6 golfers who have the most PGA Tour wins in a season ft. Tiger Woods
The roots of the PGA Tour can be traced all the way back to 1916. Since then, it has gone on to become the most prominent golf tour in the world. Over the years, the PGA Tour has undergone several changes in terms of structure, tournaments, rules etc.
The 2024 season recently wrapped up with the Tour Championship at East Lake. Although the FedEx Fall events are yet to roll, the FedEx Cup playoffs are generally considered to be final events of the PGA Tour season. This year, US golfer Scottie Scheffler was the clear star of the show. The world no. 1 won six PGA Tour titles, including the Masters. To add to that, he also won gold medal at the Paris Olympics and the season-ending Tour Championship.
The 28-year-old undoubtedly ruled the field this season with his consistent play. He found a great competitor in compatriot Xander Schauffele, who picked up two major titles at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. Had it not been for Scottie Scheffler's extraordinary show, 2024 would have been considered as Schauffele's year.
However, despite of their spectacular performances in 2024, neither Scheffler nor Schauffele has the most number of wins in a single PGA Tour season. So who does? Here we take a look.
Top 5 golfers with most PGA Tour wins in a single season
6) Vijay Singh (2004) : 9 wins
Fijian golfer Vijay Singh turned professional in 1982 and joined the PGA Tour in 1993. His first win on the tour came in 2004, the year that went on to become one of the best of his career. That year, he dethroned Tiger Woods from the world no. 1 spot and ended his 264 week streak. Singh also picked up his third major title with the PGA Championship. He was also the 2004 Player of the Year.
5) Tiger Woods (2000) : 9 wins
Tiger Woods is easily one of the greatest golfers in history. After a thriving amateur career, Woods turned pro at the age of 20 in 1996. And in just five short years, he went on to have possibly one of the best PGA Tour seasons of his career. In 2000, he raked in nine titles, out of which six were consecutive wins, breaking Ben Hogan's 1948 winning streak record. In the same year, the then 24-year-old Woods became the youngest golfer to achieve a Career Grand Slam.
4) Paul Runyan (1933) : 9 wins
Former US golfer Paul Runyan was one of the top golfers in the 1930s. Starting out as a caddie, he turned pro at the age of 17. Out of his total 29 career wins, he picked up nine titles in 1933. This was a year before the first-ever Masters tournament. The World Golf Hall of Fame inductee later went on to become a coach to several prominent players.
3) Ben Hogan (1948 and 1946) : 10 and 13 wins respectively
Former US golfer Ben Hogan is one of the greatest golfers ever. He turned pro at the age of 17 in 1930. His initial years on the professional circuit were trying to say the least and it took him a decade to win his first individual PGA Tour title. His winning run was interrupted by the WWII, where he served in the US Army Air Forces. Soon after the end of the war, Hogan returned to his form. He picked up 13 wins in 1946 and 10 in 1948.
2) Sam Snead (1950) : 11 wins
Former US golfer Sam Snead is widely considered of one of the greatest in this sport. He taught himself to play golf with clubs made out of tree limbs during the Great Depression. Snead joined the PGA Tour in 1936 and found immediate success winning a title in his rookie year. His most successful year came in 1950 when he recorded eleven wins in the season. Till date, he shares the record of most number of PGA Tour wins with Tiger Woods at a whopping 82 victories.
1) Byron Nelson (1945) : 18 wins
Former US golfer Byron Nelson was easily a history maker in the sport. He turned professional in 1932 and found success. In 1945, he won 18 titles, out of which 11 were consecutive. Both of these records remain unbroken to this day. Simply put, it is the greatest single season to have been played in the history of the sport. During his incredible run, he also bagged the PGA Championship, which was the only major to take place that year. The Bob Jones award recepient was the first golfer to have a tournament (Byron Nelson Classic) named after him on the PGA Tour.