Matti Schmid begins 2026 as the highest-ranked German golfer in the world. Following him are Stephan Jäger and Nicolai Von Dellingshausen.
Only One German in the Top 100
As the 2026 golf season begins, we look at the rankings with which German players enter the year. The top German player is Matti Schmid at rank 92, also the only German in the top 100. Stephan Jäger, who was ranked 52 at the start of last year, lost points and now sits at 114.
The best German player not competing on the PGA Tour is Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, ranked 193. Marcel Siem has made some gains following his T14 finish at the Dubai Invitational in the third weekend of January. He currently ranks 257. Also within the top 300 are Marcel Schneider at 243 and Thomas Rosenmüller at 276.
Sepp Straka in the Top 15
By far the highest-ranked player from the German-speaking region remains Sepp Straka at the start of 2026. He is ranked 12th after taking a quieter approach late last year due to family matters. His strong results last year put him in position to challenge the top 10 in the world rankings again in the coming year.
Scottie Scheffler Leading by a Wide Margin
The undisputed world number one remains Scottie Scheffler. He leads by over 200 points ahead of second-ranked Rory McIlroy. The top five is completed by England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Americans Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley.