WATCH: The best golf shots of 2018
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We narrowed it down to our favourite shots of 2018: From hole outs to just outright exceptional shots – every single one of these is worth a watch!
1. Dustin Johnson’s drive at the Sentry Tournament of Champions
Why not start with the start of the year, when Dustin Johnson stunned with a drive on the 433 yard 12th hole at the Sentry Tournament of Champions… that ended up just a few feet from the cup!
2. Tiger Woods: Bunker Shot at The Open
In his own words, this was the shot Tiger Woods determined was his best shot of the entire year.
“I thought that this is the tournament,” Woods recalled Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge. “I win the Open Championship, or I lose the Open Championship on this shot. If it clips the bunker, I lose. If it comes out, I’m going to go ahead and win this thing.”
“You saw the speed I put into it and the shot I hit,” he said.
Woods was unable to convert the birdie putt, then played his next two holes in 3 over par to tumble out of the lead, ultimately finishing in a tie for sixth.
Still, Woods said, “There are moments in the tournament where you know this is the shot – this is going to win or lose the event. Unfortunately, I didn’t win, but at the time, to know it and pull it off, that gave me a lot of confidence going forward
3. Bubba Watson at The Masters
It was certainly up for debate as the best shot he’s ever hit as Bubba Watson shaped what looked like an impossible shot from the pine straw on to the 11th green at Augusta National.
He ended up tied 5th as Patrick Reed went on to claim his first major title and green jacket, but this shot will undoubtedly go down as the tournament’s best.
4. Angel Yin KPMG Womens PGA
During round two of the KPMG Womens PGA found herself with a lie on the bank and nowhere to stand. She decided to play the shot (in water that could well have had crocs in it), taking off her shoes and socks to chip from the water on the 7th hole. She chipped in for eagle, and went on to finish with two birdies to finish inside the cut line at -2.
She called it one of the highlights of her career, and ended the tournament T4 – three shots behind eventual winner Sung Hyun Park.
5. Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup
Playing with Ian Poulter and in a dangerous position on the 13th hole, McIlroy produced the shot of the event.
Poulter had played his tee shot dangerously close to the water hazard on the par-four, leaving McIlroy with a severe downhill lie in thick rough inside the red stakes and with water in front of the green. Although they were two up, it looked almost certain this hole would belong to the Americans, who safely were on in two. Until McIlroy decided to take it on and went on to produce one of the best shots in potential Ryder Cup history.
6. Dustin Johnson’s Walk-off eagle at the FedEx St Jude
Dustin Johnson didn’t even bother to putt on the 72nd hole of the FedEx St Jude, instead opting to claim the title from the fairway with this incredible walk-off eagle.
7. Justin Thomas walk-off eagle
Speaking of walk-off eagles, Justin Thomas grabbed one of his own on the final hole of the WGC Mexico to post a fourth round 64 and take the clubhouse lead at 16-under. The incredible shot got him in to a play-off with Phil Mickelson, but it was Lefty who returned to the winners circle for the first time since winning the 2013 Open Championship. But still, what a shot!
8. Eddie Pepperell eagle on the 10th hole before win
With a one shot lead heading in to the back nine, Eddie Pepperell found himself in to the thick right-hand rough from the tee. From 122 yards, Pepperell ended up holing it – giving himself a three shot lead with eight holes to play in terrible conditions. He went on to become the only wire to wire winner on the European Tour this season at the British Masters.
9. Jimmy Walker with the eagle at the US OPEN
Jimmy Walker produced a contender for the best shot of the US Open after holing out from a fairway bunker for an astonishing eagle in the second round.
Walker already had one eagle on his card, having staged an excellent recovery from dropping three shots over his opening two holes which left him facing a tough battle to make the halfway cut.
Walker did not have enough clearance to aim straight at the pin, but he made perfect contact for a high fade and his ball pitched a few feet short of the flag before bouncing into the cup for the rarest of eagle-twos
10. Alex Noren MONSTER putt to win at the Ryder Cup
It was the icing on the cake for Team Europe as Alex Noren drained his monster putt to win his match on the 18th hole of Le Golf National.
The Ryder Cup had already been won back by his teammates, but Noren’s match against Bryson DeChambeau was still going. They took it all the way to the 18th with Europe 1UP, but DeChambeau had the clear advantage with a shot 15-20 feet from the pin, while Noren was over 50.
Miraculously, Noren drained it and was uncharacteristically animated before being met with his teammates running on to the green in celebration. It was a fitting end to a dominant display from Europe
11. Molinari’s 9-iron to the 18th hole at The Open
With the pressure on, Molinari fended off a late challenge from both Tiger Woods and Xander Schauffele to become the first Italian major champion at the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie.
After finding the fairway with his drive and Woods within 10 feet on the last, Molinari used a nine iron to get to 4 feet. It lead to a final-hole birdie and the outright lead.
12. Jack Nicklaus’ grand-son gets his first hole in one
It wasn’t a tour player, granted, but during the Masters Par 3 contest it’s a tradition to let caddies play shots. During this year’s event, there was a moment no one would forget.
Nicklaus had his grandson Gary caddie for him during the Par 3 contest, and as is tradition of the fun Wednesday event, caddies are often encouraged to take shots throughout the nine holes.
Gary did just that, and on the 9th hole made his first ever hole in one – in front of his grandfather, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. Watch the video and reaction below!
