Best opens of the last ten years

[Mike Mosely]

Name your favorites from '99-'08.

4.  This one.  What electricity.  Don't blink, you'll miss something on Saturday, then Rocco and Woods lock horns for the whole round.

3.  Payne in '99.  So gritty. So Patriotic in his red, white, and blue.  I miss him.  He'd beat Tiger in a playoff.

2.  Winged Foot '06.  That was incredible

1.  Pebble '00  Historic.

[Glenn Spencer]

Mark,

I have a little news for you, yesterday is going to be a lot more historic than 2000.  If you do or will have a child and could take them back in time., would you take them back to yesterday or 2000? What was exciting about 2000?

[Brad Klein]

All-timers, in order

1913
1960
2008 (would have helped to see it end Sunday!)
1982
1999
1966
1962
1951
1986
1964
2004
1973
2006

[wsmorrison]

I would add 1950 and 1939 to any list of all-time great US Opens.  Unless of course playoffs turn you off.

[Steve Kline]

I don't see how you cannot have 2000 on a list of all-time opens. I don't care if it was a route - it was probably the single greatest tournament played by individual and may never be duplicated.

[Phil McDade]

1964 -- Venturi was arguably in worse physical shape than Tiger this week. Maybe not top 3, but certainly one of the most memorable.

1971 -- Trevino tops Jack in a playoff result that few predicted.

1955 -- Fleck tops Hogan in a playoff result no on predicted.

1980 -- Jack sets the scoring record and wins his 4th at the age of 40 in a memorable dual with Aoki.

1973 -- Miller's 63.

1992 -- Kite wins his only major made notable for the absolute train wreck that occured in the final round, maybe the toughest conditions for a final round of the US Open in history.

1990 -- The longest modern-day open, 91 holes, featuring Irwin's bomb on 18 to get into a playoff against the ultimate journeyman in Donald.

1984 -- A personal favorite, more notable for the intensity of the final round fireworks between Zoeller and Norman than the anti-climatic playoff.

1911-- John McDermott becomes the first American-born golfer to win the Open at Chicago GC.

1905 -- Willie Anderson wins his 3rd Open in a row -- the only golfer to do so -- at Myopia.

[Jay Carstens]

For me, 1999 by a mile.  Pebble Beach felt more like a practice round on Sunday. 

[jeffwarne]

Isn't anyone THRILLED that we get more Open golf today?
Did it ever occur to anyone that it COULD get even better?

I feel like I just walked off #18 at Brora and the first tee is open

[Steve Kline]

Does anyone know if Phil McDade is really Johnny Miller?

[Steve Kline]

Isn't anyone THRILLED that we get more Open golf today?
Did it ever occur to anyone that it COULD get even better?

I feel like I just walked off #18 at Brora and the first tee is open

If I was in college or a teen-ager yes. Now I have to tape it and avoid anyone talking to me about it all day. Ridiculous that the whole tournament is on during prime time and then the playoff starts at noon.

[Tom_Doak]

This might have been the most exciting U.S. Open Saturday of all time.  But I don't know what tournament you all were watching on Sunday ... it was nerve-wracking as always but the play was not up to snuff.  If it weren't for the drama of Tiger being injured, this would not be in the top ten Opens.

In the past ten years, my vote would be for 1999.

[Phil McDade]

Does anyone know if Phil McDade is really Johnny Miller?

[jeffwarne]

but Tiger IS injured-and involved.
and it's not over yet.
talk about a david vs. goliath

One could say the same that 1999 wouldn't be as revered if tragedy hadn't befell Payne Stewart.

Torrey Pines proved a great venue (hard to believe anyone can say those greens have no interest-at that speed-plenty of slow putts uphill as well)

[Steve Kline]

Does anyone know if Phil McDade is really Johnny Miller?

for your mention of Miller's 63 in 1973

[Phil McDade]

Steve:

It was a terrific Open. Miller jumped a ton of great golfers -- Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino and Boros among them -- and it remains the standard closing round in a major by which all others are measured. It also led directly to the famed Massacre at Winged Foot in '74, when the USGA went over-the-top penal with the set-up in response to Miller's round. Maybe not some of the last-hole drama seen this year or in 1999, but still one of the more compelling Opens played that decade.

[rjsimper]

If Tiger does not win today, does this tournament move down on most people's lists?

[Jim Nugent]

I really enjoyed 2004 at Shinnecock.  The great course.  Phil playing near-perfect golf up to the 71st hole.  (And even there hitting an almost-perfect bunker shot.)  Goosen performing the most magic I've ever seen on the final nine greens of a major tournament.  

Also Pavin's win at Shinnie in 1995, with his astounding 4-wood 2nd shot on the last hole.  

Casper's win at Olympic in 1966.  He played fantastic down the stretch, while Arnie turned in his historic collapse.  I think this tournament did the same thing to Arnie's psyche, that the 1986 Masters did to Seve.  

1967, Baltusrol.  Jack proved once and for all he was the present and the future of golf, and Arnie the past.  I'll never forget his final round 65, or that huge 1-iron to the final green.  This was also where Lee Trevino made his introduction to the national golf scene.  

[rjsimper]

OP asked about the last 10

My rankings of those tournaments only

1999
2008
2006
2002
2000
2004
2007
2005
1998
2001
2003

[cary lichtenstein]

Isn't anyone THRILLED that we get more Open golf today?
Did it ever occur to anyone that it COULD get even better?

I feel like I just walked off #18 at Brora and the first tee is open

Jeff:

I'm with you. I changed my flight home from New York so I could watch the playoff. Geat threatre.

The playoff should make for the most deserving champion, be it Tiger or Rocco.

I do feel bad for those who have to work and will miss it, I used to be one of them, but today with the internet, you can cheat a little bit and how is your boss going to know, he'll be watching the Open himself.

[Tom Huckaby]

No love for 1982?  The day my heart was forever broken and I finally had to admit Nicklaus wasn't a true and real god?

TH

[rjsimper]

No love for 1982?  The day my heart was forever broken and I finally had to admit Nicklaus wasn't a true and real god?

TH

If 1982 is in the last 10 years, then I must have little league practice to get ready for...

[Adam Clayman]

'04 had 2 of the top golfers showing amazing pecision. Can't say that about this open. Welcome back Wayno

[Tom Huckaby]

No love for 1982?  The day my heart was forever broken and I finally had to admit Nicklaus wasn't a true and real god?

TH

If 1982 is in the last 10 years, then I must have little league practice to get ready for...

Klein took it back to 1913.  I know you followed the rules, but my question was meant for those who did not.  So how about it? Take it back farther... how does 1982 fit it?

TH

[Mike Hendren]

No love for 1982?  The day my heart was forever broken and I finally had to admit Nicklaus wasn't a true and real god?

TH

Huck, get ready for history to repeat itself.  Karma and  Rocco are going to open up a can on Tiger today.  

Mike

[George Pazin]

Of the last ten years, I thought 99 and 04 were better Opens, though they of course lacked Tiger's fireworks.

2000 is in a class by itself. Not that it was the best, it just can't even be compared to anything else, other than the 97 Masters.