OWGR: Ranking Every World No. 1 in History

(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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STRAFFAN, IRELAND – MAY 22: Martin Kaymer of Germany hits an approach shot on the 9th hole during the final round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation at The K Club on May 22, 2016 in Straffan, Ireland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /

16. Martin Kaymer

Time at the top: 8 weeks

There might not be a bigger Jekyll and Hyde golfer on this list than Kaymer. Often resurfacing when we least expect it, the German has snatched up two major championships and a PLAYERS Championship in less than a decade. Puzzlingly, these are his only PGA Tour victories.

Kaymer spent eight weeks at the top in 2011 but all but disappeared shortly thereafter, returning to the game’s elite ranks only briefly during his dominant run in 2014, when he won twice. Aside from that, Kaymer has a respectable career with 11 European Tour victories but not much else.

He was a hero at the 2012 Ryder Cup, sinking the clinching putt at Medinah, but his extremely erratic career arc makes him hard to place on this list.

Next: Adam Scott