Golf has been blessed with some truly great players over the years – none more so than Tiger Woods.
Growing up in California, Woods would be introduced to the world of golf at the age of two – the rest you could then say was history. Woods is by far and away the most famous, and highest-earning golfer of all time.
Tiger would soon go on to transform the world of golf, catapulting himself and the sport into worldwide fame.
With a staggering record of 15 majors and 106 wins to his name, it’s a hard task to pick out Tiger’s greatest-ever moments – HITC though have tried it’s best to pick out ten of the best…
10) Tiger’s golf introduction
The world would first be introduced to Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods in 1978 when a two-year-old Tiger would feature on The Mike Douglas Show.
Appearing on the show alongside his father Earl, Tiger’s golf swing would impress show guests Mike Douglas, Bob Hope, and Jimmy Stewart.
Who could have known that same two-year-old would eventually turn into the GOAT of golf?
9) The 2006 Open Championship
Arguably one of the most emotional wins of Tiger’s career came back in 2006 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Still dealing with the passing of his father, Earl Woods, Tiger seemed like a man on a mission at the Open.
The golfing icon would stave off the likes of Chris DiMarco and Ernie Els to secure the Claret Jug. Upon lifting the trophy, Tiger was visibly upset and had to be consoled by long-term friend and caddie Steve Williams.
8) Tiger’s best-ever shot
Tiger is of course no stranger to wowing golf watchers – but the shot that arguably blew fans away the most is his shot from the 18th hole in the 2002 PGA Championship.
Despite being pipped to the title by Rich Beem, Tiger would be the one to steal the headlines with his 3-iron bunker shot bamboozling fans at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Described as one of the best shots ever seen by PGA commentators, the clip above is still watched religiously by golf fans to this day.
7) The 1996 Las Vegas Invitational
This was the moment that kickstarted greatness. Tiger would pick up his first-ever PGA Tour win in 1996 – pipping the experienced Davis Love III to the title.
Aged just 20 at the time, Woods’ Las Vegas victory helped cement his place on the Tour, bagging him a spot in the 1997 Masters in the process – a major that will of course live long in the memory of Tiger fans.
6) The 2005 Masters
Tiger’s 2005 Masters triumph would give birth to one of the most iconic shots in golf history.
With Chris DiMarco hot on his heels on the back nine, Woods’ would step up to the plate with a simply wonderful chip on the 16th.
Initially looking like the shot may not have enough on it, the ball would eventually trickle in the hole – sending the Augusta crowd into a frenzy.
That shot would go on to inspire Tiger to victory, beating DiMarco in a play-off to win his fourth green jacket.
5) The 2001 Masters
The grand slam is an accolade that separates the great from the good. There have only been five players in history to achieve the grand slam, winning all four major championships (Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, Open Championship).
Tiger is of course one of those five players – he however done something no grand slam winner has ever done before.
After picking up the green jacket in 2001, Woods became the first ever player in history to hold all four majors at once – something that would later be known as the ‘Tiger Slam’.
4) The 2000 US Open
If there was a tournament to sum up Tiger’s unwavering dominance throughout the late 1990s and 2000s – it would be this one.
Arguably the most dominant performance in Golf major history, the Californian native provided a perfect performance at Pebble Beach – finishing a whopping 15 shots clear of his nearest opponent.
Tiger would go onto to win nine PGA tour events that year, a record no golfer has even come close to since.
3) The 2008 US Open
The US Open is regarded as one of the toughest tournaments a golfer can face – especially if you’re playing with one leg. Well, that’s what Tiger Woods did in 2008.
Woods would somehow fight on with a torn ACL and leg fracture, holing a 12-foot putt to force a Monday playoff against Rocco Mediate.
Despite his injuries, the golfing icon would eventually overcome Rocco in the play-off – equalling Jack Nicklaus’ record of winning the grand slam three times.
2) The 1997 Masters
This was the moment Tiger not only announced himself to the world of golf but sport in general.
The then 21-year-old whipped the floor with his Augusta counterparts, finishing a simply staggering 12 shots clear of second-placed Tom Kite.
His crazy four-day record of 270 strokes would go down in Masters, until Dustin Johnson pipped the record in 2020.
Tiger’s dominant win would send shockwaves throughout golf, but the victory would also have a huge cultural impact on the game – becoming the first ever player of African or Asian to win the prestigious tournament.
1) The 2019 Masters
Who doesn’t love a comeback story? In what can be regarded as one of sports best-ever comeback stories, Woods shocked the world in 2019, picking his 15th major at Augusta.
Years of injuries and scandals had left many to write off his chances of securing another major – Tiger however would have other ideas.
With simply every golf fan roaring him on, Woods would roll back the years to fight off the likes of Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele, to secure his fifth green jacket.
Simply no other Tiger moment could top this list.
The post Tiger Woods’ top ten most iconic moments include his best ever shot and Masters masterclasses appeared first on HITC.
