17/12/2008 10:10 AM
It was a year in which gritty Irishman Padraig Harrington tasted dual success in the majors, denying Aussie icon Greg Norman the fairytale sports story of the year at the British Open, but perhaps predictably, the most memorable moments of 2008 belonged to the greatest player ever to play the game.
Just when golf tragics and sports fans alike had thought they'd seen everything the incomparable Tiger Woods has to offer, the world No.1 produced the greatest win of a remarkable career to claim his 14th major title on one leg in an unforgettable US Open showdown with loveable veteran Rocco Mediate.
On a Torrey Pines layout he practically grew up on, Tiger was called upon to make a five-metre downhill putt at the 72nd hole to force an 18-hole playoff and deny 45-year-old Mediate an unlikely victory - and he obliged.
Woods went on to claim the Monday showdown but it was far from the mauling predicted by most observers as Mediate, who went from journeyman to household name in an instant, again had the trophy snatched from his grasp on the final green sending the playoff into a playoff.
The 45-year-old's luck finally ran out at the 91st hole as he found trouble to hand a wounded Woods a career-defining moment and his final win of the season before undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.
With Tiger absent for the remainder of the year the stage was cleared for 37-year-old Harrington to claim consecutive major titles, first defending his British Open crown before conquering the year's final major, the PGA Championship.
Harrington's achievements, despite Woods' absence, are immense.
His five wood on the 71st hole of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale was indeed 'Tigeresque', as was his work with the flat stick late in the day at Oakland Hills to once again deny Sergio Garcia a maiden major title and in the process wrap up the PGA of America's Player of the Year honours.
In what was a relatively quiet year for the large Aussie contingent on the US PGA Tour with only Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy tasting victory, it was left to 53-year-old Norman to fly the flag.
Having played more tennis with his new missus Chris Evert than golf in the lead-up to the Open Championship, Norman stunned the golfing and, indeed, the sporting world with his audacious dip at a third British Open title.
But it wasn't to be for the man who has had more near misses than Evel Knievel, carding a closing 77 to finish in a share of fourth spot.
With all of the excitement in the second half of the year Trevor Immelman's three-shot triumph at Augusta seems like it happened last century but the 29-year-old South African's exploits in the year's first major is worthy of mention.
The Players Championship - the unofficial fifth major - saw Garcia claim the most important win of his career so far in a thrilling playoff with veteran American Paul Goydos.
Having finished equal in regulation both men headed to the infamous island hole at Sawgrass where, after witnessing Goydos hit his tee shot into the water, the Spaniard knocked it to within a metre to seal victory.
The talented Spaniard continued to feature heavily throughout 2008 finishing the year in second spot on the official World Golf Rankings and within striking distance of his long-time rival.
With Woods