When one sets out to chronicle the “best shots” in Tiger Woods’s career, the task feels a bit like trying to pick a single star from the night sky. His career has been defined not by perfection, but by the ability to produce the extraordinary under pressure. As we look back on some of Tiger’s most unforgettable moments, we see patterns: audacity, imagination, and a refusal to bow to circumstance.
The Shot He Calls His Greatest
In interviews, Tiger Woods has often singled out a fairway bunker shot as the one he considers his best ever. During the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine, on the 18th hole of the second round, Woods faced a difficult lie in a fairway bunker with water hazards and trouble lurking beyond. He chose a 3-iron for his approach and hit it with such precision and courage that many call it one of the all-time greats. It’s a shot born of conviction: only someone who believes in their swing could attempt — and execute — something like that under tournament pressure.
That said, Tiger has also referred to a particular tee shot on the 10th as a pivotal moment, one that “flipped the switch” in his mindset. He had been fighting a 2-iron draw all week, and to deliver it cleanly off the tee helped reestablish trust in his swing. Some see that shot as quieter in drama, but high in significance.
The “Better Than Most” Putt — Beauty in Subtleties
Not all of Tiger’s greatest moments come from full swings. At the 2001 Players Championship on the island green 17 at TPC Sawgrass, he made what is now legendary: a putt of roughly 60 feet (from the fringe, technically) while under pressure. The call from NBC’s Gary Koch became immortalised — “better than most… better than most… better than most” — as the ball curled gracefully toward the hole. It was less flashy than a bunker escape or fairway bomb, but it showcased Tiger’s delicate touch and mastery of pace in a high-stress moment.
Masters Magic: Pins, Pitches, and Perfection
At Augusta, many of Tiger’s best moments unfolded in the crucible of Sunday pressure, where strategy merges with nerve. Among those, one stands out above the rest: his chip-in at the 16th hole in the final round of the 2005 Masters. With pressure mounting and many fans already thinking about the Green Jacket, Woods played a delicate chip from just off the green that trickled in with impeccable timing. It remains one of the most replayed and celebrated shots in Masters lore.
In his Masters career, another unforgettable moment came during the 2011 tournament, when Woods hit a fairway wood at the 8th hole that bounced through slopes and finished near the flag for a crucial eagle. And in 2019, his tee shot on the 16th — a perfect 8-iron that rode the green’s slope to within inches of the hole — was pure artistry, symbolising the return of a legend.
The Bunker-Iron Escape at the Canadian Open
One of Tiger’s most daring and dramatic shots came during the 2000 RBC Canadian Open. Late in the final round, he found himself in a fairway bunker at Glen Abbey’s 18th hole, needing something magical to maintain his lead. He opted for a 6-iron—something most players would never attempt from that lie—and struck a soaring draw over the water to land safely on the green. Many commentators and fans consider that one of his best all-time shots because of the risk he accepted and the perfection with which he executed it.
The “Putt and Point” Moment
Perhaps not a single swing shot, but one of his most unforgettable displays of confidence came at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla. In a playoff against Bob May, Woods sank a long, curling putt and followed it, pointing emphatically as it dropped into the hole. That “putt and point” moment has become an enduring symbol of Tiger’s fierce competitive fire and unshakable belief.
What Unites These Moments
When we examine Tiger’s greatest shots, a few themes emerge:
- Fearless decision-making: more than once, Tiger chooses a high-risk club or path — whether from a bunker, over water, or with a delicate chip.
- Mastery of every facet: his best moments come not just from long drives or iron play, but from chipping, putting, and recovery shots — proof of total mastery.
- Legacy through timing: a shot becomes legendary not merely for execution, but because of when it happens — those moments that alter tournaments and define careers.
Few golfers have ever combined precision, passion, and mental strength the way Tiger Woods has. From miraculous chips to fearless fairway strikes, his best shots aren’t just highlights — they are stories of belief, courage, and genius under pressure.
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