Skip to content

Monday Scorecard: 10 most memorable moments from 2019's majors

theScore

It's hard to believe, but the 2019 major championship season is already over and the calendar hasn't even flipped to August.

However, the season's biggest events produced some remarkable scenes that won't soon be forgotten.

Here is a look at the 10 most memorable moments from a dramatic season of major championships.

10. When the PGA got close

"DJ! DJ! DJ!"

The crowd at Bethpage Black erupted when Dustin Johnson rolled in a birdie putt on the 15th hole, cutting the seven-shot lead Brooks Koepka had held at the start of the final round down to two shots.

Shortly after Johnson's putt dropped, Koepka carded his fourth consecutive bogey, leaving him a one-shot edge with four holes remaining - and creating completely unforeseen drama given the defending champion's monstrous lead with 18 holes left.

Score: Birdie. The PGA Championship will be remembered for Koepka dominating once again, but at one point, his tournament was unraveling, and the excitement level was off the charts.

9. Spieth roasts caddie

This single moment may not go down in history, but it's a great microcosm of Jordan Spieth's disappointing yet memorable season.

After airmailing the eighth green at Pebble Beach, Spieth was quick to point the finger at his caddie, Michael Greller. If he wasn't already, the four-time major winner is now the poster boy for golf's biggest whiners.

Score: Double-bogey. Spieth has plummeted to 37th in the world golf rankings and is in danger of not qualifying for the Presidents Cup team. However, given all of his success on the PGA Tour, it's easy to forget he's only 25 years old and will almost certainly make it back to the top of the game.

8. ZJ's hilarious whiff

Zach Johnson hilariously whiffed/shanked his ball with a practice swing at the Masters. While it didn't cost him any strokes because he wasn't trying to hit the ball, he provided a nice reminder to golf fans that even the best players in the world can look very average.

Score: Eagle. Thanks for the laugh, Zach.

7. Rory's opening hook

Rory McIlroy's opening tee shot at the Open Championship will be remembered for the wrong reasons. In the historic tournament's first visit to Northern Ireland in 68 years, the country's brightest star hooked his first shot out of bounds, leading to a quadruple-bogey.

Score: Bogey for the shot; eagle for the comeback. His first swing took the wind out of the tournament's sails early. However, McIlroy showed resiliency on Day 2. He battled back within one shot of the cutline with a round that inspired many, including his PGA Tour peers. It was tough not to feel for McIlroy, who was visibly emotional after his early exit.

6. Masters slide tackle

Remember this?!

Tiger Woods was nearly taken down by a security guard at the Masters who was trying to control the crowd after the eventual champion hit a shot from the gallery. Woods was limping and appeared to have tweaked his ankle, which sent the golf world into a panic.

Score: The cop gets a bogey, but the scene was an eagle. In the hunt for his first major championship since 2008, Woods was nearly injured by a sliding officer. You can't make that sort of stuff up.

5. Woodland's clincher

Gary Woodland held off a streaking Koepka at Pebble Beach to win the U.S. Open by three shots. While the tournament didn't have the same drama as the two majors before it, the champion sealed the win in style by draining a lengthy birdie on No. 18, a hole after pulling off a stellar chip from the green to maintain his lead.

Score: Eagle. Woodland's feel-good win at Pebble Beach may not have lived up to expectations in terms of excitement, but it's easy to root for a player who has overcome so much, including the loss of a child, on his way to the top.

4. Lowry's walk

Irishman Shane Lowry winning the Open Championship a few hours away from where he grew up is a victory for the ages. As is a tradition at The Open, the scene on No. 18 was incredible. Fans piled in behind the Champion Golfer of the Year while he walked down the fairway.

Score: Eagle. Lowry's six-shot dominance at Royal Portrush was a display you can only sit back and applaud.

3. Another major for Koepka

Koepka found himself at the top of another major championship leaderboard after a stressful Sunday afternoon at Bethpage Black. Usually not one to show emotion on the course, the 29-year-old let out an emphatic scream and fist pump as he watched his par putt drop on No. 18.

Score: Eagle. With his recent success at major championships, Koepka continues to pencil his name in the history books alongside the likes of Tiger and Jack Nicklaus. His sensational run shows no signs of slowing down.

2. The embrace

If watching Tiger embrace his children after winning the Masters doesn't bring a tear to your eye, it's tough to say what will. Woods had never displayed that level of emotion and excitement in his career and gave fans a peek at what he truly cherishes the most.

Score: Hole-in-one. After enduring so much pain and failure during his long road back to golf, it was heartwarming to see Tiger genuinely happy after winning his first major in over 10 years.

1. Tiger's return

No matter how the rest of the major season played out, no moment could have topped Tiger tapping in on No. 18 at Augusta to capture his fifth green jacket. It was a historic, legendary win that produced a moment that may never be replicated.

Score: Hole-in-one. Tiger's win at the 2019 Masters was simply perfect.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox