Golf | Live Scores

Golf has one of the longest documented histories in sport, with the first written reference appearing in a 1457 Act of Scottish Parliament — which banned the game because it was distracting men from archery practice for national defence. For nearly 570 years, golfers have been chasing a small ball into a small hole, battling not just opponents but nature itself across courses of extraordinary beauty and complexity. The sport is played by 66 million people worldwide and generates over $84 billion annually in equipment, courses, instruction, and tourism.

The origins of golf in Scotland are well documented if not precisely dated. By the 15th century, the game was popular enough for the Scottish Parliament to try banning it three times (1457, 1471, 1491) before King James IV eventually took up the sport himself in 1502 and bought his own set of clubs. The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland is the oldest golf course in the world, with evidence of golf being played there since the 15th century. St Andrews remains the spiritual home of golf to this day.

The Society of St Andrews Golfers was founded in 1754 and received Royal patronage in 1834, becoming The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A). The R&A, along with the United States Golf Association (USGA), still jointly govern the rules of golf. The first Open Championship — known simply as "The Open" and the oldest of golf's four major championships — was played at Prestwick Golf Club on 17 October 1860, with eight competitors playing three rounds on a 12-hole course. Willie Park Sr. won.

Golf's four major championships define greatness: The Open Championship (1860), the US Open (1895), the Masters Tournament (1934), and the PGA Championship (1916). Winning all four constitutes a "Career Grand Slam" — achieved by only five players in history: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The Masters, played annually in April at Augusta National Golf Club, is perhaps the most prestigious individual tournament in sport.

Tiger Woods transformed golf in the late 1990s and 2000s, becoming the most dominant and commercially transformative figure in the sport's history. Woods won 15 major championships (second all-time to Jack Nicklaus's 18) and spent 683 weeks as world number one. His presence increased golf's television ratings by 40-50% when he was in contention. The "Tiger effect" brought diverse new audiences to golf and inspired a generation of players.

As of June 8, 2026, golf is 569 years old since its first recorded mention in Scotland — making it one of the oldest sports with continuous organised history. The LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour rivalry — following Saudi Arabian public investment fund backing of a breakaway tour — has been one of sport's most contentious controversies of the 2020s, ultimately leading to merger discussions. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Scottie Scheffler lead the current world rankings. ZakGT covers major PGA Tour events and the four Grand Slam majors.