The U. S. Open brought Tiger Woods back to the PGA Tour for what turned out to be a his final, and career best, tournament of the 2008 season. Woods underwent knee surgery after the Masters and had not played 18 holes before the opening round. Little did we know what was about to happen over the next five days. Four days of grimacing led to a final putt to tie Rocco Mediate, who was looking to take home his first major title. Never a doubt, the putt dropped setting up an 19-hole playoff that will never be forgotten. Woods revealed after a dramatic Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate the true condition of his knee, marking one of the gutsiest performances of any athlete in any sport.
2. Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup lived up to the hype. The talk all season was how the American team is inferior to the great European team, winners of the last three Cup events. Led by Captain Paul Azinger, the Americans proved to be the better team with great play from young players like Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and J. B. Holmes. The Nick Faldo-led European team played flat and out of sync. The only bright spot for the Europeans was Ian Poulter, who finished the week with a 4-1-0 record.
3. Padraig Harrington
Many thought Phil Mickelson would step up in Tiger Woods’ absence but, Irishman Padraig Harrington took the reigns successfully defending his British Open crown and winning the PGA Championship. He moved to the forefront of the conversation about who is the best golfer after Woods. To cap off a terrific season, Harrington took home Player of the Year honors.
4. Anthony Kim
One of the breakthrough players of 2008 was Anthony Kim. He proved his first win on Tour at the Wachovia Championship was not a fluke after grabbing a second title a few weeks later at the AT&T Championship. He then followed up the hype with a great performance at the Ryder Cup. Kim was the spirit of the American team and finished his first Ryder Cup with a convincing 5&4 win over Sergio Garcia in the opening match on Sunday.
5. Sergio Garcia
People were doubting if Sergio Garcia was going to ever win a big tournament and he proved them wrong with a playoff victory at THE PLAYERS Championship. It seemed as if the Spaniard loosened up half way through the season as he finished with four top five finishes over his last five events, including second place finishes at the PGA Championship, The Barclays and THE TOUR Championship. He finished the season in third place in the FedEx Cup standings behind Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas.
6. Kenny Perry
Kenny Perry’s season goal was to make the Ryder Cup and he let everyone know. He strategy was controversial as he skipped the U. S. Open and British Open. But, the strategy paid off as Perry lit up leaderboards with wins at the Memorial Tournament, Buick Open and John Deere Classic. He also proved to be a valuable member of the winning Ryder Cup team with a 2-1-1 record.
7. Rocco Mediate
Rocco made an improbable run at the U. S. Open crown, which would have been his first major championship. He then contended at the British Open and let golfers realize that there are some true professionals on Tour. He was shown having fun on the course with fans, his caddy and the moment. Mediate was the feel-good story for the 2008 PGA Tour season.
8. Vijay Singh
Some golfers just can’t be counted out and Vijay Singh tops that list. Singh struggled early but caught fire in August, winning two of four events in the month. He ran away with the FedEx Cup after victories at The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship to open the PGA Playoffs. With his late season wins, Singh became the PGA Tour’s top winning international player.
9. Camilo Villegas
Camilo Villegas broke through at the end of the season with a stellar performance in the FedEx Cup. He captured the final two events of the playoffs, marking his first two PGA Tour wins. The wins at the BMW Championship and THE TOUR Championship put the Colombian on everyone’s radar and makes him one to watch out for next year.
10. Tiger Woods
Woods was impressive in 2008. He started out the year with three straight wins and was thought to have a great chance at taking home all four majors. His season was cut short after two knee surgeries but is still in the mix for Player of the Year honors. Woods’ season line in six events played include four wins, runner up at the Masters and a fifth place finish at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.
Top 10 Moments of 2008 PGA Tour Season
1. U. S. Open at Torrey Pines
The U. S. Open brought Tiger Woods back to the PGA Tour for what turned out to be a his final, and career best, tournament of the 2008 season. Woods underwent knee surgery after the Masters and had not played 18 holes before the opening round. Little did we know what was about to happen over the next five days. Four days of grimacing led to a final putt to tie Rocco Mediate, who was looking to take home his first major title. Never a doubt, the putt dropped setting up an 19-hole playoff that will never be forgotten. Woods revealed after a dramatic Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate the true condition of his knee, marking one of the gutsiest performances of any athlete in any sport.
2. Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup lived up to the hype. The talk all season was how the American team is inferior to the great European team, winners of the last three Cup events. Led by Captain Paul Azinger, the Americans proved to be the better team with great play from young players like Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and J. B. Holmes. The Nick Faldo-led European team played flat and out of sync. The only bright spot for the Europeans was Ian Poulter, who finished the week with a 4-1-0 record.
3. Padraig Harrington
Many thought Phil Mickelson would step up in Tiger Woods’ absence but, Irishman Padraig Harrington took the reigns successfully defending his British Open crown and winning the PGA Championship. He moved to the forefront of the conversation about who is the best golfer after Woods. To cap off a terrific season, Harrington took home Player of the Year honors.
4. Anthony Kim
One of the breakthrough players of 2008 was Anthony Kim. He proved his first win on Tour at the Wachovia Championship was not a fluke after grabbing a second title a few weeks later at the AT&T Championship. He then followed up the hype with a great performance at the Ryder Cup. Kim was the spirit of the American team and finished his first Ryder Cup with a convincing 5&4 win over Sergio Garcia in the opening match on Sunday.
5. Sergio Garcia
People were doubting if Sergio Garcia was going to ever win a big tournament and he proved them wrong with a playoff victory at THE PLAYERS Championship. It seemed as if the Spaniard loosened up half way through the season as he finished with four top five finishes over his last five events, including second place finishes at the PGA Championship, The Barclays and THE TOUR Championship. He finished the season in third place in the FedEx Cup standings behind Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas.
6. Kenny Perry
Kenny Perry’s season goal was to make the Ryder Cup and he let everyone know. He strategy was controversial as he skipped the U. S. Open and British Open. But, the strategy paid off as Perry lit up leaderboards with wins at the Memorial Tournament, Buick Open and John Deere Classic. He also proved to be a valuable member of the winning Ryder Cup team with a 2-1-1 record.
7. Rocco Mediate
Rocco made an improbable run at the U. S. Open crown, which would have been his first major championship. He then contended at the British Open and let golfers realize that there are some true professionals on Tour. He was shown having fun on the course with fans, his caddy and the moment. Mediate was the feel-good story for the 2008 PGA Tour season.
8. Vijay Singh
Some golfers just can’t be counted out and Vijay Singh tops that list. Singh struggled early but caught fire in August, winning two of four events in the month. He ran away with the FedEx Cup after victories at The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship to open the PGA Playoffs. With his late season wins, Singh became the PGA Tour’s top winning international player.
9. Camilo Villegas
Camilo Villegas broke through at the end of the season with a stellar performance in the FedEx Cup. He captured the final two events of the playoffs, marking his first two PGA Tour wins. The wins at the BMW Championship and THE TOUR Championship put the Colombian on everyone’s radar and makes him one to watch out for next year.
10. Tiger Woods
Woods was impressive in 2008. He started out the year with three straight wins and was thought to have a great chance at taking home all four majors. His season was cut short after two knee surgeries but is still in the mix for Player of the Year honors. Woods’ season line in six events played include four wins, runner up at the Masters and a fifth place finish at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.