Tiger Woods’ 2013 season had a little of everything - five wins, plenty of controversy and even a little romance. Take a look back at the Top 10 moments.
The rumors had been swirling for months, but in March Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn made it official by announcing they were dating on their respective Facebook pages, complete with glamour shots of the happy couple. Vonn was spotted following Woods at several events this year, while Woods flew to France to watch Vonn prepare for the Winter Olympics. (Getty)
Yes, Woods didn’t win a major in 2013, and he made plenty of headlines off the course, but there was little doubt Woods was the Player of the Year after winning five times. It was the 10th time in his career Woods has won five or more times in a season, and the 11th time he has won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour’s top player. (Getty)
In a column for Golf.com, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee gave Woods an “F” for being “a little cavalier with the rules.” Woods and his agent, Mark Steinberg, made it known they were unhappy, while Rory McIlroy used a line straight out of the Sopranos, saying Chamblee “should be dealt with in the right way.” In the end, Chamblee apologized for “this incited discourse.” (Getty)
Tiger Woods won for the eighth time at Firestone, this time by seven shots. He also shot 61 in the second round, tying the low round of his career. Yeah, it was another great week for Woods in Akron. But what made this week different was when he walked off the 18th green, Woods’ son, Charlie, ran up to his father and gave him a mini bear hug, similar to those Woods used to share with his father, Earl. For a man who named his yacht “Privacy,” it was a rare glimpse into Woods’ personal life. (Getty)
In a year when we didn’t win a major, Woods admitted his victory at TPC Sawgrass was the highlight of his 2013 season. While his week was somewhat overshadowed by a war of words with Sergio Garcia, Woods got the last word capturing his second Players title and first since 2001. (Getty)
It seemed for every victory Woods had in 2013, there was a rules controversy to go along with it. During the second round of the BMW Championship, Woods’ ball shifted while he was trying to move a twig behind the first green. The infraction was caught on video by an entertainment crew working for the PGA Tour. Even after viewing the footage after his round, Woods disagreed that his ball moved, but rules officials stood by their decision, slapping an angry Woods with a two-shot penalty. (Getty)
Woods has always said the No. 1 ranking was a result of winning tournaments and playing well on a consistent basis. After winning his third title of the season at Bay Hill, Woods returned to No. 1 for the first time since 2010 when he was dealing with the fallout from his sex scandal and various injuries. Thanks to two more victories in 2013, Woods remained on top for the rest of the season. (Getty)
During the third round of The Players, Garcia claimed Woods caused him to hit a poor shot when he pulled a club from his bag, causing the crowd to cheer in the Spaniard’s backswing. Woods denied he did it on purpose, and the two, who have never been friendly, began a war of words that turned very ugly when Garcia made a racist joke about Woods a few weeks later. Garcia apologized several times, and told CNN later in the year that the incident had made him “a better person.” (Getty)
Until the 2014 Masters, 18 majors will have a double meaning for Woods. First and foremost it’s still the holy grail record that he’s chasing, and after going 0-4 in the 2013 majors, it’s also now been 18 majors Woods has played since he last claimed his 14th at the 2008 U.S. Open. (Getty)
Take Tiger Woods, add a rules controversy at the Masters, and you have the ingredients for most talked-about story of the year. Woods’ incorrect drop in the middle of the 15th fairway and the rulings that followed will be debated about in grill rooms for years to come. Sometimes overlooked is the fact that Woods was marching toward the lead before he hit the flagstick with his third shot and watched it roll back into the water. Would Woods have gone on to win? Let the debate continue ... (Getty)
