For the eighth straight year, a different player from the previous season has ended December as the top-ranked player in the world. Australian Jason Day has that honour in 2016, following Jordan Spieth (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014 and 2012), Tiger Woods (2013 and 2009), Luke Donald (2011) and Lee Westwood (2010).
Of course, before 2009 a certain Californian dominated the rankings, finishing number one at the end of 11 years out of 12 (just missing out to Vijay Singh in 2004). This year, Tiger Woods is ranked 652nd after not having played a competitive round for nearly 16 months.
Previous end-of-year number ones, since the launch of the rankings in 1996, had been Greg Norman (seven times), Severiano Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo and Nick Price.
The 2016 women’s rankings are led by New Zealander Lydia Ko for a second consecutive year. Players previously achieving that honour were Inbee Park (2014 and 2013), Yani Tseng (2012 and 2011), Jiyai Shin (2010), Lorena Ochoa (2007 to 2009) and Annika Sorenstam (2006, the first year of the rankings).
