Iconic Moment VI:  Tiger On The Loose


April 28, 2008

On, theandfor Golf History will open to the public following a three-year renovation and expansion project. The new exhibitions in thewill present the game's history in a unique and original way, viewing golf within the context of American social, cultural and political history. USGA champions and memorable moments in championship history will be placed at the forefront of the visitor experience. Central to each gallery is a main story - an iconic moment - pivotal for understanding the game's development. Our national identity is inextricably linked to these defining championships. 

This is the sixth and final installment in a six-part series highlighting each iconic moment. Click here to go back to the main page .

By Doug Stark, USGA

Far Hills, N.J. - Eighty-seven years after Francis Ouimet stunned the nation by defeating heavily-favored British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the 1913 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods announced his arrival with an equally impressive win at the 2000 U.S. Open that launched golf into the "Global Age."

played flawless golf throughout the championship at , posting rounds of 65-69-71-67-272.   He finished 15 strokes ahead of his nearest competitor, establishing the record for largest margin of victory in any of golf's four major championships.   During his four-round coronation, did not three-putt a single green.   He played the first 22 holes and the last 26 holes without a bogey.   The rest of the field averaged five bogeys per round, while made just six all week.   His performance may have been the most dominating performance in the game's history.

Tiger Woods has dominated the game in an era where talent has come from all points of the globe. (USGA Photo Archives)

Throughout the 20th century, the evolution of mass communication transformed golf's position in American society, and influenced the ways in which players interacted with the game.   Newspapers, the only medium for mass news distribution during the early years of the century, made Ouimet's victory a must-read with its front-page coverage.   's appeal grew as radio and movie news reels allowed Americans to hear and see .   His personality, along with his play, became more tangible to the game's audiences.  

By the 1960s, the ready availability of television allowed Americans to sit at home and watch golf tournaments weekly.   Arnold Palmer and drove the game to new heights through their rivalry and personalities.   By the 1980s, cable television and sports talk radio elevated the game to the rhythms of our daily lives.  

Within the last decade, the Internet and digital media have propelled the game into areas that Ouimet and Jones could only have dreamed about.   The instantaneous news service that defines our culture serves as an additional platform for Tiger to have an impact the world over.   Young golfers in , the Pacific islands, central and everywhere in between have been inspired by his talents and records.   His presence and appeal are universal, and as a result golf has become a truly global game.  

Golf, much like other professional sports, has benefited greatly from the developments that have come to characterize and define the "Global Age."   International players joined the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball in significant numbers, improving the quality of play.   Their style and skill has challenged American athletes to revert to sound, fundamental play, and focus less on the cult of celebrity that pervades contemporary society.  

A new generation of international stars has seized on this wave of popularity and come to dominate the golf landscape in recent years.   Between 1920 and 1993, just three foreign-born players won the U.S. Open.   Since 2001, however, almost every champion has hailed from overseas: 's (2001 and 2004); 's (2005); 's (2006); and 's (2007).   At the 2006 U.S. Open, a record 59 starters, or nearly 40 percent of the field, were foreign-born.  

In a similar manner, women's golf has also seen an influx of international stars during the past decade.   In 2006, the LPGA Tour included 101 international players representing 24 different countries. At the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, foreign players outnumbered their U.S. counterparts, 79-77, for the first time in the championship's history.  Since 1987, Women's Open champions have hailed from England, Sweden, Korea and Australia.

As the 21st century begins, golf is a game that continues to bring the world closer together.  

DougStarkis the USGA's Curator of Education and Outreach. E-mail him with questions or comments at dstark@usga.org.