The Sand Trap wasn’t around for much of 2004, but we were still golf fans and viewers! About.com’s golf section lists the Top Ten Stories of 2004, and here they are:
10. U.S. Curtis Cup team heralds the future of women's golf 9. John Daly gets first win in nine years 8. Major championship venues inspire awe, anger 7. David Duval returns to the PGA Tour 6. Arnold Palmer plays his 50th and final Masters 5. The slump of Tiger Woods 4. Europe dominates the Ryder Cup 3. 14-year-old Michelle Wie challenges the cut line at PGA Tour Sony Open 2. Vijay Singh wins nine times on the PGA Tour 1. Phil Mickelson wins The Masters
I sure as heck would not have ranked them that way. Tiger, the Ryder Cup, and Vijay’s dominance (and Annika’s dominance) beat the pants off Mickelson winning the Masters.
How would you have ranked them?
I disagree, too. While I find Mickelson’s year great from an emotional standpoint, once the dust settles he still only one once, despite the good showings in the Majors. Couple that with his less than stellar performance in non-Major tournaments and the Ryder Cup and I just cringe.
I also disagree with putting Michelle Wie up there so high. Oh yay, she’s 14 and she challenged the cut line. If she had made the cut, maybe there’d be a story there. Until then, let’s recognize those that actually won something.