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

Tiger Woods has had an unimaginable profession. He has received 15 main championships, triumphed 82 occasions on the PGA Tour, and received professionally 110 occasions total.

Consequently, Woods is considered 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 determined to rank the very best 5 seasons from his exceptional profession:

5. 2008

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Tournaments Gained: 5

Majors Gained: U.S. Open

The start of his 2008 season was nothing wanting 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 Traditional and confirmed the world why he was the very best. He received that occasion, too—one of many marquee occasions on the DP World Tour.

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

However he was not carried out.

At Bay Hill in March, Woods famously sank a 25-foot birdie putt to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It might 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 needed 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 power 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 Gained: 7

Majors Gained: Masters, Open Championship

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

This match 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 planet, as he triumphed there for a second time.

On high of his two main victories, Woods received 4 different occasions 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 Event 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 Gained: 6

Majors Gained: 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 pictures over Phil Mickelson, thus giving the left-hander one other runner-up end on the U.S. Open. Woods, extremely, was the one participant below 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 nicely 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 match held the week earlier than the PGA Championship.

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

Picture by John Walton/Getty Pictures

Tournaments Gained: 9

Majors Gained: 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 Traditional. 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 resulting from 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 Might 6, 2006, on the age of 74.

His son didn’t make a begin anyplace till mid-June. He missed the minimize on the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, marking his first missed minimize at a serious 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, realizing that this was his first main win with out his father there.

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

1. 2000

John G. Mabanglo/Getty Pictures

Tournaments Gained: 10

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

Woods’ efficiency in 2000 was essentially the most exceptional season in golf historical past.

He began by successful the Event 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 occasions, 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 Event 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—essentially 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 informed Golfweek in 2019.

“It was in all probability the best efficiency in a serious 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 trend. He completed the ultimate 12 holes in 7-under to power a playoff with Bob Might, which was nothing wanting 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 carried out.

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 Traditional in Thailand, the place his mom hails from.

There isn’t any 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. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.