Confidence is everything in golf—it’s just you, your swing, and the course. But some golfers didn’t trust their game; they honestly thought they were untouchable.
Whether it’s bold predictions, questionable decisions, or nonstop self-hype, these players walked the line between swagger and delusion. Here are the 20 most overconfident golfers of all time, ranked by how high they placed themselves on their leaderboard.
20. Ty Tryon
Tryon turned pro at 16 and signed a big deal before ever doing much. The belief was there, but the results never followed.
19. Rory Sabbatini
Sabbatini had a lot, especially about how good he thought he was. He once called Tigeeatab but didn’t come close to doing it.
18. David Duval
Duval hit world No. 1 and carried himself like the future of the sport. Then his game fell off a cliff, but he confided slightly longer than it should’ve.
17. Patrick Reed
Reed has declared himself a top-five player in the world on multiple occasions. That might be true sometimes, but he never doubts it, even when the leaderboard disagrees.
16. John Daly
Daly’s game came and went, but his swagger never left. Even when missing cuts, he still acted like the clubhouse king.
15. Sergio Garcia
Sergio was always sure he’d win a major—until it took him nearly two decades to do it. He had the game, but the bravado often outpaced the results.
14. Jesper Parnevik
With his popped collars and unshakeable self-belief, Jesper always looked like he was on his way to win until he didn’t. He made confidence an accessory.
13. Anthony Kim
Kim acted like a rock star before his resume was long enough. The talent was real, and he operated at full volume from day one.
12. Phil Mickelson
Phil’s confidence has always been sky-high, even when the risk didn’t make sense. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it blew up, but Lefty always believed he’d pull it off.
11. Camilo Villegas
Spider-Man and N-Positionieve Vill belong with the best. For much of his career, his confidence was ahead of his resume.
10. Brooks Koepka
Koepka loves to downplay other players and act like majors are the only ones that matter. It’s worked for him, but the attitude has rubbed more than a few people the wrong way.
9. Ian Poulter
Poulter once said he was the only one who could challenge Tiger. The Ryder Cup magic is real, but outside of that, the confidence has usually been bigger than the trophy case.
8. Vijay Singh
Vijay always believed he worked harder than anyone else and wasn’t shy about saying, “Sure, he.” He backed it up, but humility was never part of the brand.
7. Colin Montgomerie
Monty had the attitude of a multiple major winner, without winning one. He was sure he belonged at the top, even when he didn’t quite get there.
6. Jordan Spieth
Spieth talks to his ball more than some players talk to their caddies. He believes every shot has a chance, even when sailing into the woods.
5. Bubba Watson
Bubba thinks he’s different—and he is. But his shot-making bravado sometimes lands somewhere between genius and “what was that?”
4. Tiger Woods (early years)
Tiger had every reason to believe he was the best—because he was. But in the early days, his belief in himself was so strong that it made other pros look unsure of their own.
3. Rickie Fowler
Rickie had the hype, the swagger, and the commercials—just not the years. He carried himself like a superstar for years before his game caught up.
Read More: Ranking the 20 LEAST Clutch Golfers of All Time
2. Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson thinks he can science his way to golf immortality. From bulking up to reinventing strategy mid-round, his belief in Bryson never wavers.
Read More: 10 Golfers Who Were Born for the Spotlight
1. Greg Norman
The Shark carried himself like he owned the sport, even when his most significant moments were collapses. He was always sure he was the guy, even when history had other plans.
Read More: The 15 Most Delusional Golfers of All Time
