The most turbulent season of PGA Tour history is now behind us.
A season that began in September Max HomaIt was a week after Team USA beat Team Europe in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Strits, Team Europe won the Fortinet Championship. The Fortinet Championship in Napa, California was won by Team USA on the week before Team Europe beat Team America in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits (doesnt that seem like years ago?) Rory McIlroy Coming from behindIn the final round, you will win the Tour Championship and a $18 million winners prize.
In between, 15-time major champion Tiger WoodsSix-time major champion, made his return Phil Mickelson went into exile, Scottie SchefflerThe best player in the world, and the Greg NormanLIV Golf Invitational Series, a -led event, made its debut.
McIlroy stated Sunday that everyone on tour has had to deal with a lot . Even the guys who have had to deal with a lot, McIlroy said Sunday. [gone]LIV has had to deal with a lot. Its been a very turbulent era in our game.
McIlroy and Scheffler are both Cameron SmithWoods and Woods dominated the headlines on the course, but the PGA Tours ongoing fight with LIV Golf for top players has consumed the sport since February.
Here are the top moments of the 2021-22 PGA Tour Season:
Favorite player of the year
Scottie Scheffler was disappointed with his breakthrough season. He lost his 6-shot lead in Round 6 of the Tour Championship and finished second behind McIlroy.
Scheffler still won four times in six starts, despite not winning in his first two seasons of tour. He also won his first major at Aprils Masters. He also won the WM Phoenix Open Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC–Dell Technologies Match Play.
Its got been some of the most outstanding golf that has ever been played in the past 15 or 20 years. Brian HarmanESPN.
Cam Smith had an amazing year, but he also set the record for birdie convert and had a hot putter throughout the year. Scheffler has accomplished this feat with his putter and irons, his driver, and his short game. Scheffler is a complete player, and he can hit it long. He has a great touch. He is a master of his craft.
Scheffler ranked 19th overall in driving distance (3111.6 meters), first in greens regulation (72.3%) and forth in scoring average (69.29).
Favorite Rookies of the Year
Its hard for us to believe. Cameron YoungThe 2020-21 season began without him having Korn Ferry Tour status. He was granted a temporary membership and placed 19th in points. This earned him a PGA Tour card.
Young, a Briarcliff Manor, New York player, was immediately successful on tour and became the first player since. Vijay SinghIn 2003, he was the record holder of five runner-up finishes. He finished second at the Sanderson Farms Championship and Genesis Invitational, Wells Fargo Championship, Open Championship, Rocket Mortgage Classic, and Wells Fargo Championship.
Young is the second player since 1958 to finish among the top three at The Opens PGA Championship. Collin MorikawaHe won both events in his debut start.
Young, 25, was the first rookie to earn more then $5 million in a season. His earnings totaled $6.5million. After spending the last few years living with their families, Kelsey and Young were able purchase a house.
Its a tremendous honor, especially in light of the name of Arnold PalmerYoung spoke of the Arnold Palmer Award which goes to the tour’s top rookie. Everything he is involved with is something special. I am very grateful to him for his award. Although its not something that I set out for, I did accomplish a few of my goals this year.
Biggest story
The season was dominated by the PGA Tours fight for survival against LIV Golf circuit, which was funded by Saudi Arabia. It began at Rivieras Genesis Invitational in February. One question was the most popular topic at news conferences, on the practice green, and on the driving range: Whos going to be there?
Smith and other Australians will be in Sydney on Tuesday. Marc LeishmanChiles Joaquin NiemannAmericans Cameron Tringale Harold Varner IIIIndias Anirban Lahiribecame the newest PGA Tour member LIV Golf is the best place to defect.
LIV Golfs next event will see 32 ex-PGA Tour members or those who have been suspended compete in the event. It is scheduled to begin at The International outside Boston. The bleeding seems to be halting, at least temporarily.
LIV Golf joined seven other players last week as a plaintiff in a lawsuit Federal antitrust lawsuitAgainst the PGA Tour. The case may not be heard by a jury until September 2023. This is the most compelling storyline in men’s golf for a long time.
Caddie of the year
Ted Scotts second loop might be better than his original. After helping Bubba WatsonScott won two Masters titles, and 10 PGA Tour events over a 15 year partnership. In November, he was lured back on the course to take over Scheffler’s bag.
Scott was there to guide Scheffler as he learned how to win and became the greatest player in the world.
Scott tied Jim Bones Mackays record for fifth place in the Masters caddies with three wins at Augusta National. Willie Pappy” Stokes, Willie Peterson and Steve Williams worked for players who won five green Jackets.
Comeback Player of The Year
Tiger Woods is the greatest player in golf, and word spread that he was considering playing in the Masters in April.
Woods attended his first official event since being seriously injured in a car crash outside Los Angeles in February 2021. Only 14 monthsWoods, who nearly lost his right leg, made it to Augusta National and placed 47th.
The chapter closes with Tiger Woods 24th Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/uNyEsieMXC
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2022
Woods made the cut at the PGA Championship a month later. However, the cold and wet conditions proved too much for his injured right leg and back. He withdrew after 54 holes.
Woods, 46 years old, had marked the 150th Open in St. Andrews as an event that he must play. Woods missed the cut but his walk down 18th fairway in Scotland was one of golfs most memorable scenes.
