The 12 Most Infamous Golfers in Modern History

Golf is often painted as a gentleman’s game—quiet, respectful, buttoned-up. But peel back the pristine fairways and polite applause, and you’ll find a few players who stirred up more headlines than handshakes.

Whether it was for scandals, drama, meltdowns, or just being unapologetically themselves, these 12 golfers became infamous for all the wrong—or, depending on your view, right—reasons. Let’s count down the most controversial characters the modern game has seen.

12. Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia putts on no. 18 during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Katie Goodale / Imagn Images

Sergio has always had the talent, but he’s also had a temper that matches his swing speed. From club-slamming outbursts to bizarre spats with fans and fellow players, he’s had plenty of cringeworthy moments.

11. Patrick Reed

Jun 28, 2025; Carrollton, Texas, USA; Patrick Reed watches his shot from the second tee during the second round of the LIV Golf Dallas golf tournament at Maridoe Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Reed has developed a reputation as the guy no one really wants to play with. From cheating accusations to family estrangement stories, his off-course drama almost outpaces his Ryder Cup heroics.

10. Rory Sabbatini

Jun 30, 2022; Silvis, Illinois, USA; Rory Sabbatini of Bratislava Slovakia tees off of the sixth hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Known for his fiery attitude and bizarre on-course behavior, Sabbatini has rubbed more than a few people the wrong way. He once left his playing partner in the dust—literally—by walking ahead mid-round.

9. Ian Poulter

Ian Poulter plays his shot from the tenth tee during the LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship Finals at Maridoe Golf Club.
Jim Cowsert / Imagn Images

Poulter is one of the most polarizing figures in golf thanks to his brash confidence and flair for the dramatic. He’s always ready with a quote, a tweet, or an outfit that gets people talking—for better or worse.

8. Tiger Woods

April 10, 2005; Augusta, GA, USA; Tiger Woods goes to his knees as he misses a putt on 11. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber/USA TODAY
Jack Gruber-USA TODAY NETWORK vi

No one has a more complicated legacy than Tiger. From jaw-dropping dominance to jaw-dropping scandal, his rise, fall, and return remain one of sports’ most dramatic sagas.

7. Craig Stadler

Apr 10, 2014; Augusta, GA, USA; Craig Stadler walks to the 7th green during the first round of the 2014 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-Imagn Images
Jack Gruber-Imagn Images

Nicknamed “The Walrus,” Stadler was both beloved and controversial for his old-school style and occasional outbursts. He once got penalized for using a towel to kneel on—yes, really.

6. Vijay Singh

Vijay Singh tees off on 1 to start the final round of The Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Sunday, March 30, 2025
Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Singh’s beef with the PGA Tour and his doping accusations have followed him for decades. Despite his wins, he’s never quite won over fans or peers the way others have.

5. John Daly

John Daly on the 16th green during the first round of the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
Jack Gruber / Imagn Images

Daly is golf’s ultimate wildcard—a beer-slinging, cigarette-smoking, loudmouth legend. He’s lovable to many, but between suspensions, gambling stories, and wild outfits, he’s always been chaos in cargo shorts.

4. Phil Mickelson

04/07/1999; Augusta, Georgia USA; Phil Mickelson watches the ball in flight after his swing at the Augusta National Golf Course during the 1999 Masters. Mandatory Credit: File Photo -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
The Augusta Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK

Lefty has always danced the line between charming and controversial, but his recent ties to LIV Golf and questionable comments have turned up the heat. He went from fan favorite to public relations nightmare almost overnight.

3. Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau takes a shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow.
Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images

Bryson’s body transformation, bizarre science-speak, and feuds with fellow pros have made him a magnet for attention. He’s talented, sure, but he also knows how to stir the pot.

Read More: 15 Most Respectful Rivals in Sports History

2. Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka watches his shot while on the 18th fairway during the 125TH US Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA on June 15, 2025
Michael Longo / For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Koepka walks around like he’s too cool for golf, and maybe that’s what ruffles feathers. His beefs, blunt interviews, and general apathy toward golf tradition have made him a lightning rod in the sport.

Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Emotionally Volatile Golfers Ever

1. Greg Norman

Greg Norman follows his ball after hitting off the 11th tee during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament at the Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach, CA.
Kyle Terada / Imagn Images

Norman’s legacy as a player is impressive, but his role as the face of LIV Golf turned him into public enemy number one in the eyes of many golf traditionalists. The Shark went from legend to instigator and doesn’t seem to mind the shift one bit.

Read More: 15 Golfers Who Could Never Let Anything Go

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