When it comes to golf, there’s one name that stands out above the rest: Tiger Woods. His 15 major victories make him arguably the greatest golfer of all time. Many may argue that that honor should go to Jack Nicklaus, who has won three more majors than his younger adversary, however, we are firmly in Tiger’s camp.
Throughout his near three-decade-long career, Woods has taken golf to another level. He turned pro in 1996 and immediately shot to world number one the following year. He would sit at the top of the pile for a mighty 264 weeks, with Vijay Singh knocking him off the top spot.
Although he has won 82 career PGA Tour titles, the American sensation is perhaps best known for Wood’s major victories. Bookies providing the latest golf betting odds don’t consider him a favorite for any of the majors next year, and he is priced as long as +10000 to win for a sixth time at the Masters.
But with plenty to choose from – and potentially more to come – which of his major wins are the most impressive?
1997 Masters
At just 21 years old, Tiger Woods won his first major championship. He romped to success at the 1997 Masters, dominating the rest of the field and ultimately finishing a whopping 12 strokes ahead of his nearest rival, namely compatriot Tom Kite. His performance was so impressive that it’s still talked about today – some even consider it to be the greatest performance in the history of golf.
The margin of victory remains the largest in Masters history, and it’s a record that will probably never be broken. With the victory, the world of golf had finally found someone to take over the reins from Jack Nicklaus and go on to dominate the sport.
2000 U.S Open
Tiger wasn’t satisfied with just breaking the margin of victory at Augusta. Three years later, he would also set a record when he went on to decimate his rivals at Pebble Beach en route to claiming the 2000 US Open.
His scorecard of 12-under 272 was even more impressive, considering the fact that he was the only player to finish the tournament under par. His nearest rivals were Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez and South Africa’s Ernie Els however, the best they could manage was three over par, some 15 strokes behind the GOAT.
2001 Masters
After romping to glory at Augusta in 1997, Tiger would have to wait another four years for the next time he could wear the green jacket. And his victory in 2001 was even more surprising considering his relatively slow start, hitting 70 for the day, good enough for two under par and leaving him five strokes adrift of the lead. He would rally in the second round though, clawing himself to within two strokes of the lead, and from there, he never looked back.
He would embark on a close contest with American rival Phil Mickelson. The pair couldn’t be separated after two rounds, with both of them tied on eight under par and two strokes adrift of leader Chris DiMarco. Woods would pull ahead on day three, finishing the day a stroke clear of Mickelson and he would hold his nerve on the final day, eventually finishing two strokes ahead of the field. The win solidified Tiger’s No. 1 ranking in the world of golf, where he would remain for the next five years. It also bagged him a cool $1 million in prize money.
2005 Masters
In what was one of the most thrilling Major outings ever. Tiger once again came from behind to win his fourth green jacket eventually beating Chris DiMarco – just as he did four years prior. – on the first hole of the sudden-death playoff. After DiMarco’s fantastic birdie operation on the 18th, the game was forced into sudden death. There, Tiger hit two jaw-dropping shots that set him up with a birdie putt and the victory celebrations that came with it.
He started the final round three strokes behind the leader. But he shot a bogey-free 31 on the back nine, including a dramatic chip-in on the 16th hole, to earn his fourth green jacket. The shot is still replayed to this day and his win is often remembered for the emotional moment when Tiger hugged his father, who had been battling cancer and would pass away just a few weeks later.
2019 Masters
And finally, we have the 2019 Masters. After a series of personal and professional setbacks, many had written Tiger off as a genuine major contender. He hadn’t looked like winning at Augusta – or any other course for that matter – for the better part of a decade. However, he managed to roll back the years and defy the odds for the fifth time, taking him within one of Jack Nicklaus’ record at the famous course.
His final round was a masterclass in shot-making and mental toughness, and the roar of the Augusta crowd as he tapped in for the win will go down as one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.
