Scheffler, McIlroy, and Fitzpatrick: Who Would Have the Lowest Handicap?
Few things highlight the exceptional quality of the world’s top players quite like compiling every round into a spreadsheet.
Unlike everyday golfers aiming for single-digit or scratch handicaps, professional tour players seldom need to monitor their handicaps.
We found it intriguing to determine which of these three players, who secured six individual titles between them last season on the PGA Tour, would finish 2026 with the lowest handicap index.
Consider this the official (perhaps unofficial, as we have not calculated the figures for every player) βGolf Monthly Low Handicap Of The Year Awardβ.
First, some preliminary details. For this analysis, we collected every scorecard for these three golfers across all individual PGA Tour events, from The American Express in January 2026 through to the Tour Championship in August 2026.
We omitted non-co-sanctioned events, including scores from DP World Tour tournaments, and excluded the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is contested in a team format.
We also could not utilize scores from The Masters, as Augusta National Golf Club lacks a course rating and Slope rating within the World Handicap System.
So, with anticipation building⦠who concluded the year with the lowest Handicap Index?
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August(Image credit: Getty Images)
Was it World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who, despite missing a Major Championship, still added three additional victories to his record and claimed his second FedExCup title?
Scheffler also earned over $63 million in prize money.
Could it be Rory McIlroy? The Northern Irishman certainly made a triumphant return to form at Augusta, though, as noted, none of the scores from Augusta National are included.
Although he did not secure further victories, he maintained a consistent performance across his 14 appearances, achieving six top-10 finishes and making every cut, with his only early exit being a withdrawal after two rounds at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Matt Fitzpatrick with the RBC Heritage trophy in April(Image credit: Getty Images)
Or was it Matt Fitzpatrick? The Englishman rediscovered his peak form this year, arguably even elevating his game.
He secured three victories, though we have excluded his Zurich Classic of New Orleans win with his brother, Alex, to prevent that third-round 57 from skewing the statistics. Apologies, Matt.
We carefully tracked the location of every round, accounting for tournaments played on different courses, such as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
In other words, course rating and slope were factored into the calculations.
Before revealing the results, a major thank you to the USGA for performing the calculations, which would not have been possible without your expert statisticians.
If you reside in the US and lack a Handicap Index, visit getahandicap.usga.org to find out more.
Right, in reverse orderβ¦
Matt Fitzpatrick +8.0
Fitzpatrick in action at the season-ending Tour Championship(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fitzpatrick’s golf has been dazzling at times this year.
A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, including that victory alongside his brother Alex in Louisiana in April, he also won the French Open in September on the DP World Tour (as mentioned, we have not counted that one here).
His first 20 rounds of the year would have yielded a handicap of 6.9. His last 20, which included a low round of 64 at TPC River Highlands and a high round of 73 at East Lake, would have seen him conclude his campaign at +8.0.
Not bad.
Rory McIlroy +8.7
Rory McIlroy recorded six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2026(Image credit: Getty Images)
McIlroy’s only victory on the PGA Tour came at Augusta National, though, as noted, these scores are not reflected in the six-time Major winner’s Handicap Index.
Even so, +8.7 is highly impressive. His lowest round of the year occurred at East Lake, a 63 at the Tour Championship in the third round.
His worst round of the PGA Tour season came at Quail Hollow (75), a course where he has historically enjoyed significant success.
Scottie Scheffler +9.2
Scottie Scheffler began the year with a win at The American Express(Image credit: Getty Images)
Scheffler’s peers are entitled to insist that the World No.1 plays off +9.2 in ‘friendly’ matches.
We have long since exhausted superlatives for the player who appears destined to finish his career with Tiger-like statistics.
The one honor Tiger never received, however, was the βGolf Monthly Low Handicap Of The Year Awardβ.
Well done, Scottie, your certificate is in the post.
