Tiger Woods’ greatest 5 seasons on the PGA Tour, ranked

Tiger Woods has had an unbelievable profession. He has received 15 main championships, triumphed 82 instances on the PGA Tour, and received professionally 110 instances general.

Consequently, Woods is thought to be one of many biggest golfers of all time. He has the resume to make that case, though Jack Nicklaus received 18 majors throughout his illustrious profession.

Nonetheless, in honor of Woods’ forty ninth birthday on Dec. 30, Taking part in By way of determined to rank one of the best 5 seasons from his outstanding profession:

5. 2008

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Tournaments Received: 5

Majors Received: U.S. Open

The start of his 2008 season was nothing in need of wonderful.

He started the 12 months at Torrey Pines in late January and received the Buick Invitational for a sixth time.

Two weeks later, he arrived on the Dubai Desert Basic and confirmed the world why he was one of the best. He received that occasion, too—one of many marquee occasions on the DP World Tour.

Then, in a totally totally different format, Woods received the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. He crushed Stewart Cink 8 & 7 within the ultimate spherical for his third straight title.

However he was not performed.

At Bay Hill in March, Woods famously sank a 25-foot birdie putt to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It could mark his fifth straight victory.

Woods then completed runner-up to Trevor Immelman on the 2008 Masters.

After his journey to Augusta Nationwide, Woods introduced he wanted surgical procedure to restore cartilage harm in his left knee. However he wished to win the U.S. Open, which was scheduled to be held at Torrey Pines for the primary time that June.

Alas, Woods arrived in Southern California with a torn ACL and a stress fracture—and received. In maybe the best U.S. Open ever, Woods holed a 12-footer on 18 to pressure a playoff with Rocco Mediate. He received the title the following day.

He spent the remainder of the 12 months recuperating his leg, thus foregoing the remainder of the season.

4. 2005

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Tournaments Received: 7

Majors Received: Masters, Open Championship

The 2005 Masters event marked Woods’ return to main championship lore. His third victory at Augusta Nationwide was his first main triumph in virtually three years, which, on the time, appeared like an eternity for him.

This event is greatest remembered by his second shot on the par-3 sixteenth gap, which trickled down the slope and simply fell within the gap for a birdie.

“In your life! Have you ever ever seen something like that!?” Verne Lundquist, veteran CBS Sports activities announcer, famously exclaimed after this shot.

Woods went on to defeat Chris DiMarco in a playoff.

He additionally received The Open at St. Andrews later that 12 months by 5 strokes. Woods has referred to as The Outdated Course his favourite on the earth, as he triumphed there for a second time.

On high of his two main victories, Woods received 4 different instances on the PGA Tour, three of which got here on programs he has traditionally dominated: Torrey Pines, Doral in Miami, and Firestone Nation Membership in Akron, Ohio.

Then, in October, Woods received a World Golf Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, defeating John Daly in a playoff. He then received the Dunlop Phoenix Match in Japan the next month.

The previous Stanford Cardinal additionally recorded 13 top-10 finishes in 2005, which included a solo second end on the U.S. Open. Pinehurst No. 2 hosted that 12 months and can accomplish that once more in 2024.

3. 2002

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Tournaments Received: 6

Majors Received: Masters, U.S. Open

One other 12 months, one other set of main championships.

Tiger received the Masters for a second consecutive 12 months in 2002, thus turning into the primary participant since Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990 to win back-to-back inexperienced jackets.

He simply received at Augusta Nationwide, cruising to a three-shot victory over Retief Goosen.

Later that 12 months, he received at Bethpage Black by three photographs over Phil Mickelson, thus giving the left-hander one other runner-up end on the U.S. Open. Woods, extremely, was the one participant underneath par.

However in between the Masters and the U.S. Open, Woods took a visit throughout the pond to Germany, the place the Deutsche Financial institution Gamers Championship of Europe awaited him. He went on to defeat Colin Montgomerie in a playoff on the Intestine Kaden Golf Membership.

