Golf year in review: Superlatives from the 2021 PGA Tour and golfing world

5 best moments in golf this year

5. Bryson’s bomb over the lake at the API

It could’ve been on Instagram (or other social media forms) or even on some tee boxes, but everyone was waiting for Bryson DeChambeau to truly show off his power at a PGA Tour event. And the Arnold Palmer Invitational afforded him the perfect opportunity for that on the sixth hole.

Because he can be a caricature of himself at times, Bryson is easy to poke and prod. But what he’s accomplished is truly unbelievable and watching him put every bit of that power on display for a 370-yard drive over a full-blown lake was something that literally seemed impossible before he accomplished it.

4. Jordan Spieth wins again

For what felt like forever, Jordan Spieth was lost in the wilderness mentally almost as much as his tee shots were ending up in the same position. The prodigious young Texan was a shell of the player he once was and was trying to find it.

Slowly but surely, he did that, and it culminated in the 2021 calendar year. He challenged numerous times, including at The Masters, but finally reached the pinnacle once again by winning the Texas Open just prior to heading to the hallowed ground in Georgia. While it may not be the same caliber of tournament, Spieth’s firm announcement that he’s back was a sight for sore eyes.

3. The Bow

Hideki Matsuyama winning The Masters, becoming the first male Japanese major championship winner in the process, was a special moment in its own right. But after the victory came one of the indelible images of the year, courtesy of his caddie.

With a tournament and course like Augusta National that is rightfully shrouded with mystique and prestige, to see the caddie bow in respect to the course is one of the most beautiful images in golf that we’re ever going to see.

2. U.S. Team dominates the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits

Like we weren’t going to talk about the Ryder Cup here.

Because of the United States’ shortcomings throughout recent history as it pertains to the Ryder Cup, Steve Stricker threw all that out the window. Granted, it was on home soil at Whistling Straits but, with fans expecting the worst and people wondering how the group would gel, the dominant display that the U.S. side put forth was truly one for the ages and a moment that seemingly signified a new era for the Ryder Cup in the states.

1. Tiger Woods’ improbable return at the PNC Championship

Roughly 10 months after being involved in a single-car accident that nearly cost him his life and his leg, Tiger Woods was at the PNC Championship with his ineffable son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship. And once again, it was like looking through a time machine watching the father-son duo and their mirrored mannerisms and swings.

Even though Tiger and Charlie came up short against John Daly and John Daly II, the fact that they were in contention and looked as good as they did was something that will stick with every golf fan for a long, long time.