The Best Canadian Golfers Of All Time
Canada’s scenic landscapes host not only picturesque courses but also nurture diverse golfing styles and skills. From consistent and skillful play to unorthodox yet effective techniques, Canadian golfers exhibit a range of approaches to the game. Their smooth swings, remarkable amateur careers, and professional successes underscore the country’s golfing prowess. With a legacy of producing top-tier talent, including those renowned for their precision and others for their innovative play, Canada remains a stalwart in the world of golf.
10. Stan Leonard
Stan Leonard, a three-time PGA TOUR winner with 38 victories, won the PGA of Canada’s national championship six times and was the Low Canadian at the Canadian Open eight times. Inducted into several halls of fame, he also achieved three consecutive top-10 finishes at the Masters.
9. Al Balding
Balding, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, made history in 1955 with the first U.S. victory by a Canadian at the Mayfair Inn Open. In 1957, he finished sixth on the PGA TOUR’s money list, the highest ever for a Canadian. He won the World Cup with George Knudson in 1968 and achieved top-10 finishes at The Open Championship in consecutive years. Balding is inducted into multiple halls of fame, including Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame and the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame.
8. Stephen Ames
Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Stephen Ames became a Canadian citizen in 2005. Turning professional in 1987, he won on every tour level, including four PGA TOUR victories, highlighted by the 2006 PLAYERS Championship. Ames also secured wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, and PGA Tour Champions, where he has four titles, including two in 2023. With six top-10 finishes at majors, Ames was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2014.
7. Moe Norman
Tiger Woods praised Norman, alongside Ben Hogan, as one of the only golfers to truly “own” his swing, while Sam Snead called him golf’s “greatest” ball striker. Norman’s ball-striking prowess earned him 55 wins on the Canadian Tour and the PGA of Canada, along with back-to-back Canadian Men’s Amateur titles in 1955 and 1956. He played 27 PGA TOUR events, achieving a best finish of fourth at the 1959 New Orleans Open, and competed twice at the Masters in 1957. Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 and Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame in 2006, Norman’s unique legacy endures in Ontario’s golf history.
6. Lori Kane
Growing up in Prince Edward Island, Kane won the PEI Junior Girls Championship twice and the Women’s Amateur nine times. She played basketball at Acadia University before turning professional in golf in 1993, earning LPGA Tour status in 1996. Kane won the PGA of Canada’s Women’s Championship from 1996-1999 and again in 2001, following a stellar 2000 LPGA Tour season with three victories. With 14 career runner-up finishes and three wins in 2000, she was named Canadian Female Athlete of the Year. Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2015, she received the Order of Canada in 2006.
5. Marlene Stewart Streit
Streit, one of the most accomplished amateur golfers ever, is the only player to win the U.S., British, Australian, and Canadian Amateur Championships. She remains the sole Canadian in the World Golf Hall of Fame and the only golfer named Canada’s Athlete of the Year more than once. A four-time Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year, she also received the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, and was inducted into Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame at 28. In 2003, at age 69, she won the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, becoming the tournament’s oldest champion.
4. George Knudson
Knudson won eight PGA TOUR titles over 11 years, holding the record for the most wins by a Canadian for over three decades. His illustrious career included five PGA of Canada National Championships and five Low Canadian honors at the Canadian Open. He represented Canada at the World Cup nine times, winning individually in 1966 and as a team with Balding in 1968. Renowned for his smooth swing, Knudson was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1986 and Canada’s Sport Hall of Fame in 1969.
3. Sandra Post
Post was a trailblazer for Canadians on the LPGA Tour, becoming the first to play on the tour and winning a major championship as a rookie in 1968. At 20 years and 20 days old, she was the youngest major winner until 2007. Post won eight LPGA Tour titles, becoming the first Canadian to win multiple times in a season, achieving this in 1978 and 1979. A celebrated junior and amateur golfer in Ontario, she skipped college and won Rookie of the Year in her debut season. Named Canada’s Athlete of the Year in 1979, Post was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1988 and received the Order of Canada in 2004.
2. Mike Weir
Canada’s foremost male golfer, Weir, inspires today’s TOUR stars like Conners and Hughes. His 2003 Masters win, the first major by a Canadian male, remains vivid for many. Weir clinched eight PGA TOUR victories, including a World Golf Championship and the 2000 and 2001 TOUR Championships. Named Canada’s Athlete of the Year in 2003, he reached third in the world rankings. Weir played on five Presidents Cup teams and later served as assistant captain. Awarded the Order of Canada in 2009, he entered Canada’s Golf Hall of Fame and Sport Hall of Fame in 2009 and 2017, respectively. Excelling on PGA TOUR Champions, Weir secured his first win on the over-50 circuit in the previous year, maintaining a competitive edge.
1. Brooke Henderson
Brooke Henderson, Canada’s most celebrated golfer, is number one on this list, despite her age, because of her many accolades. She rose to prominence with her remarkable amateur career, clinching 16 wins, including prestigious championships like the Canadian Women’s Amateur. Transitioning to the professional circuit in 2014, she overcame age restrictions, capturing two victories on the SunCoast Series Tour. Since then, her LPGA Tour journey has been historic, marked by multiple wins, including major championships like the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2016 and the Evian Championship in 2022. Henderson’s prowess extends beyond accolades; she’s represented Canada at the Olympics and continues to dominate the international stage, earning her place among golf’s elite.
