10 Things PGA Tour Fans Have to Be Thankful for in 2014

As PGA Tour fans gather around dining room tables across the country, they have a lot to be thankful for. 

Well behind health, wealth, friends and family in their hymns of thanksgivings, golf fans have much to be grateful for regarding the developments of the 2014 PGA Tour season. 

Certainly, the thrill of watching Rory McIlroy this season was a privilege. What else were golf fans blessed with? 

Click through to see. 

Bubba Watson's Artistry at Augusta

PGA Tour fans ought to be grateful for Bubba Watson's masterful work at Augusta National and star's command of the course. 

Watson has now won the Masters two out of the last three years. His prodigious length, creativity and ability to work the ball both ways leave him in a unique position heading into future competitions at Augusta. They are his to win. 

Who on tour besides Bubba could conceive of and execute the ridiculous drive in the video above? 

Fans of golf have to be thankful they have the opportunity to watch Bubba Watson manhandle Augusta National. 

The Rise of Rickie Fowler

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With his play in 2014, Rickie Fowler proved he has just as much substance as style.

Fowler had a historic year in 2014 with top-five finishes in all four majors. He recorded a total of 10 top-10 finishes, the most of his career. 

Expectations have never been higher for the Oklahoma State alum as they are heading into 2015. He's gone from being an unconvincing player in the majors to a real contender over the course of the year. 

Fans have to be thankful for that. 

Rory McIlroy

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As much as anything else, tour fans have to be happy about Rory McIlroy's late-season brilliance.

McIlroy thrilled fans with consecutive wins at the Open Championship, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship. 

The world No. 1 gave fans much to be thankful for with his play in 2014, but most of all, fans are grateful that the boy wonder is fulfilling his tremendous promise. 

Tiger Woods' Relative Health

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While 2014 was a lost season for Tiger Woods, the aging superstar seems to be on the mend heading into 2015.

This is something PGA Tour fans ought to be incredibly grateful for. 

Woods played just seven tournaments in 2014 due to a combination of back injuries and recovery from back surgery. He hasn't played a competitive round since August but is slated to return to competition at his Hero World Challenge at the beginning of December. 

PGA Tour fans (and the PGA Tour itself) have to be thankful.

And of course, all involved are thankful that we're now five years removed from the festivities at the Woods residence around Thanksgiving 2009... 

Martin Kaymer's Rebirth

Martin Kaymer won the 2010 PGA Championship but began a slow decline shortly thereafter.

And while the German may not be the most dynamic golfer on tour, it was nice to see his return to form with convincing victories at The Players Championship and the U.S. Open. 

Kaymer holed the exceptional 28-foot par-saving putt in the video above to essentially clinch The Players in May. If nothing else, you've got to be grateful for the highlight at Sawgrass' iconic 17th. 

A Pair of Intense Americans on the Rise

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Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth brought a measure of youth and intensity to the U.S. team at Gleneagles in the Ryder Cup. You have to be grateful for the pair (along with Rickie Fowler) as their play suggested that the future could be bright for Americans in the competition. 

The pair were a combined 5-1-2 in a losing effort for the American side. However, both had strong seasons (Reed won twice). 

Fans ought to be grateful for the pair. 

Dustin Johnson Getting Right

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The oft-troubled Dustin Johnson, resident wild child of the PGA Tour, announced he'd be taking a leave of absence from professional golf just after the Open Championship this year. 

Stories abounded as to the particulars of why Johnson was "committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation."

And whatever they may or may not have been, when a top tour player abruptly needs to drop off the face of the earth to get things together, it doesn't exactly paint a rosy portrait of his future.

Fortunately, as Tim Rosaforte wrote for Golf Digest, Johnson has been using the time to (at the very least) grind in the gym, practice his game and spend time with his pregnant fiance, Paulina Gretzky. 

Thus, fans should be grateful the promising and long-hitting Johnson is getting ready to return in a better state. 

Fan-Favorite Winners

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A number of popular players who have been off their games in recent years raised trophies this year. 

Camilo Villegas, J.B. Holmes, Geoff Ogilvy, Tim Clark, Angel Cabrera and Ben Crane all returned to the winner's circle in 2013-14. 

When a golfer near and dear to golf fans' collective heart wins a tournament on the heels of a period of struggle, fans are grateful for the sentimental story. 

Jimmy Walker

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Journeyman and good guy Jimmy Walker broke through in a very big way in 2014. 

Walker, who turned pro in 2001, hadn't recorded a victory on tour heading into the 2013-14 season. Then, in a four-month stretch at the beginning of the season, Walker won three times. 

It's great to see the 35-year-old Oklahoma native at the top of his game. The nattily dressed amateur space photographer played out of his mind in the first quarter of the season. It was a fantastic stretch that was great fun to watch. 

The Outspoken Mr. Mickelson

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Maybe you didn't think it was appropriate for Phil Mickelson to publicly question his captain, Tom Watson, following the U.S. side's trouncing at the Ryder Cup. 

Still, Mickelson's questioning and critical comments have gotten the ball rolling on a serious discussion about what the United States needs to do to win the next Ryder Cup. This is important. Unless golf fans are willing to accept the "Europeans just played better" reasoning, there's something systemic that could be done to improve the team's chances. 

And as Mickelson alluded to, Paul Azinger's unique approach in 2008 at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla is the only strategy to yield victory for the Americans in recent years.

Is a return to Azinger's system in order? Would something else work better? Those are questions that need to be answered. And the sustained discussion the powers that be are having right now is directly traceable to Lefty's remarks.