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What country has the most left-handed golfers?

Author

Emily Sparks

Published Jan 21, 2026

It's widely acknowledged that Canada has the highest proportion of left-handed golfers in the world, although the specific proportion is hard to pin down: the Professional Golfers' Association pegged it at seven per cent in 2010, and some anecdotal numbers run as high as 30 per cent.

What country has the highest population of left handers?

McManus which found that the Netherlands has one of the world's highest prevalences of left-handedness at 13.23 percent. The United States isn't far behind with a rate of 13.1 percent while neighboring Canada has 12.8 percent. Elsewhere, rates of left-handedness are far lower and China is a good example.

Why are there so many left-handed golfers in Canada?

According to the Professional Golfers Association, seven per cent of Canadian golfers play left-handed, which is proportionally more than any other nationality. The reason is probably that Canadians pick up a hockey stick first and are therefore imprinted by the time they take up golf.

Who is the #1 left-handed golfer in the world?

1. Phil Mickelson. Why He's Here: No other left-handed golfer has anywhere near the bounty of professional victories as one Philip Alfred Mickelson has under his $2,000 leather belt.

Who is the best left-handed golfer?

More about the best left handed golfers

Phil Mickelson leads by miles holding 45 USPGA Tour Wins including 6 Majors. Bubba Watson currently holds 12 USPGA tour wins including 2 Majors. Mike Weir holds 8 USPGA tour wins, one being a Major. Bob Charles holds 4 USPGA tour wins, also with 1 Major.

16 related questions found

Is golf harder for lefties?

Is golf harder than lefties? I would have to answer yes. While it's better than it was the past 15-20 years, the sport is still more challenging for lefties. In fact, a lot of players are lefty and choose to play right handed just to make the sport easier.

How many left-handers have won the Masters?

Left-handers have managed to win just seven times, but five of those have come at the Masters. Mike Weir did it in 2003, Phil Mickelson in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and Bubba Watson in 2012.

Why are there so few left-handed golfers?

But why are there so few left-handed golfers? There are several answers, from a lack of equipment to parents, coaches and pros encouraging young players to switch to the right side. Some lefties even feel the courses themselves are biased against them.

How many pro golfers are left-handed?

But within the world of golf, that number gets even smaller, as only about 5 percent of the PGA Tour is left-handed. Despite the small number of lefties that have played at golf's highest level, they have made a big impact on the sport, accounting for 82 PGA Tour victories and 9 major championships.

Is Jack Nicklaus left-handed?

Although he was right-handed, Nicklaus realized he needed to master the art of shaping the ball from right to left to succeed at Augusta. The result was that he won a record six Masters titles.

Are most Canadians left-handed?

No reason is known for this disparity, which cuts across all age groups and has persisted for decades. Most Canadians, like most Americans, are naturally right-handed, so the discrepancy has nothing to do with national brain-wiring.

How many golfers are left?

Based on figures, about 12 percent of golfers are left handed, and six of the professionals on the PGA Tour are lefties.

What percent of Canadian golfers are left-handed?

In Canada, approximately 30 percent of golfers are now left-handed, which is a staggering number anyway that it is looked at.

Are most Japanese left-handed?

Although this does vary depending on location, as in some countries being left handed may still have a social stigma attached to it. For example Taiwan (5%), Japan (4.7%), and Korea (2%) all have a much lower population of lefties. Scroll down a little further to see the lefty representation broken down by country.

Are Arabs more likely to be left-handed?

Is There a Higher Percentage of Left-Handed People in Arabic Countries? No, there is not a higher percentage of left-handed writers in Arabic cultures. The percentage of Arabs who write from the left hand is largely unknown.

Why left-handed are rare?

A new study suggests lefties are rare because of the balance between cooperation and competition in human evolution. The findings come thanks to some data from the sports world. Representing only 10 percent of the general human population, left-handers have been viewed with suspicion and persecuted across history.

Is Brian Harman a Lefty?

1. Brian Harman was born 19th January 1987 in Savannah, Georgia. 2. Harman plays golf left-handed; it is the only sport he plays with this hand.

Does Jordan Spieth throw left-handed?

“You know, I throw and shoot left-handed. My dad is left-handed, my brother plays golf left-handed, and I somehow hit right-handed in baseball, and golf righty,” Spieth says.

Do lefties have an advantage in golf?

Sign up for our daily newsletter! Mickelson – star left-handed golfer. Many scientists believe that left-handers have a distinct sporting advantage and as a left-hander who plays golf right-handed, I'd have to agree. Apparently it's the perfect combination for hand eye co-ordination.

How do left handers hold drivers?

Wrap your fingers around the club so that "V" formed by your thumb and forefinger point to your left shoulder. Your thumb should point down the grip, just to the left of center. Position your hand at least a quarter-inch from the top of the grip.

How do left handers swing their drivers?

Instructions

  1. Tee the ball up high. ...
  2. Line up with your right shoulder facing the target. ...
  3. Play the ball about two ball lengths closer to your front foot than your back foot. ...
  4. Slow down your swing. ...
  5. Go to the driving range and work on your driver--not necessarily for distance but for accuracy.

Has a left-handed player ever won the US Open?

Left-handers have won nine major titles all-time, but none of them have come at the U.S. Open. Phil Mickelson has 5 majors on his resume, three Masters titles, the 2013 British Open, and a PGA championship…

Who was the first left-handed golfer to win a major?

Bob Charles (Sir Robert Charles since his 1999 knighthood) of New Zealand, was the first left-hander to win a major championship. won the Open Championship in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes in an 18 hole playoff with American Phil Rogers.

Who is the oldest to win the Masters?

When talking about the Masters, the oldest golfer to ever win it is Jack Nicklaus when he did it back in 1986 at 46 years old.