Best Performance of the Decade - Voting Results
- Vijay Singh masterful in third round en route to winning 2000 Masters - 1%
- Retief Goosen survives Shinnecock to win 2004 U.S. Open - 3%
- Phil Mickelson outduels Ernie Els on back nine of 2004 Masters - 10%
- Meg Mallon, at 41, closes in 66 to win 2004 U.S. Women’s Open- 2%
- Tom Watson, at 59, nearly wins the 2009 British Open - 62%
- Y.E. Yang becomes first player to come from behind to beat Tiger Woods in a major at the 2009 PGA Championship - 22%
Of the six choices on which to vote, only one of the performances did NOT result in a victory – and it proved to be the runaway winner for Best Performance [non-Tiger Woods] of the Decade. Tom Watson may not have captured his sixth Claret Jug at Turnberry in 2009, but his stirring performance earned your vote.
Twenty-three years ago, the golfing world thought Jack Nicklaus did the impossible by winning the 1986 Masters at the age of 46. And now here was Watson – at age 59! – on the verge of winning the Open Championship.
Standing in the fairway with a 7-iron on the 72nd hole, Watson needed to make par to cap one of the most remarkable accomplishments in sports history.
Unfortunately for Watson, his approach shot landed just beyond where it needed to and rolled through the green. If not for those few feet ...
Coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Unable able to get up-and-down from a tricky greenside lie that resulted in a bogey, Watson then fell to Stewart Cink in a four-hole playoff.
Regardless, the ageless Watson had lifted sports fans worldwide onto his shoulders for the better part of four days and with it, earned your vote for Best Performance of the Decade.
December 30 results: Best Player
Previous Results:
Best Clutch Shot [Men]
Best Clutch Shot [Women]
Best Record-Setting Performance
Best Putt
Best Quote
Best Equipment Advancement
Best Player/Caddie Duo
Best Men’s Major
Best Women’s Major
Best ‘Oops’ Moment
Best Rivalry
Best Inspirational Moment
Best Celebration
Best Fashion Statement
Best Tiger Woods Performance
