25 years later and it still doesn’t seem real. Tiger didn’t just win—he obliterated the field. What are your memories of this iconic U.S. Open? IMO this was the best golf era (1997-2002)
by Golfoneway95
25 years later and it still doesn’t seem real. Tiger didn’t just win—he obliterated the field. What are your memories of this iconic U.S. Open? IMO this was the best golf era (1997-2002)
by Golfoneway95
28 Comments
At pebble beach too that’s insane
Honestly, I don’t think there’s much of an argument against it. Only 25 years ago and at pebble. He was the only player under par and was 12 under at that….its the most dominant win in the sport. I think second place is Augusta 1997 when he won by 12 strokes and ushered in a new era into the game. He’s a major reason why they changed the course.
There’s a USGA video on YouTube called Perfection at Pebble about this tournament. It shows what an absolute killer Tiger was at the height of his power.the next closest competitor finished at +3. I watch it a few times a year and get goosebumps every time.
He had just made the switch to the Nike Tour Accuracy golf ball, a solid core ball before the pro v1 came out. Many of the other players were still using the wound Titleist Professional. On top of being way better than the other players he had the equipment advantage too with that golf ball.
Best tournament performance ever, no question.
Imagining Scottie shooting 16 under at Oakmont this year is just insane.
Wish I was old enough to see Tiger do this. Love the documentary on it, but I’m sure watching live was beautiful.
24 years and 364 days ago, seven Perkins waitresses called off from their shifts, citing exhaustion and an inability to walk straight.
Proof that golf balls matter!
Man he was good.
everyone got those belts, right?
Woods changed the game. All these players now are his “kids”. He can’t compete anymore because he created an army of clones but arguably even better clones which is why I don’t see any domination like Woods again.
I still remember as a kid my friends and me huddled around a little 19 inch TV watching this it was pretty epic. He’s one of the big reasons I got into golf, I had never played until that summer.
take a guess top 50 driving distance year 2000. that was a big chunk of tiger’s advantage. par 5’s. until equipment caught up with tiger. training. trackman etc. sure.
ye yang is the only player to beat tiger in a major toe to toe.
Tiger is the king of golf.
He not only obliterated the field, he demolished Pebble Beach and carved it up that year. The only time Pebble Beach got to him that year was that triple bogey, but he’ll string together 3 birdies to get back to even for the round anyways.
“You’ll learn”
Seriously, what other individual performances in a all of sports compare? It’s a short list.
I don’t think that will ever be matched
Greatest golf performance in a tournament ever
Not arguably, undoubtedly
We talk about how good Scottie is right now, and Tiger at his best was almost a full shot better per round than Scottie. Just insane
Sleeves used to be so long
Let’s not forget he also had a triple bogey 8 on Saturday lol.
Nicklaus last US Open too. Dominating performance by Tiger
2006-2008, IMO. But yeah, this tournament was sporting perfection
Not only was he the best player but he was an early adopter on a multi layered ball. Most players were still using the titleist professional. Pro V1 came out like a year later. This was a significant difference.
Cursing a blue streak on live TV when he rinsed one on 18, Stevie realizing he was down to his last ball but afraid to tell Tiger.
Side note, Tiger had the best ball that week as well,, wasn’t even close, he was using the new Nike ball made by Bridgestone, which eventually became the inspiration for the PROV1.
The technology of his ball compared to the others was night and day,
Not to take anything away from tiger, he still would’ve won obviously, just not sure by how much.
Always thought this was a cool little side note that no one really talks about
I don’t have a specific memory of this tournament. But I know that I got my first golf bag right around this time and my driver had a tiger headcover. My grandfather lived on a golf course and watched tournaments his whole life, but Tiger’s rise made me feel like golf could be for me too. Pretty sure a lot of golfers in my generation feel the same.