Give two pro golfers the same driver, and you might be shocked by the distance difference they record. We have those rare golfers who hit mammoth shots on the driver, surpassing the official standards of the longest drives on professional tours. Hitting 300 yards and above is considered prowess, especially considering the Overall Distance Standard has remained at 317 yards for the last two decades, and even the newest golf ball rollback update seeks to retain the ODS at the same level. And then you meet a golfer like Carl Cooper, who struck an unimaginable 787 yards effortlessly. Before you get carried away by your potential ability to hit balls beyond the green, check out the below ten stars who tend to perform driving magic unexpectedly.
Ten Longest Drives in Golf History
Carl Cooper – 787 yards
The year was 1992, at the Texas Open at Oak Hills Country Club. Cooper’s ability to hit firm whacks and good fortunes on the 3rd hole enabled the golfer to record a historical drive of 787 yards. The player’s extraordinary drive struck the par four 3rd hole, landing on a concrete cart path angled downhill. Surprised by his power, Cooper had to take another three shots to return to the green.
Mike Austin – 515 yards
Most professional athletes hit their pinnacle in their thirties, but great talent is rare because Mike Austin landed on the Guinness Book of World Records at age 64. During the 1974 National Seniors Open Championship at Winterwood Golf Course, Austin hit a 515-yard drive on the 5th hole. A persimmon wood driver hit an outdated balata ball squarely to make the player a PGA TOUR driving legend.
Tiger Woods – 498 yards
When was the last time you read about golf legends and missed the name Tiger? Woods is a talented ball driver, proven by his 2002 Mercedes Championship 498-yard drive at Kapalua’s Plantation Course. Although new golf fans might know Tiger by his injuries and personal setbacks, the man was one of the best ever at his prime, and even the PGA TOUR’s strict ShotLink system recognizes him as one of the longest hitters in history.
Dustin Johnson – 489 yards
Every club loves and believes in their DJ, and golf fans equally have one in the name of Dustin Johnson. The American golfer showed no mercy when he struck a 489-yard drive at the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. Johnson was maneuvering the 3rd round on the 12th hole when he unearthed this drive.
Davis Love III – 476 yards
Per the PGA TOUR’s official standards, Davis Love III holds the record for the longest drive at 476 yards. Love showed no mercy during the 2004 Mercedes Championship at Kapalua’s Plantation Course, hitting his drive on the 18th hole of the fourth round. Proving his worth, the long hitter was unperturbed when he caught the downhill section of a steeply cambered fairway, striking a drive that will forever remain in golf history books.