Golf In 2021 – Key Moments In The Pro Game

Golf In 2021: What a year it’s been at the top-level of professional golf. The Majors have been thrilling in both the men’s and women’s games, the Olympics delivered great competition played in the best possible spirit and the year’s pro team events provided compelling entertainment, whichever side you were supporting.

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Here below we look at a selection of key moments in the pro game, on and away from the course, that shaped this season and could have an impact going forwards.

There was some shocking news early in 2021 as 15-time Major Champion Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash in February which saw him suffer serious injuries to his right leg and ankle. Tiger continues his rehabilitation and was seen walking without crutches in Los Angeles in mid November. He also posted a video of himself hitting golf balls at the end of November and he even suggested he may make a return to the PGA Tour.

In the men’s Majors it was quite an incredible year with each of the four big events producing firsts.

Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese Major winner when he triumphed in The Masters Tournament at Augusta.

At Kiawah Island, Phil Mickelson took PGA Championship glory, becoming the oldest Major Winner at almost 51. Mickelson joins an impressive list of the oldest sporting champions.

Jon Rahm took the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines – the first Spaniard to claim that title.

And at Royal St George’s, Collin Morikawa won The Open Championship on his debut. The victory made him the first player to win two Major titles on debut – having previously claimed the 2020 PGA Championship. Morikawa continued to make history towards the end of 2021. Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, he became the first American to win the Race to Dubai title.

In the women’s Majors, Patty Tavatanakit claimed the ANA Inspiration in April – holding off the challenge of fast-finishing Lydia Ko. 19-year-old Yuka Saso became the first player from the Philippines to win the U.S. Open. Nelly Korda claimed victory in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Australia’s Minjee Lee won the Evian Championship.

In the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie – Anna Nordqvist won a thrilling contest, picking up nearly $900,000 in prize money.

Related: Why Money Talks When It Comes To Growing The Women’s Game

Exciting Olympic Golf tournaments in Japan demonstrated that Olympic Golf really does matter and there were worthy gold medal winners in Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda. Rory Sabbatini’s decision to play for Slovakia paid off as he claimed a notable silver.

In pro team golf – Europe produced a superb performance to claim victory in the Solheim Cup.  In late November it was confirmed that Suzann Pettersen will be Europe's next Solheim Cup captain.

Played at the same time as the culmination of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup – won by Patrick Cantlay, the Solheim blew the latter out of the water in terms of excitement – a great advert for women’s golf.

Related: Why Scintillating Solheim Emphasised FedEx Cup Flop

Things were rather different in the Ryder Cup as a brilliant team USA steamrollered the Europeans at Whistling Straits.

Elsewhere, Richard Bland claimed his first European Tour win in his 478th start.

Alex Cejka won the first two Senior Majors he competed in.

In August, the Official World Golf Ranking unveiled some big changes to how it ranks players and golf tournaments. A new strokes gained system is designed to better identify the best players in the world, by judging them on their actual scores rather than just their results.

The European Tour announced its name will change to the DP World Tour from 2022 in a significant new deal. It comes on top of a strategic alliance between the PGA and European Tours that could be a stepping-stone towards the creation of a world tour. That collaboration has been timely. Andrew Gardiner’s Premier Golf League continues to try to gain traction with a view to its establishment in 2023.

Also, towards the end of 2021, Greg Norman was named CEO of the LIV Golf Investments Group that will fund a series of 10 new events to be staged annually on the Asian Tour. They will be contested in Europe, Asia and the Middle East over the next 10 years, starting in 2022. The commitment amounts to a total of $200 million to support playing opportunities and prize funds. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments.