Carl Cooper hit the longest drive in golf history, a 787-yarder, during the second round of the 1992 Texas Open. However, as you will soon see, there is more to this long ball story.
Some put long-drive sensation Kyle Berkshire at the top of the bomber list. Berkshire’s 579-yard drive in late 2023 beat the official world record mark of 551 yards set by Mike Dobbin in 2007. But Kyle’s poke is not official, as it was not hit in competition.
No matter how far you can hit drives yourself, there is little to no chance they can compare to some of the longest ones ever hit in golf. So, before you flex that muscle and think you are the king of the long ball, have a peak below at my list of longest drives ever recorded.
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Check this out: Bryson DeChambeau’s Longest Drives
Contents
Longest Drives in Golf History
| Rank | Yardage | Player | Year | Course | Verified |
| 1 | 787-yard drive | Carl Cooper | 1992 | Oak Hills Country Club | Tournament Officials. Cart path aided. |
| 2 | 579 -yard drive | Kyle Berkshire | 2023 | Rochelle Ranch Golf Course | Video |
| 3 | 551 -yard drive | Mike Dobbin | 2007 | Wildhorse Golf Club | Long Drive Competition. Official Guinness World Record |
| 4 | 539-yard drive | Scott Smith | 2005 | Albuquerque, NM | Long Drive Competition. Previous Guinness World Record |
| 5 | 515-yard drive | Mike Austin | 1974 | Winterwood Golf Course
(now Desert Rose) |
Tournament Officials at the National Seniors Open Championship |
| 6 | 498 -yard drive | Tiger Woods | 2002 | Plantation Course
@ Kapalua Resort |
PGA TOUR, Pre-ShotLink Era |
| 7 | 489-yard drive | Dustin Johnson | 2018 | Austin Country Club | PGA TOUR, Pre-ShotLink Era |
| 8 | 483 -yard drive | Maurice Allen | 2017 | Denver, CO | Long Drive Competition |
| 9 | 477-yard drive | Max Homa* | 2024 | Plantation Course
@ Kapalua Resort |
PGA TOUR, Official, ShotLink Era |
| 10 | 476-yard drive | Davis Love III | 2004 | Plantation Course
@ Kapalua Resort |
PGA TOUR, Official, ShotLink Era |
*Current official longest recorded drive in PGA TOUR history.
But these are only the official verified drives. Plenty of unofficial bombs have made an impression in history.
For example, the PGA TOUR’s list of longest drives was revised in 2003 after the TOUR implemented ShotLink as its official data and record-keeping system. Due to this change, some previous official longest drives, including Tiger Woods’ 498-yarder on the 18th hole at Kapalua during the 2002 Mercedes Championship, were removed from the list.
Several other drives are not acknowledged as official for various reasons. Dustin Johnson’s 489-yard drive on the 12th at Austin Country Club during the 2018 WGC-Dell Match Play Championship did not count because it was a match-play event. Sorry DJ 😞
Drives, like Carl Cooper’s legendary blast in 1992 during the Texas Open, are not considered “official” because of the circumstances surrounding them. In Cooper’s case, his 787-yarder was aided by hitting a cart path.
Other record-breaking long drives occur through Long Drive Competitions and tours, such as the:
- Long Drivers of America (LDA)
- Xtreme Long Drive Tour
- Amateur Long Drive Championship
- World Long Drive Tour
Even the PGA of America’s PGA Championship, one of golf’s four majors, has had a semi-regular PGA Long Drive Competition. The best of these events came in 1974 when Evan “Big Cat” Williams smoked a 366-yarder.
With all that said, I have come up with the following list of the longest drives in golf of all time. I took some liberties by adding Kyle Berkshire’s 579-yard shot from late last year (2023). That drive was documented on video but was not part of a competition.
And while we are talking about Kyle, kudos to him for breaking his record ball speed mark last fall with a shocking 239.7 MPH!
Read on: The Longest Driver Shafts: Does Length Add Distance?
Longest Drives By Women in Golf History
Women can absolutely hit bombs off the tee as well. However, there is a much larger gap between female professional long drivers and the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour.
With that in mind, I wanted to share two separate charts. The first is female professional long drivers, and the second is stars of the LPGA Tour.
Longest Drives By Women In Competition
| Rank | Yardage | Player | Year | Verified |
| 1 | 413-yard drive | Phillis Meti | 2019 | Long Drive Competition |
| 2 | 406-yard drive | Chloe Garner | 2017 | Long Drive Competition |
| 3 | 406-yard drive | Phillis Meti | 2017 | Long Drive Competition |
| 4 | 402-yard drive | Troy Mullins | 2017 | Long Drive Competition |
| 5 | 401-yard drive | Sandra Carlborg | 2017 | Long Drive Competition |
More great reading on GolfSpan.com: How Far Do Pro Golfers Drive?
LPGA Tour Longest Drives
| Rank | Yardage | Player | Year | Verified |
| 1 | 359 -yard drive | Lexi Thompson | 2016 | LPGA Lotte Championship
First Round |
| 2 | 355 -yard drive | Georgia Hall | 2018 | LPGA HSBC Women’s World Championship,
First Round |
| 3 | 348 -yard drive | Lexi Thompson | 2018 | LPGA ANA Inspiration,
First Round |
| 4 | 348 -yard drive | Peiyun Chien | 2018 | LPGA Pure Silk Bahamas,
Second Round |
Read on: 10 Best Golf Drivers For Distance
FAQ
What Factors Help Your Drive Go Further?
The factors that help a drive go further are hitting at a higher elevation, humid air (but not rain), hot weather, and the wind at your back.
What Is the Longest Drive in a Major Golf Tournament History?
The longest drive in a major golf tournament history was hit by Max Homa, who drove the ball 477 yards at the 7th hole of the Plantation Course at Kapalua in 2024.
Can Anyone Drive 300 Yards?
In 2018, only 61 PGA golfers averaged over 300 yards on their drives. That number has risen some today, one reason why the golfing authorities may bifurcate the equipment. But only a small percentage of golfers can drive 300 yards.
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.
He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He's written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
