Look Back the bests of decade in golf

Best gender barrier-breaking event: Lorena Ochoa, the top player in women's golf, won the 2007 Women's British Open at St. Andrews, the first women's event held at the Old Course, which is the home of the male-only R&A. It was Ochoa's first major championship, making her the first player since Tony Lema in 1964 to win that first career major at the Old Course. "Being at St. Andrews to make history — there's no more to say," a happy Ochoa said.

 

Best non-major tournament: No man with two young sons ever needed a victory, or maybe just a weekend to play golf and take a brief break from reality, more than Clarke at the '06 Ryder Cup. Clarke played brilliantly, once holing a putt in excess of 100 feet from just off the green, and just missed scoring the clinching point for Europe by a matter of minutes. It was the feel-good story of the decade, even if you were an American. Honorable mention: Assorted Bay Hill tournaments where Tiger Woods holed walk-off winning putts on the final green.

 

Best comeback: The Comeback Player of the Year Award used to be reserved for players who overcame physical adversity, but Steve Stricker took the prize when he revived his game in 2006 and rose from 337th in the world rankings to 63rd. The next year, he rose to No. 4 in the world and won it again. "After I won it the second time," Stricker said, "Tiger looked me in the eyes and was dead serious and said, 'You know, no one will ever do that again.' Which is pretty cool."

 

Best quote: Phil Mickelson, after making double bogey to lose the '06 U.S. Open at Winged Foot by one stroke: "I am such an idiot."

 

Best round you never heard about: Jason Bohn won a 2001 Canadian Tour event at Huron Oaks in Sarnia, Ontario, with a final round of 58, 13 under par, one stroke better than any recorded PGA Tour score. (Shigeki Maryuama once shot 58 in a U.S. Open qualifying event.) Bohn's round featured one bogey, and he laid up on the finishing hole, a reachable par 5 over water, to ensure a par and the win. "It was crazy wild," he said. "I'd hit a bad shot and then chip it in."

 

Best simultaneous drive for show, putt for dough: At the 2001 Phoenix Open, Andrew Magee's drive at the 332-yard par-4 17th hole bounced onto the green while Tom Byrum was lining up a putt. Magee's ball glanced off Byrum's putter and into the cup for a crazy-but-valid hole-in-one. "It was the first putt Tom made all day," joked a caddie in the group.

 

Best non-major walkoff shot: Scott Verplank had just hit a brilliant recovery shot on the first playoff hole in the 2004 Ford Championship at Doral's tough 18th hole. Then Craig Parry hit a sweet 6-iron shot from 176 yards that went in the hole for an eagle and the win.

 

Best payback: Woods beat Stephen Ames in the 2006 World Match Play Championship's first round, 9 and 8.

 

Best non-explanation: Woods, asked if he was aware of pre-tournament comments made by Ames that were critical of his game, smiled and repeated, "Nine and eight."

 

Best junior moment: Tie, 12-year-old Morgan Pressel qualified for the 2001 U.S. Women's Open (where she shot two 77s and missed the cut), and 13-year-old Michelle Wie became the youngest golfer to win a USGA adult event with her 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links championship. That same summer, she also became the youngest player to make the cut at a U.S. Women's Open.

 

Best Golf Channel putdown: Arnold Palmer, co-founder and part owner of Golf Channel, was asked to do a post-round interview with the network after he finished playing in the '01 Marconi Classic at Laurel Valley, his home course. "The Golf Channel?" Palmer said. "I don't watch that crap." Then he laughed.

 

The Up and Down in 2009 Golf

Worsts in Golf Decade