The 5 Most Clutch Performances in Golf History

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GAINESVILLE, VA - SEPTEMBER 25: USA team member Tiger Woods congratulates teammate Chris DiMarco after winning his match during the Sunday Singles Matches at the 2005 Presidents Cup on September 25, 2005 at Robert Trent Jones Golf in Gainesville, Virgini

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Golf is a game in which every single shot has an inherent value on the outcome of the tournament. This being said, there have been a countless number of players who have blown huge leads and have been labeled as choke artists. These five performances are the exact opposite of choke artists, as these performances are all worthy of being deemed the top golf performances of all time.

5. 1999 Ryder Cup: USA

$26 Sep 1999: Jose Maria Olazabal of Europe and Justin Leonard of the USA shake hands during the 33rd Ryder Cup match played at the Brookline CC in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. \ Mandatory Credit: David Cannon /Allsport$
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The 1999 Ryder Cup was probably the most drama filled Ryder Cup in history. The USA was trailing 10-6 to the Europeans heading into the final day of the tournament.

They proceeded to win the first 6 matches of the day, giving them the lead. Then, Jim Furyk gave the team their 8^th point of the day. Justin Leonard then halved his match with Jose Maria Olazabal and the US team stormed onto the green at 17 celebrating this clutch comeback.

4. 2009 PGA Championship: YE Yang

JOHNS CREEK, GA - AUGUST 12: Y.E. Yang of South Korea watches a shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club on August 12, 2011 in Johns Creek, Georgia. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Yang trailed the one and only Tiger Woods by two shots entering the final round of the PGA Championship. Tiger was 14-0 when leading entering the final day of Major Championships, but Y.E. Yang had something to say about that.

He shrugged off the aura of Tiger and made shot after shot. This eventually resulted in him taking the lead away from Woods and winning the PGA Championships, making him the first Asian born golfer to win a major.

3. 1978 Masters: Gary Player

NEWPORT, WALES - MAY 30: Gary Player of South Africa and Ian Woosnam of Wales in action during PowerPlay Ignition Golf on the Twenty Ten course at the Celtic Manor Resort on May 30, 2011 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Gary Player began the day seven shots back of leader Hubert Green entering the day. He proceeded to shoot a (-8) 64 to take a clubhouse lead at (-11) for the tournament.

Hubert struggled throughout the day to make any type of move ahead of Player, and finished even for the day. This gave Player his final green jacket and his final win ever in a major championship.

2. 1960 U.S. Open: Arnold Palmer

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 07: William Porter Payne, the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, wait on the first tee prior to starting the first round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 20

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The 1960 Masters was the introduction of Jack Nicklaus, then an amateur, to the general public. The only problem was Arnold Palmer was here to rain on the young kid's parade.

Arnold was trailing the leader by seven strokes going into the last round and rallied to shoot a 65 for his round, overtaking Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. This tournament was essentially Jack Nicklaus' coming out party and Ben Hogan's going out party.

1. 2008 U.S. Open: Tiger Woods

SAN DIEGO - JUNE 16: Rocco Mediate (L) and Tiger Woods (R) shake hands on the 18th green as they played to a tie at the end of the playoff round of the 108th U.S. Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) on June 16, 2008 in San Diego, Californ

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Yes, this was the tournament held at Torrey Pines and yes, Tiger Woods did win this tournament on virtually no knee and yes, this was Tiger Woods’ last major victory. Tiger had a slim lead going into the final day of the tournament and proceeded to slip to a tie with Rocco Mediate entering the 18^th hole.

Tiger missed his first and second shots and was eventually left with a 12 foot put to force a playoff with Rocco. We all remember the putt and the reaction by Woods, as he would eventually win the playoff against Mediate essentially on one leg.

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