The longest drive in PGA Tour history is 787 yards, by Carl Cooper in the 1992 Texas Open. However, we may need to pump the brakes on that as the “official” longest drive in TOUR history.
The PGA TOUR has adopted some parameters to quantify the true, official long drive in its record books. I will explain this more if you read on…and trust me, you will want to!
Officially, according to TOUR records, the longest drive in PGA TOUR history goes to Max Homa, with his 477-yard bomb in 2023 on the 7th hole at Kapalua’s Plantation course.
So what makes Homma’s official and Cooper’s not?
Why isn’t Tiger Woods’s 498-yarder in 2002 on the 18th hole at Kapalua even on the official Top 10 list?
I’ll explain the answers to those questions and the official parameters for including a tee shot on the list of all-time bombs. Additionally, I will reveal the official list as it stands today and some of the biggest drives in 2023.
Check this out: What is The LPGA Average Driving Distance?
Longest Drives in PGA Tour History
Here are the official longest drives in PGA TOUR history as of early 2024.
Rank | Yardage | Player | Year | Course | Hole |
1 | 477 yards | Max Homa | 2024 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 7th hole |
2 | 476 yards | Davis Love III | 2004 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
3 | 473 yards | Jeff Sluman | 2003 | Palmer Course @ PGA West | 14th hole |
4 | 467 yards | Charley Hoffman | 2009 | La Cantera | 1st hole |
5 | 463 yards | Dustin Johnson | 2011 | TPC Boston | 7th hole |
6 | 460 yards | Scott Stallings | 2022 | TPC Scottsdale | 15th hole |
7 | 459 yards | Luke List | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 7th hole |
8 | 457 yards | Justin Thomas | 2019 | Club de Golf Chapultepec | 10th hole |
9 | 455 yards | Ryan Brehm | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
10 | 455 yards | Bubba Watson | 2019 | Pebble Beach Links | 2nd hole |
The list of longest drives on the PGA TOUR was revamped in 2003 after ShotLink became the TOUR’s official date and record-keeping system. Because of this, drives like Tiger’s 498-yarder in 2002 on the 18th hole at Kapalua during the Mercedes Championship have been kicked off the list.
Other drives have been discounted and not marked as official for other reasons.
For example, Dustin Johnson’s 489-yard drive on the 12th hole at Austin Country Club at the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship did not count because the event was a match play format.
And drives like Carl Cooper’s, way back in 1992 at the Texas Open, are no longer “official” due to the circumstances that led to his mind-boggling 787-yard poke. You see, a ball that hits off of a concrete cart path continues to stay on said path and rolls forever downhill on it can surely give you a yard or two extra…or a few hundred yards, for that matter!
More great content: How Far Do Pro Golfers Drive?
Longest Drives on the PGA Tour in 2023
Are you curious about the longest official drives on the PGA TOUR in 2023? Have a look below for the answers. Then stay tuned for the longest drives in the PGA Tour in 2024.
Rank | Yardage | Player | Year | Course | Hole |
1 | 459 yards | Luke List | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 7th hole |
2 | 455 yards | Ryan Brehm | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
3 | 451 yards | Scottie Scheffler | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
4 | 446 yards | J.J. Spaun | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
5 | 439 yards | Aaron Wise | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 7th hole |
6 | 435 yards | Scott Stallings | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 18th hole |
7 | 429 yards | Justin Thomas | 2023 | The Renaissance Club | 7th hole |
8 | 428 yards | Rory McIlroy | 2023 | The Renaissance Club | 7th hole |
9 | 427 yards | Sungjae Im | 2023 | Plantation Course @ Kapalua | 7th hole |
10 | 425 yards | Tapio Pulkkanen | 2023 | The Renaissance Club | 7th hole |
11 | 425 yards | Gordon Sargent | 2023 | TPC Deere Run | 14th hole |
Traditionally, the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, which hosts the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January each year, serves up some of the longest drives we see all season.
Read on: The Longest Driver Shafts: Does Length Add Distance?
More Notable Long Drives in PGA History
Countless other famed drives throughout golf history are not on the official list of longest drives and should not be discounted.
DeChambeau Drives for 377 Yards in 2021
I was on hand to witness one recent storied drive. At the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational, I witnessed Bryson DeChambeau hit the longest drive ever on the signature par 5 sixth hole. His 377-yard bomb was almost all carry as he took a crazy aggressive line of the dogleg left par 5 with a massive pond down the left side.
Mike Austin Drives for 515 Yards in 1974
Then there is Mike Austin’s legendary drive. Guinness recognized Mike Austin for having the longest drive in competition. His world record was set with a 515-yard drive in 1974 at the Las Vegas U.S. National Seniors Open Championship. Mike was 64 years old at the time!
However, as we all know, records are meant to be broken…
Kyle Berkshire Drives for 579 Yards in 2023
You can not talk about long drives without mentioning the king of the long ball, Kyle Berkshire.
Kyle consistently hits drives with ball speeds over 230 mph. His longest drives in World Long Drive Championship competitions are usually in the neighborhood of 500 yards.
Recently, Berkshire hit a drive that claimed the spot of the longest drive, according to Guinness. His 579-yard drive holds the new mark for the longest of all time. That’s right, I said 579 yards!
More from GolfSpan: 10 Best Golf Drivers For Distance
FAQ
What Is Tiger Woods’ Longest Drive Ever?
Tiger Woods’ longest drive ever recorded in competition was 498 yards. This drive occurred during the 2002 Mercedes Championships at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Hawaii, on the 18th hole known for its long downhill and downwind layout.
What Is John Daly’s Longest Drive Ever?
John Daly claimed in an interview his longest drive was 806 yards. But this wasn’t on a golf course; it was at the LA International Airport, and he got a lot of help from concrete. He also drove 414 yards at the 1994 B.C. Open.
Who Is the Straightest Driver in PGA Tour History?
Calvin Peete is the straightest driver in PGA Tour history. Over his career, Peete was renowned for his accuracy off the tee, leading the PGA Tour in driving accuracy for ten consecutive years from 1981 to 1990. His precision helped him secure 12 PGA Tour wins.
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.