Best shot
Holding a 1-stroke lead Will ZalatorisThe 18th hole was the final round in the U.S. Open, which took place on June 19, Matt FitzpatrickHis tee shot high and left. His ball ended up in sand below a steep lip.
Zalatoris said that he walked by the lie and thought it was absurd. It was 1 in 20 at best.
Fitzpatrick had good odds. Fitzpatrick hit his second shot perfectly from 155 yards and the ball ended up on the elevated green 18 feet from the hole. After Zalatoris narrowly missed his birdie attempt, he two-putted for par to win his first major. Zalatoris stated that Zalatoris was amazed at how he pulled it off, and even had a birdie-look.
Best putt
After finishing the final round of Valspar Championship, 3 shots behind leader Davis Riley, Sam BurnsA playoff was necessary. He defeated Riley with a 32-foot bomb on the second playoff hole. It was his second consecutive victory at Innisbrook, and his third PGA Tour title.
He BURIES It❗️
Unbelievable putt @SamBurns66. pic.twitter.com/CbWOptcjLW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 20, 2022
Nine weeks later, Burns overcome a 7-shot deficit to force a playoff. Burns shot a 38-footer on the back fringe to beat Scheffler in his state.
Best drive
Bryson DeChambeauPreviously, DeChambeau had been the PGA Tours most prolific player. However, he was injured in an early round and later defected to LIV Golf. DeChambeau was 403 yards long in the Sentry Tournament of Champions, his longest drive of the PGA Tour season. This event was the first of 2022.
It is actually him who drives the longest distance of the season. Scott StallingsDuring round two of the WM Phoenix Open, he shot a 460 yarder. It was 31 yards longer that the 429-yarder by, which was the next closest drive. Adam SchenkIn the first round of Wells Fargo Championship.
Best round
Smith couldn’t make it on the greens in St. Andrews during Round 3 of the Open Championship. He won the Claret Jug, his first major championship, and couldnt miss any of it the next day.
Smith, a player from Australia, scored a 6-under-30 on nine — the lowest closing-nine score of Open history — in order to overcome a 4-shot deficit to Rory McIlroy. Viktor Hovland. Smith posted a bogey free 8-under 64 and defeated Cameron Young 1 stroke.
Smith was only the third winner to shoot 64 or better in the final round of The Open, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Henrik StensonGreg Norman (64 at Royal St. Georges 1993) and Smith (63 at Royal Troon 2016) were the other. Smiths 20-under score matched Stenson’s 72-hole total in 2016, which was the lowest score to Par in Open history.
Young said that it was pretty amazing to see Cameron shoot the way he did.
Best comeback
Justin ThomasThe final round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills was started in seventh place, seven shots behind the leader Mito Pereira. Thomas was the only man in front of Thomas who had ever won a major. After winning the 2017 PGA Championship, he was now looking for his second.
Thomas shot a 3-under-67 in the final round to force a playoff against Zalatoris. Pereira had made a double bogey at the 72nd hole. Thomas made birdies on two holes of the aggregate playoff to hand Zalatoris yet another devastating defeat. Thomas made a birdie on the 17th hole, the second extra hole. He hit a 3-wood from 319 yards to 35 feet and took Zalatoris to another painful defeat.
Best finish
After many near misses, Zalatoris finally won his first PGA Tour victory with a playoff win over Sepp StrakaIn the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPCSouthwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Zalatoris would then have to endure another wild playoff in order to end his drought.
The playoff consisted of three penalty drops, zero birdies, and three holes. Zalatoris tee shot on the par-3 11th holes hit the bank of an island green and bounced seven time against a rock wall. It finally stopped between rocks and deep rough. Strakas golf ball also hit the bank, and bounced into the sea.
Straka went to the drop zone, and he hit his third shot into an open greenside bunker. He hit 4 feet. Joel Stock, Zalatoris new caddie, spent several minutes debating the best course of action. Stock advised him to return to the drop zone rather than trying to make a miraculous putt. Zalatoris finally agreed, and he hit his third shot from 7 feet. After that, he sank a putt to win.
An instant classic.@WillZalatoris vs. @SeppStraka
Every shot from the third playoff hole @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/rZclieVlSf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 14, 2022
Zalatoris stated that it was difficult to say About time when you are in your second year of touring, but it is about time. Considering all those close finishes it means a lot.
Best tweet
Phil Mickelson claimed he won the PGA Tours inaugural Player Impact Program and the $8 Million that came with it on Dec. 29. Woods was able to win the top prize despite having a late surge. Woods couldn’t help but criticize his longtime rival via social media.
🤷♂️Whoops!🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/SkMTGerVOB
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 2, 2022
Quote of the year
They are scary motherf—ers to get into a relationship with. We know that they killed [Washington Post reporter and U.S. resident Jamal]Khashoggi has a terrible record in human rights. They execute gay people in that country. All of this being said, why would I even think about it? This is a unique opportunity to reshape the PGA Tours operations. Mickelson Alan Shipnuck, authorHere is his explanation for why he was considering leaving LIV Golf. Mickelson was suspended from the PGA Tour. He skipped the Masters as well as the PGA Championship, which he had won the previous year, while he took time off golf.