Golfers led by Tiger Woods in the ESPN’s Top 100 athletes from 2000 to date

Tiger Woods is the top-ranked golfer in the ESPN’s list of the best 100 Athletes from January 1, 2000, to date. This ranking is a comprehensive list of exceptional athletes who have made significant contributions to their respective sports.

Individual sports experts voted for the best athletes in their respective sports in the given span. Over 70,000 votes were cast in some phases of the voting process, with an ELO-based system used to compile the list of the top 100 athletes.

Tiger Woods‘ legacy extends beyond his 13 major victories, 67 PGA Tour victories and more than 10 years at the top of the world rankings from 2000 to date. It also encompasses the impact he has had on the sport since winning his first major at the age of 21.

Woods has brought a youthful energy and spectacular appeal to golf that has contributed to its growing popularity. It is unclear what the future would have held for the Hall of Famer had he not been hampered by injuries and personal problems during the last 15 years of his career as a professional golfer.

The 54-year-old American recently tied for 60th in the Open Championship at Royal Troon. His age is an asset, as evidenced by his victory in the 2021 PGA Championship, the first major victory for a golfer over 50. Lefty, as he is known, has attracted both admirers and detractors, as only someone with his unique profile can inspire such a wide range of emotions.

His longevity in the sport and his prominent role have been overshadowed by his involvement in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. However, his legacy in the sport cannot be denied.

This number on the list does not diminish the Swedish professional golfer’s exemplary career or her unparalleled dominance on the world golf circuit. Her emergence in the sport marked a significant turning point. Ms. Sorenstam’s 97 victories around the globe, including 10 majors, and her status as the only woman to shoot a 59 in a professional tournament, exemplify her exceptional skill and dominance in the sport.

In 2002, she achieved a remarkable 11 victories, the most by a female player in 40 years. She also became the first woman to play in a PGA event in over 50 years. In 2003, she completed the Grand Slam by winning each of the four major tournaments.

Annika Sörenstam has been named Player of the Year eight times and holds several all-time scoring records, including the lowest season score average of 68.6969 in 2004.

This golfer’s results, starting with winning the 2011 U.S. Open, then the 2012 PGA Championship, and two more majors in 2014, had led him to be seen as a potential game-changer in golf. Undoubtedly one of the most consistent and popular golfers of his generation, McIlroy has won 40 times, including 26 on the PGA Tour, he has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year three times and has won the Race to Dubai five times.

However, a 10-year drought in major championships has resulted in a slower pace of victories compared to other luminaries of the sport, such as Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus.

In addition, Rory McIlroy was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Northern Ireland in June 2011 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire and the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award in 2012.

Swimmer Michael Phelps tops the list, with tennis player Serena Williams, soccer player Lionel Messi, basketball player LeBron James and football player Tom Brady rounding out the top 5.