Golf Decade

Most underrated player: Kenny Perry. If he had won the 2009 Masters like he could have (or maybe should have), Perry wouldn't be far from a Hall of Fame career. Because he works the ball only one direction and has a unique swing, he doesn't get enough credit for having more wins (14) than David Toms, Jim Furyk or Justin Leonard.

 

Biggest cash grab: The FedEx Cup started in 2007 with $10 million to the winner of a four-week playoff series after a season-long points qualifier and $35 million in prize money overall. The $10 million was paid as an annuity in the first year; the last two years $9 million of it came as cash.

 

Biggest letdown: See Biggest cash grab.

 

Most amazing coincidence: Parry, the last man to play Doral's 18th in the '04 Ford Championship, eagled the hole. Esteban Toledo, the first man to play Doral's 18th in the first round of the '05 Ford Championship, eagled the hole, also holing a 6-iron shot. Playing partner Billy Andrade was away and should've been the first to play, but Toledo hit first because Andrade was waiting on a ruling.

 

Most ingenious attempt to start The Wave: Woody Austin, paired with Phil Mickelson in a Presidents Cup foursomes match in 2007, tried to play a shot out of a greenside lake at Royal Montreal's 14th hole. Austin failed to get the ball out of the water, lost his balance and disappeared face-first into the lake. Mickelson dubbed him Aquaman, and the next day Austin donned a snorkel and mask as he approached that green.

 

Least dynamic duo: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, paired together by captain Hal Sutton during the '06 Ryder Cup, lost both of their first-round matches and foretold the coming American disaster at Oakland Hills.

 Bravest farewells: PGA Tour player Jeff Julian and long-time tour caddie Bruce Edwards passed away after lengthy battles against ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Most honest victory reaction: Tiger Woods cried into caddie Steve Williams' shoulder after winning the 2006 British Open at Hoylake, his first victory after the death of his father, Earl Woods.

 

Biggest controversy: The ongoing debate about golf equipment, especially the ultra-long new balls and high-tech drivers. The USGA hasn't done anything about the ball yet, but it has invoked limits on head size, moment of inertia and trampoline effect. Starting next year, U-grooves are banned for professional golf but not for recreational golf. Not only will the grooves ruling impact pros' shots from the rough, it may also be the start of a new day — separate equipment rules for professionals and amateurs.

 

Biggest feud: Hootie Johnson and Augusta National versus Martha Burk in a battle about the club's lack of women members. Burk got all the headlines and Nightline interviews for months but lost the fight when Johnson made the Masters telecast sponsor-free, eliminating the weak spots where Burk hoped to apply pressure. When Burk could muster fewer than a hundred demonstrators in Augusta for the '03 tournament after months of tough talk, it was a virtual white flag.

 

Ten Moments Made the History of Decade Part I

The Up and Down in 2009 Golf