The Power 18 golf rankings: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young inch closer to overtaking Scottie Scheffler

3 weeks ago 8

The top of the golf world has tightened over the last few months, setting up a sizzling summer

May 4, 2026 at 11:27 am ET • 8 min read

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Four months into the 2026 season, four golfers have separated themselves from the rest. While Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have claimed permanent residence in the outer reaches, a pair of newcomers have gobbled up property in the neighborhood -- and they are looking to own, not rent.

While the top two players in the game remain in the top two spots (it takes more than a couple of months of play to evict them), Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are making their marches. Both players have won multiple times this season: Fitzpatrick leading the PGA Tour with three victories, and Young claiming two significant wins at The Players Championship and Cadillac Championship.

Although they have not encroached on the top two spots in this iteration of The Power 18 golf rankings, they have passed everyone else on their way into the top five.

Two-time major champions Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are both stuck in holding patterns, albeit for different reasons: Morikawa hopes to get healthier and healthier by the week (he withdrew from the forthcoming Truist Championship), and Schauffele looks to seriously contend in a tournament before the PGA Championship.

LIV Golf members Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau continue to dust the field in their respective circuit (which still exists ... right?), but a major step back was taken at the first major championship of the season.

Other winners this season, like Chris Gotterup and Justin Rose, have lacked some consistency compared to their peers, but their upside remains undeniable in the race to become the best player in the game.

The Power 18 provides insight into how golfers are currently performing with the benefit of their play over recent events. It is a wider lens than simply what happened at the last tournament to be played but more narrow than the Official World Golf Rankings, which take into account how more than 2,000 golfers perform across an entire season.