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Ranking the 2022 majors in men's golf

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As 2022's golf schedule comes to an end, with the TOUR hosting its last official event in Georgia while the DP World Tour crowns a champion in Dubai, it's time to reflect on one of the wildest years in men's professional golf.

We saw incredible play at all four majors in 2022, filled with drama, heartache, excitement, three first-time major winners, and a playoff in Oklahoma. Here's a ranking of the storylines we got to witness this year:

1. The Open

The Open is always great, and this year didn't disappoint. The 150th tournament was hosted at none other than St. Andrews and saw golf's current biggest player Rory McIlroy contend for the win.

The Northern Irishman has gone eight years without a major victory despite earning four early in his career. This year, however, McIlroy rose to the occasion in Scotland and grabbed a share of the lead heading into the final round.

But on Sunday, McIlroy struggled to make a putt as Cameron Smith - who'd already had a season almost as spectacular as Scottie Scheffler's - made every one of his. The Australian golfer put up his second 8-under 64 of the week for an incredible final round more than worthy of lifting the Claret Jug.

All in all, The Open had everything this year: A beautiful historic course, McIlroy in contention come Sunday's final round, and a winner whose performance was well deserving of Champion Golfer of the Year.

2. Masters

Scheffler had a year for the ages in 2022, notching his first and fourth win in the impressively short span of just two months and quickly rising to World No. 1 at only 25 years old.

After grabbing his maiden TOUR win with the WM Phoenix Open in February and then following it up with two more, the young superstar drove up to Augusta National as the man to beat, and he delivered.

With a three-shot lead over Smith as Sunday began, the tournament was Scheffler's to lose. He made two consecutive birdies late in his round for an even more comfortable gap as he reached his final holes.

However, as Scheffler approached the green at the par-4 18th, he teased a historic meltdown as he four-putted to a double-bogey six. Luckily for him, it no longer mattered at that point as his lead could withstand a bogey or two, and moments later, Scheffler would don the coveted green jacket.

3. PGA Championship

Justin Thomas had one of the biggest come-from-behind rounds seen in a tournament on Sunday. The now two-time major champion shot a 5-under 67 to overcome a seven-stroke deficit and force a playoff against Will Zalatoris.

Zalatoris, although without a win on TOUR, made a name for himself in the major championships with multiple top-10 finishes. Unfortunately for him, he was up against the duo of Thomas and caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay, and neither was a stranger to playing on Sunday.

Despite Thomas' herculean effort to grab his second major title, Mito Pereira's meltdown at 18 arguably overshadowed Sunday's final round - he recorded a double-bogey six at the par-4 18th to not only lose his lead but also miss out on the playoff.

4. U.S. Open

Matt Fitzpatrick was always a good golfer, but there was one crucial thing missing from his resume: A professional win in the States.

While the Englishman had racked up seven wins on the DP World Tour in Europe and was well respected as a top player among his peers, his biggest claim to fame in America was his U.S. Amateur win nearly a decade prior.

There was nothing flashy about Fitzpatrick's week in Boston - at least, not until the very end. After carding rounds of 68-70-68, the 27-year-old entered the final round tied with Zalatoris, who'd just narrowly missed out on the PGA Championship a month earlier.

Fitzpatrick held a one-stroke lead as the pair approached the final hole, but his tee shot at the par-4 18th landed in a fairway bunker. He went on to nail the shot of the tournament - making perfect contact - and land his ball safely on the green. Zalatoris put his birdie chance left of the hole by a fraction, ultimately losing by one stroke to Fitzpatrick.

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