cañizares (62) | José Rivero (70)
- 1990: José María Olazábal (3) | Seve (7) | Josemaria Cañizares (77)
- 1991: José María Olazábal (3) | Seve (4) | José Rivero (85)
- 1992: José María Olazábal (4) | Seve (13) | José Rivero (45)
- 1993: José María Olazábal (15) | Seve (25) | José Rivero (78) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (103)
- 1994: José María Olazábal (4) | Seve (14) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (42) | José Rivero (107)
- 1995: José María Olazábal (13) | Seve (22) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (48) | José Rivero (91)
- 1996: Miguel Ángel Jiménez (71) | Seve (109)
- 1997: José María Olazábal (42) | Ignacio Garrido (82) | Miguel Ángel Martín (86)
- 1998: José María Olazábal (28) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (54)
- 1999: Miguel Ángel Jiménez (21) | José María Olazábal (26)
- 2000: Sergio García (16) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (27) | José María Olazábal (34)
- 2001: Sergio García (6) | José María Olazábal (37) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (58)
- 2002: Sergio García (4) | José María Olazábal (38)
- 2003: Sergio García (36) | Ignacio Garrido (84) | José María Olazábal (93) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (94) | Carlos Rodiles (96)
- 2004: Sergio García (7) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (12)
- 2005: Sergio García (6) | José María Olazábal (26) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (40)
- 2006: Sergio García (11) | José María Olazábal (18) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (73) | José Manuel Lara (76)
- 2007: Sergio García (12) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (38) | José María Olazábal (71) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (90)
- 2008: Sergio García (2) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (22) | Álvaro Quirós (73) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (76) | Pablo Larrazábal (96)
- 2009: Sergio García (11) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (49) | Álvaro Quirós (52) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (63)
- 2010: Miguel Ángel Jiménez (27) | Álvaro Quirós (49) | Sergio García (78) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (92)
- 2011: Sergio García (17) | Álvaro Quirós (22) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (44) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (49) | Pablo Larrazábal (77)
- 2012: Sergio García (16) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (33) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (54) | Rafa Cabrera Bello (58) | Pablo Larrazábal (85) | Álvaro Quirós (90)
- 2013: Sergio García (10) | Gonzalo Fernández Castaño (35) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (37)
- 2014: Sergio García (5) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (40) | Pablo Larrazábal (71) | Rafa Cabrera Bello (93)
- 2015: Sergio García (11) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez (90)
- 2016: Sergio García (13) | Rafa Cabrera Bello (27)
- 2017: Jon Rahm (4) | Sergio García (10) | Rafa Cabrera Bello (20)
- 2018: Jon Rahm (6) | Sergio García (24) | Rafa Cabrera Bello (29) | Adrián Otaegui (67)
- 2019: Jon Rahm (3) | Sergio Garcia (39) | Rafa Canrera Bello (41) | Jorge Campillo (100)
- 2020: Jon Rahm (2) | Sergio Garcia (46)
- 2021: Jon Rahm (1) | Sergio Garcia (45) | Santiago Tarrio (100)
- 2022: Jon Rahm (5) | Adrián Otaegui (73) | Pablo Larrazábal (75) | Adrian Arnaus (77)
- 2023: Jon Rahm (3) | Pablo Larrazábal (97)
