There’s a fine line between being a world-class athlete and a red carpet regular, and some golfers have blurred that line more than others. Whether it was the fame, the fortune, or the flashbulbs, these golfers leaned a little too hard into the lifestyle of the rich and famous and forgot there was still a tournament to win.
From fashion statements to TMZ headlines, these are the golfers who sometimes acted like the PGA Tour was just a side hustle. Let’s count down the top 15 golfers who thought they were celebrities first and players second.
15. Smylie Kaufman
Smylie had the name, the charisma, and the spring break Instagram stories to match. Unfortunately, the golf part never quite kept up with the brand.
14. Ian Poulter
The loud pants were always going to get attention, and he absolutely knew it. Poulter leaned into the spotlight every chance he got, even when his scorecard begged him not to.
13. John Daly
Daly was doing the rockstar athlete thing before it was cool. Between the outfits, the Diet Cokes, and the country music gigs, golf felt like his side gig.
12. Michelle Wie
Wie burst onto the scene as a teenage phenom with a media circus in tow. The endorsements and photo shoots started flowing before the trophies ever did.
11. Rickie Fowler
Rickie had the orange outfits, the motocross friendships, and a whole generation of young fans. But for a while there, his Q rating was higher than his world ranking.
10. Tony Jacklin
Jacklin helped make European golf cool, and he made sure to enjoy the celebrity that came with it. He was a big deal on both sides of the pond, sometimes more for the flair than the fairways.
9. Natalie Gulbis
Between magazine spreads and reality TV appearances, Gulbis became more famous for her image than her scores. The spotlight loved her, and she loved it right back.
8. Jesper Parnevik
With his flipped-up hats and Swedish pop culture appeal, Parnevik always looked like he was heading to a fashion show after his round. He played well, but the vibe screamed celebrity first.
7. Sergio Garcia
Sergio was a media darling from the jump, and he played into that with flair and attitude. At times, it felt like he was more interested in headlines than hardware.
6. Paige Spiranac
Spiranac turned a brief golf career into full-on influencer status. She’s more recognizable for her brand than for any leaderboard appearance.
5. Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Chi-Chi was as much a showman as he was a golfer, twirling his putter like a sword and soaking in the crowd’s cheers. He brought the celebrity swagger to every round.
4. Dustin Johnson
Between his model wife, lavish lifestyle, and tabloid appearances, DJ sometimes looked more Hollywood than Hilton Head. The guy can play, but the brand often overshadowed the ball striking.
Read More: 15 Golfers Who Loved Themselves More Than the Game
3. Greg Norman
The Shark was everywhere—from fashion to business to celebrity events. For a while, he was more mogul than major champion.
Read More: 19 Golfers Who Had More Confidence Than Consistency
2. Tiger Woods
At the height of his fame, Tiger was as recognizable as any A-list actor or athlete on Earth. His off-course persona became a global obsession that often outshone even his dominance.
Read More: 15 Most Boastful Golfers of All Time
1. Brooks Koepka
Koepka has made it clear he’d rather be a superstar than grind it out week-to-week. With magazine covers, social media clout, and a clear love of the limelight, he’s fully embraced the celebrity first, golfer second lifestyle.
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