Woods started the 12 months with back-to-back made cuts. He didn’t fare effectively on the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship however bounced again with a solo second at Doral.

Two weeks later, he lastly emerged victorious at Bay Hill.

He went on to win once more later that 12 months on the Buick Open in August, a event held the week earlier than the PGA Championship.

Then, Woods completed one stroke behind Wealthy Beem at Hazeltine within the season’s ultimate main.

However he would emerge victorious once more in 2002, on the WGC-American Specific Championship in Eire. Woods completed at 25-under par to complete one stroke forward of Retief Goosen.

2. 2006

Photograph by John Walton/Getty Photos

Tournaments Received: 9

Majors Received: The Open, PGA Championship

Just one phrase can describe Tiger’s 2006 season: dominant.

He started the season by defeating José María Olazábal and Nathan Inexperienced in a playoff at Torrey Pines.

One week later, he flew throughout 13 time zones to Dubai, the place he defeated Ernie Els in a playoff on the Dubai Desert Basic. Jet lag didn’t have an effect on Woods then.

He emerged victorious once more at Doral, notching his third skilled victory in as many months.

However after ending in a tie for third on the Masters, Woods took a hiatus from golf attributable to his father’s deteriorating well being.

Earl Woods, the person who taught his son the sport and who served as his mentor, handed away on Could 6, 2006, on the age of 74.

His son didn’t make a begin wherever till mid-June. He missed the minimize on the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, marking his first missed minimize at a significant as knowledgeable.

However he stormed again with a vengeance at Royal Liverpool, counting on his sensible iron play to strategically keep away from all of Hoylake’s pot bunkers. He went on to win The Open for a second straight 12 months. After the ultimate putt dropped, he buried his head into his caddy Steve Williams’ arms, pouring out waves of feelings, figuring out that this was his first main win with out his father there.

Woods went on to win 5 extra instances that 12 months, together with the PGA Championship at Medinah.

1. 2000

John G. Mabanglo/Getty Photos

Tournaments Received: 10

Majors Received: U.S. Open, The Open, PGA Championship

Woods’ efficiency in 2000 was probably the most outstanding season in golf historical past.

He began by successful the Match of Champions in Maui, then the AT&T Pebble Peach Professional-Am, which served as a harbinger of issues to come back.

In March, Woods received the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the primary time at Bay Hill. He would go on to win Arnie’s occasion seven extra instances, together with his final victory there coming in 2013.

He then completed fifth on the Masters, received by Vijay Singh. That might mark the one main Woods didn’t win in 2000.

However earlier than his historic efficiency on the U.S. Open, Woods received once more—this time at Jack’s Place. He received the Memorial Match for a second straight 12 months.

Following his win in Ohio, Woods went again to Pebble Seashore, the place he placed on a efficiency for the ages. He received by 15 strokes—probably the most dominant efficiency in main championship historical past. Tiger completed at 12-under. His subsequent closest pursuers, Ernie Els and Miguel Ángel Jiménez, completed at 3-over.

“I can’t say I foresaw him successful by 15,” veteran NBC announcer Roger Maltbie instructed Golfweek in 2019.

“It was in all probability the best efficiency in a significant championship of all time.”

Tiger didn’t cease there.

He dominated St. Andrews en path to successful his first Claret Jug. He received golf’s oldest main by eight strokes that July, with Els once more ending runner-up.

Lower than a month later, Woods received the PGA Championship at Valhalla. However this time, he wanted to win in thrilling vogue. He completed the ultimate 12 holes in 7-under to pressure a playoff with Bob Could, which was nothing in need of epic. However Woods emerged victorious, thus turning into the primary golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in a single calendar 12 months.

And but, he was not performed.

He went on to win at Firestone the next week by 11 strokes. Then, he received the Canadian Open in September.

To complete the season, Woods captured the Johnnie Walker Basic in Thailand, the place his mom hails from.

There is no such thing as a doubt that golf won’t ever see a efficiency like this ever once more.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.