Top Four Majors In Golf Over The Past Decade

Let me preface this by saying it was difficult to choose since there have been many exciting and great majors over the past decade.  However, these four certainly stood out to me the most as an avid golf fan.  

4. 2010 U.S Open Pebble Beach
This U.S Open will certainly go down as a classic.  It is a rare occasion that the U.S Open is at Pebble, with the last time being in 2000.  In the first few rounds, Dustin Johnson started to break out onto the scene.  I hadn't known him that well prior to this tournament, but after he broke out onto the scene and collapsed I have rooted for the guy ever since.  Other big names Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both tied for 4th place and Ernie Ells came in 3rd place.  Graeme McDowell was the winner finishing with a 284 over the four days.  Johnson ended up tied for 8th place.  ​

(Washington Post)

​3. 2008 British Open Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Although I was only 12 when this tournament took place, I will never forget the excitement of seeing a legend, Greg Norman, contend and even lead in the third round.  Norman at the time was 53 years old and I was truly amazed to see a guy at his age play the way he did.  This was the first of many tournaments that Tiger Woods was forced to sit out over an injury that he got in the previous U.S Open.  Despite Greg Norman's best effort, it was Padraig Harrington who ended up winning the tournament finishing 3-over par over the four days.  Greg Norman finished tied for third place finishing with a 77 on the final day of the tournament.  

(Wiki)

2. 2014 PGA Championship Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville Kentucky

Only a couple years back, I remember this one quit well.  Particularly, the final round.  Going into the final round, Rory had been in the lead the previous two days.  However, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and other were hot on his tail.  It came down to the very end of the final round, with the sun starting to set in Kentucky.  Rory pulled out the win and this marked the second major that he had won during the 2014 season.  This is when Rory was at the absolute top of his game.  Just before Jordan Spieth broke out onto the scene...

1. 2008 U.S Open Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, CA

To this day, this is probably the most exciting golf tournament I have ever seen.  It was also the last time Tiger Woods won and will probably win a major.  It was the end of an era and at the time no one expected that it would be the end of Tiger's dominance.  Nevertheless, it was a great tournament all-around.  The course was terrific, Torrey is in my opinion the second best course used in the U.S Open only to Pebble.  What I remember the most was the Sudden Death 18-hole playoff between Tiger and Roco Mediate.  I didn't know who the hell Roco Mediate was when I was 12 and honestly to this day I still barely do.  All that matters is that Tiger won it and in epic fashion.  I think it will be a long while until we see a tournament finish the way this one did.  

By Spencer Roush
@Spence_BBS