Opinion & Analysis

There’s a major omission in Brandel Chamblee’s list of the 10 best seasons in men’s golf

Published

7 years ago

Jun 25, 2019

Brandel’s list is great, but he’s missing a BIG one…maybe the BEST one. Earlier this week Brandel Chamblee, whom I respect and enjoy, tweeted a list of the top 10 years in men’s golf.

The ten best years in men’s golf.

Tiger 2000
Hogan 1953
Jones 1930
Nelson 1945
Tiger 2007
Hogan 1946
Snead 1949
Palmer 1960
Spieth 2015
Tiger 2005 https://t.co/I9ZqGH03E1

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) June 25, 2019

It’s a great list and one that was very well thought out. However, there is one season that is missing, and in my opinion, it could go down as one of the top 5 of all time, if not the best: Tiger Woods’ 2008 season.

Yes, the year he played only the first half of the season

Before the trolls start to engage, let’s look at all the facts…

Tournaments worldwide: 7
Wins: 5 (Dubai, Torrey, Bay Hill, Match Play, U.S. Open)
Top 5s: 7
Majors: 1
Scoring average: 67.65
*also won the Tavistock Cup

So, let’s put this in perspective, the guy teed it up eight times total (including the Tavistock). He won six times. His worst finish was fifth. He came from behind to win in Dubai, Bay Hill, and the U.S. Open. The only tournament that he didn’t really have a chance to win was the Masters, and frankly, if he makes any putts at all he wins that too.

He dealt with serious left leg and knee injuries all season; having arthroscopic knee surgery two days after the Masters, hurrying his comeback, and suffering stress fractures in his tibia and continued ACL issues. AND TW also revealed in 2010 that he injured and re-injured his right Achilles tendon multiple times throughout 2008.

In regards to the competition: Phil, Ernie, Padraig, Sergio, Westwood, Adam Scott, and many others were in their primes and gunning for him harder than ever before. Keep in mind that from 2005-2007, Tiger won 21 times in 52 starts on the PGA Tour. What would he have done if he was healthy?

Let’s also discuss the moments in this season. The nuclear putt on the 18th at Dubai, the utter dominance at Torrey, the hat throw on 18 at Bay Hill, The absolute smackdown of Stewart Cink in the Match Play final, Tiger’s back 9 on Friday at U.S. Open, Tiger’s back 9 on Saturday at U.S. Open, Tiger’s final round at U.S. Open, Tiger’s playoff vs. Rocco. So, in perspective, he had maybe 20 moments that year that probably land in his top 100 highlight reel.

While you are all taking this in, go to YouTube and watch videos from that year, and I guarantee you will get lost in the countless moments of absolute greatness. What he did in 2000, 2006, 2007, etc was unbelievable BUT what he did in ’08 is truly unworldly.

And, oh yeah, one other thing: Tiger played six times on the PGA Tour, finished second on the money list just $1 million behind Vijay who played 23 times. He was No. 1 in Fed Ex Cup points going into the playoffs….in 6 events.

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23 Comments

Bobbyg

Jun 27, 2019 at 4:29 pm

Who cares about seasons? Best career and GOAT is Jack Nicklaus, period, unless you include Bill Murray’s Cinderella Story.

Reply Report comment
Scratchscorer

Jun 27, 2019 at 9:00 am

Article would be easier to take seriously if the ‘Tavistock Cup’ was left out altogether.

Reply Report comment
HDTVMAN

Jun 26, 2019 at 4:38 pm

Chamblee…who actually gives a damn what this nothing says. Didn’t he win the US Putt-Putt Open, his only win on tour?

Reply Report comment
- Stefan
  
  Jun 27, 2019 at 11:41 am
  
  So… which tournaments did you win?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - sam jones
    
    Jun 28, 2019 at 6:09 pm
    
    and nobody really gives a damn what HE says, either. it’s just his opinion, but it is interesting to hear.
    
    but when you have chamblee talking trash, say, about someone doing the worst possible thing ever in history (losing weight, getting stronger) for his career (Koepka), or his fairly constant trash talking of Tiger Woods, it is kind of hard to take him seriously.
    
    Reply Report comment
jc

Jun 26, 2019 at 3:46 pm

if tiger wasn’t going to canada for blook things, sneaking in and out of brothels with 2 escorts, trying to be a ranger and ducking 9 irons, he might have also done better.

Reply Report comment
dtrain

Jun 26, 2019 at 2:59 pm

IN 1972 Jack won the Masters and the US Open, 7 total events. Plus the Australian Open, which was considered the top event outside the USA, not named the Open Championship, at the time. He also took 2nd in the Open, and 13th at the PGA.

So 8 events, two being the Masters and the US Open, arguably the two most important tournaments in the world, in 1972.

Brandel’s list is pretty good, but

Reply Report comment
- Yasssman
  
  Jun 26, 2019 at 4:43 pm
  
  Yeah Nicklaus needs a spot for ’72.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jack Nash

Jun 26, 2019 at 2:51 pm

Brandel who?

Reply Report comment
vince

Jun 26, 2019 at 2:50 pm

Vijay’s Tiger toppling 2004 is definitely in the top 10 seasons of all time. 28 out of 29 cuts made, only 5 times outside the top 25 and 9 PGA Tour wins.

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David Lehmann

Jun 26, 2019 at 11:51 am

What does one expect… after all it is Brandel Chamblee…. How can someone with his track record have his opinion matter anyway!

Reply Report comment
Robert

Jun 26, 2019 at 11:38 am

No Justin Thomas 2017?

Reply Report comment
- Prime21
  
  Jun 26, 2019 at 11:43 am
  
  ????
  
  Reply Report comment
b.c.

Jun 25, 2019 at 9:22 pm

This list is inaccurate and totally worthless of any value. How can Jack Nicklaus (the GREATEST OF ALL TIME) not be on such a list?

Reply Report comment
- liam
  
  Jun 26, 2019 at 8:41 am
  
  which season of Jack’s would you add to the list? instead of complaining….what you got?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Jun 26, 2019 at 7:45 pm
  
  Because Jacks not the GOAT. Tiger is.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Scooter6
    
    Jul 2, 2019 at 9:06 am
    
    What?
    
    Reply Report comment
tom

Jun 25, 2019 at 9:08 pm

ha ha .. Jack doesn’t make the list??

Reply Report comment
K

Jun 25, 2019 at 9:03 pm

2004 VJ Singh.
9 victories including PGA.
Beat Eldrick to the number 1 spot during Eldrick’s height of his powers

Reply Report comment
Stephen Osborne

Jun 25, 2019 at 8:46 pm

Completely agree that Tiger’s 2008 season should be on that list. Had it not been for his injury, this could have resulted in the most dominant year in professional golf history. But, his injury existed and HIS season was ended with 6 wins in 8 events. Interesting topic for debate.

Reply Report comment
James Compo

Jun 25, 2019 at 8:37 pm

I’d actually throw out tiger 2007 and replace it with Tiger in 2002

Reply Report comment
Johnny Penso

Jun 25, 2019 at 8:20 pm

Agreed on Tiger. IMO it’s a strong testament to the career of one Mr. Nicklaus that he isn’t in the top ten but is the GOAT anyway. Consistency wins.

Reply Report comment
- Kevin S
  
  Jun 26, 2019 at 8:30 pm
  
  How about Nicklaus 1972 or Johnny Miller 1974? In 74 Miller was unbeatable.
  
  Reply Report comment

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