Ten Memorable shots 2009

Tiger Woods hits 8-iron to the par-five 16th in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Woods and Padraig Harrington were locked in a superb last round battle and the Irishman held a one-shot lead going down the 16th. Woods had 178 yards to the flag and hit a towering 8-iron that dropped 10 feet beyond the target and span back to the edge of the hole. It was a sensational moment of drama that had an astonishing effect on Harrington who found a bunker with his own third shot, splashed into water with his fourth and eventually signed for a triple bogey eight. With one shot Woods had snatched back the title.

 

YE Yang's approach to the 72nd hole in the PGA Championship

There can surely be no doubt: this was undoubtedly the shot of the year. At Augusta in 1935 Gene Sarazen struck what was known as the (first of many) "shots heard around the world" but this was the shot that echoed around Asia. Yang's achievement was enormous: not just the first Asian winner of a major but the first man to overhaul Tiger Woods in the final round of those four celebrated tournaments. He gave himself the opportunity to win with a brilliant chip-in eagle on the short par-four 14th hole. But he sealed victory with an astonishing blow from the first cut using a hybrid. It soared above a tree, drew towards a tight pin and landed softly, a mere eight feet from the flag. Truly, no-one struck a sweeter blow in all of 2009.

 

 
Rory McIlroy's bunker shot on the last hole of the Dubai Desert Classic

The young Northern Irishman was chasing his maiden victory and appeared to have it in the bag as he took a five shot lead to the 15th tee. Three holes later he led by just one stroke. He opted to play safe on the par-five final hole only to put his third shot into a bunker behind the green. With a downhill lie, the green running away from him and water beyond, he showed real class to leave the ball a few feet from the hole and clinch the title.

 

Rafa Echenique's albatross two on the par-five 72nd hole in the BMW International

Nick Dougherty was cruising to victory in Germany - he had three holes to play and held a four shot lead. Then he heard an enormous roar from the final hole which signalled that his closest rival, Argentina's Echenique, had holed out with a 3-iron from 243 yards for an albatross two and a final round total of 62. It took a little time for Echenique to realise what he had done - initially he just thought the ball had gone close, but the noise from the green and embraces of his playing partners confirmed the shock news. Dougherty's lead was slashed to one and although he completed the victory he had been given an almighty shock by one of the finest blows of the year.

 

Lee Westwood's recovery shot on the penultimate hole of the Portugal Masters

Westwood had not tasted victory for two years and as he walked towards the green of the par-five 17th hole of the Portugal Masters he must have wondered if another opportunity was slipping from his grasp. He had a one shot lead in the tournament, but his approach shot had flown left of the green and disappeared into a bush. Rather fortunately he was granted a free drop, but that still left him needing to hit over the bush, from a tight lie, with the knowledge that anything long would find water. Westwood flipped the ball high, raced around the bush and arrived in time to see it very nearly find the bottom of the cup. Emboldened by one win, a few weeks later he trounced the field at the Dubai World Championship.

 

 

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