New rivals for old Tiger
Dec 29, 2016, Agencies
Tiger Woods appeared in only one tournament all season but the year ended with the name of the 14-times major champion on the lips of most golf followers around the world.
Back in action after an absence of almost 16 months caused by chronic back problems, the 40-year-old American made everyone sit up and take notice with a roller-coaster display as he finished 15th at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. Compatriot Jordan Spieth expressed the views of many in the elite 17-man field with a positive assessment of the tournament host's return to competition.
"What looks like is happening is he's being patient, he's making a return, he's confident in his game," twice major winner Spieth told reporters. "That's really exciting for us and for golf.”
Rewinding to the opening major championship of the year, it was Spieth's sudden and unexpected late collapse in the US Masters that opened the door for Danny Willett to claim the coveted Green Jacket.
Another first-time major winner emerged at the US Open in June as Dustin Johnson finally achieved the breakthrough. The long-hitting American showed nerves of steel to triumph by three shots.
The most spectacular major finish of the year occurred at Royal Troon in July as Henrik Stenson outslugged American Phil Mickelson in a remarkable birdie-fest on the final day. American Jimmy Walker made it a clean sweep of first-time victories in the 2016 majors when he won the US PGA Championship.
The top four players in the world rankings all elected to miss golf's return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence but it mattered little to gold medal winner Justin Rose. The Englishman beat Stenson by two shots.
Close friends Rose and Stenson were on the losing side six weeks later when the United States won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 by swatting aside Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine, Minnesota.
Back in action after an absence of almost 16 months caused by chronic back problems, the 40-year-old American made everyone sit up and take notice with a roller-coaster display as he finished 15th at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. Compatriot Jordan Spieth expressed the views of many in the elite 17-man field with a positive assessment of the tournament host's return to competition.
"What looks like is happening is he's being patient, he's making a return, he's confident in his game," twice major winner Spieth told reporters. "That's really exciting for us and for golf.”
Rewinding to the opening major championship of the year, it was Spieth's sudden and unexpected late collapse in the US Masters that opened the door for Danny Willett to claim the coveted Green Jacket.
Another first-time major winner emerged at the US Open in June as Dustin Johnson finally achieved the breakthrough. The long-hitting American showed nerves of steel to triumph by three shots.
The most spectacular major finish of the year occurred at Royal Troon in July as Henrik Stenson outslugged American Phil Mickelson in a remarkable birdie-fest on the final day. American Jimmy Walker made it a clean sweep of first-time victories in the 2016 majors when he won the US PGA Championship.
The top four players in the world rankings all elected to miss golf's return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence but it mattered little to gold medal winner Justin Rose. The Englishman beat Stenson by two shots.
Close friends Rose and Stenson were on the losing side six weeks later when the United States won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 by swatting aside Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine, Minnesota.
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