By the TC Golf Center Editorial Team ยท Updated
Steph Curry is the best celebrity golfer, playing to scratch or better. He was listed at a 0 handicap for the 2023 American Century Championship, which he won, and at +1 for the 2021 event. Tony Romo is right behind him with a plus handicap, followed by a group of former athletes who play to near scratch.
The handicaps below come from official tournament listings, mainly the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and from published USGA Handicap Index reports. We list the source and year for each one, because celebrity handicaps change over time and many celebrities rarely post scores.
Top 10 Best Celebrity Golfers by Handicap
| Rank | Celebrity | Known For | Handicap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steph Curry | NBA | 0 to +1 | American Century Championship, 2021 and 2023 |
| 2 | Tony Romo | NFL, CBS broadcaster | +1.2 | Public handicap record, 2026 |
| 3 | John Smoltz | MLB | 0 to +1 | American Century Championship, 2021 and 2023 |
| 4 | Joe Pavelski | NHL | 0 to 1 | American Century Championship, 2021 and 2023 |
| 5 | Michael Jordan | NBA | About 1.3 | Widely reported GHIN index, 2023-24 |
| 6 | Ray Allen | NBA | 0.3 to 3 | American Century Championship, 2021 and 2023 |
| 7 | Aaron Rodgers | NFL | 4 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 2024 |
| 8 | Justin Timberlake | Music, acting | 4.3 | American Century Championship, 2021 |
| 9 | Peyton Manning | NFL | 6.4 | GHIN index reported by GOLF.com, 2020 |
| 10 | Tom Brady | NFL | 8 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 2024 |
More Celebrity Golf Handicaps
| Celebrity | Known For | Handicap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Kelce | NFL | 10 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, 2026 |
| Mark Wahlberg | Acting | 10.9 | GHIN index as reported in late 2025 |
| Bill Murray | Acting | About 6 to 8 | Reported, not a current official index |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Acting | Single digits to about 10 | Reported over the years, not a current official index |
| Larry David | Comedy, TV | About 20 | Reported, not an official index |
| Charles Barkley | NBA, TV | No handicap listed | American Century Championship, 2023 |
1. Steph Curry (0 to +1)
Steph Curry is a scratch-or-better golfer and the best celebrity golfer playing today. He was listed at +1 for the 2021 American Century Championship and at 0 for 2023, when he won the event with an eagle on the final hole. He has also played in Korn Ferry Tour events on sponsor exemptions.
Curry has played golf since he was a kid and is known for keeping his handicap honest by posting his scores. For a full breakdown of his game, see our deep dive on Steph Curry's golf handicap and game.
2. Tony Romo (+1.2)
Tony Romo plays to a plus handicap. He was listed at +1.8 for the 2021 American Century Championship, and a public handicap record under his name showed +1.2 in mid-2026. Romo won the American Century Championship in 2018, 2019, and 2022.
After retiring from the NFL and moving into broadcasting with CBS, Romo also played in PGA Tour events on sponsor exemptions, including the 2018 Corales Puntacana Championship. He did not make the cut, but few amateurs are good enough to get the invitation at all.
3. John Smoltz (0 to +1)
John Smoltz, the Hall of Fame pitcher, plays to scratch or better. He was listed at +1 for the 2021 American Century Championship and at 0 for 2023, and he finished second at the event in 2025. In 2018, Smoltz qualified for the U.S. Senior Open through sectional qualifying, a rare feat for a celebrity golfer.
4. Joe Pavelski (0 to 1)
Joe Pavelski, the former NHL forward, plays to about scratch. He was listed at 1 for the 2021 American Century Championship and at 0 for 2023. Pavelski won the 2025 American Century Championship, finishing nine points clear of the field.
5. Michael Jordan (About 1.3)
Michael Jordan's handicap has been widely reported at 1.3 based on his GHIN index in 2023 and 2024. Earlier reports put him at 1.9, and some recent estimates run higher, so treat any single number as a snapshot. Jordan plays constantly, built his own private course in South Florida, and is famous for playing for money.
Is Michael Jordan a Scratch Golfer?
No. Michael Jordan is a low single-digit handicap, not a scratch golfer. A 1.3 handicap means he typically shoots a few strokes over the course rating. That is better than roughly 95% of golfers who keep a handicap, but it is still a step below scratch players like Steph Curry and Tony Romo. See what it takes to become a scratch golfer.
6. Ray Allen (0.3 to 3)
Ray Allen is one of the best golfers to come out of the NBA. He was listed at 0.3 for the 2021 American Century Championship and at 3 for 2023. Allen is a regular at the event and has been a contender for the title, bringing the same precision that made him one of the best shooters in NBA history.
7. Aaron Rodgers (4)
Aaron Rodgers played to a 4 handicap at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His listed handicap has moved around over the years, from 9 in 2020 to 10 in 2023, the year he won the pro-am portion of the event with Ben Silverman. Rodgers also teamed with Bryson DeChambeau against Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson in The Match in 2021.
8. Justin Timberlake (4.3)
Justin Timberlake was listed at a 4.3 handicap for the 2021 American Century Championship. He is one of the most committed golfers in entertainment. From 2008 to 2012, he hosted the PGA Tour's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
9. Peyton Manning (6.4)
Peyton Manning carried a 6.4 handicap index in 2020, according to GOLF.com's reporting on his GHIN record. He was listed at 8 for that year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Manning partnered with Tiger Woods to beat Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson in The Match in 2020.
10. Tom Brady (8)
Tom Brady played to an 8 handicap at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His golf game became famous in The Match in 2020, where he struggled early and then holed out from the fairway for birdie on the seventh hole. Since retiring from the NFL, Brady has had more time for golf.
Travis Kelce (10)
Travis Kelce played to a 10 handicap at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That is an improvement from the 12 he was listed at for the 2023 American Century Championship and the 14 he was listed at in 2021. Kelce is a regular at celebrity events, and his handicap has dropped steadily.
Mark Wahlberg (10.9)
Mark Wahlberg's GHIN handicap index was reported at 10.9 in late 2025. Wahlberg does not publish his own handicap, so treat that figure as a report rather than an official record. Wahlberg is famous for early tee times, often playing before sunrise so he can fit a round in before work.
Bill Murray (About 6 to 8)
Bill Murray is reported to play to about a 6 to 8 handicap, though we could not find a current official index. Murray caddied as a teenager at a club in the Chicago suburbs, starred in Caddyshack, and has been one of the most popular amateurs at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am for decades.
Samuel L. Jackson (Single Digits to About 10)
Samuel L. Jackson has been reported anywhere from the mid-single digits to about 10 over the years. He is famous for having a clause in his film contracts that guarantees him time to play golf during production.
Larry David (About 20)
Larry David reportedly plays to about a 20 handicap. He has turned his frustrations on the golf course into material for several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, where etiquette disputes and slow play are recurring themes.
Charles Barkley (No Official Handicap)
Charles Barkley was listed with no handicap for the 2023 American Century Championship. His swing, with a famous hitch at the top, was one of the most talked-about in celebrity golf for years. He has since worked with instructor Stan Utley to rebuild it and remains a fan favorite at Lake Tahoe.
Who Has the Best Handicap in Golf?
Among celebrities, Steph Curry and Tony Romo have the best handicaps, both at scratch or better. Among all golfers, the best handicaps belong to elite amateurs, who play well into plus figures. Only about 2% of men who keep a handicap are scratch or better, according to the USGA's 2025 data. For more on how rare low scores are, see what percentage of golfers break 80.