The 10 Best Golfers from Washington State

Northwest Links
Dec 9
3 min read

Washington state has quietly produced some of the most accomplished and influential golfers in the game’s history. From public-course legends to major champions and dominant amateurs, the Evergreen State punches well above its weight.

Here’s our take on the 10 best golfers ever from Washington, ranked from 10 to 1, with an emphasis on professional success, major championships, and sustained impact at the highest levels of the game.

10. Kermit Zarley (Seattle)

A long-time PGA Tour pro from Seattle, Kermit Zarley spent nearly two decades on Tour between the 1960s and early ’80s. He won three PGA Tour events, posted dozens of top-10 finishes, and later added a Champions Tour victory. While he never broke through into true superstar status, Zarley’s longevity at the highest level earns him a place among Washington’s all-time great professionals.

9. Paige Mackenzie (Yakima)

Paige Mackenzie remains one of the most accomplished collegiate golfers in Washington history. A Yakima native and University of Washington standout, she was a multi-time All-American and finished her senior season as the No. 1 ranked amateur in the country. Mackenzie went on to compete on the LPGA Tour and later became a prominent Golf Channel analyst, giving Washington golf sustained national visibility.

8. Anne Quast Sander (Marysville / Everett)

Anne Quast Sander is one of the greatest amateur golfers in the history of the sport. Raised at Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville, she won three U.S. Women’s Amateur championships and later added four U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur titles. Her dominance across decades places her among the most decorated amateurs ever and makes her an essential inclusion in any Washington golf ranking.

7. Andrew Putnam (University Place)

Andrew Putnam edges ahead of his brother on the back of elite PGA Tour success. Raised in University Place and a Pepperdine alum, Putnam broke through with a win at the 2018 Barracuda Championship and has since been one of the steadiest performers on Tour. With multiple seasons inside the FedExCup top-70 and consistent major championship appearances, he represents the modern standard of Washington PGA Tour success.

6. Joel Dahmen (Clarkston)

Joel Dahmen’s journey is one of the most compelling in Washington golf history. A Clarkston native and University of Washington product, Dahmen fought his way through mini-tours and PGA Tour Canada before earning full PGA Tour status. His win at the 2021 Corales Puntacana Championship cemented his place on Tour, while his candid personality and “Full Swing” fame turned him into one of golf’s most relatable figures.

5. Ryan Moore (Puyallup)

Ryan Moore combines one of the greatest amateur seasons ever with a successful PGA Tour career. The Puyallup native captured the U.S. Amateur, NCAA Individual Championship, and multiple elite amateur titles in 2004 before turning pro. He followed that with five PGA Tour wins and consistent major championship contention, making him one of Washington’s most complete golf resumes.

4. Bill Wright (Seattle)

Bill Wright’s place in golf history goes far beyond wins and finishes. Raised in Seattle and a product of the city’s public golf system, Wright became the first Black golfer to win a USGA national championship with his victory at the 1959 U.S. Amateur Public Links. A standout amateur and collegiate golfer, Wright helped pave the way for future generations and remains one of Washington’s most impactful figures in the game.

3. Marvin “Bud” Ward (Olympia)

Bud Ward may be the greatest male amateur golfer Washington has ever produced. An Olympia-area native, Ward won the U.S. Amateur twice and dominated elite amateur events across the country in the late 1930s and early ’40s. Though he never pursued a full-time pro career, his national titles and peak level of play put him firmly in the top tier of Washington golf history.

2. JoAnne Carner (Kirkland)

JoAnne “Big Mama” Carner owns one of the strongest competitive resumes of any golfer from Washington, period. Born in Kirkland, she won five U.S. Women’s Amateur titles before turning professional and becoming one of the most dominant LPGA players of her era. With 43 LPGA victories, two U.S. Women’s Open wins, and a World Golf Hall of Fame career, Carner set a standard that few golfers—male or female—have matched.

1. Fred Couples (Seattle)

No golfer better represents Washington golf than Fred Couples. Raised playing public courses in Seattle, Couples rose to world No. 1, won 15 PGA Tour events, and captured the 1992 Masters with one of the smoothest swings the game has ever seen. With additional Players Championship wins, global victories, senior major titles, and a Hall of Fame career spanning decades, “Boom Boom” stands as the most successful and influential golfer Washington has ever produced.