Darren Clarke Finally Obtains Major Championship Glory

~ At Long Last! - After years of disappointing runner-ups and regular top-ten finishes, Darren Clarke has finally won his first major championship - at the age of 42 ~

Undoubtedly, there may have been times in which Darren Clarke wondered whether or not he would actually claim a major championship victory.

There were certainly many close calls - a runner-up finish at the 1997 British Open, during a championship in which many still believe he should have won, as well as a tie for third at the 2001 British Open, as he finished four strokes behind David Duval.

In the meantime, Clarke has played steadily well in many other majors, all the while obtaining six other top-ten finishes.

However, he always seemed to play his very best golf at the British Open - the one major championship that he treasured more than any other. Of course, it was only fitting that he finally claimed major championship success at the tournament he loved more than all others, on a links-style course - the type of course in which he generally plays superbly well at.

Throughout his career, Clarke has been well-known as a streaky player who, when he plays his very best golf, can compete against the world's top players, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

He had many victories and accolades to back up his streaky play - a win at the 2000 Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship (he defeated Tiger Woods in the 36-hole final during the prime of Woods' career), a victory at the 2003 NEC Invitational (another World Golf Championship event), and membership on five Ryder Cup teams, all the while earning a very respectable playing record of 10-7-3.

He had also fired a pair of 60s on the European Tour, finished second on the European Tour money list on three separate occasions, and earned 22 victories around the world, including 14 on the European Tour.

But, he was still known for being an underachiever...that is, until his wife Heather passed away from cancer in 2006 after a long and courageous battle.

After her passing, he was highly respected for his performance at the Ryder Cup, leading Team Europe to a memorable, dominating victory over Team USA - just one month after losing Heather.

Since then, Clarke has taken an uphill climb to once again become the high caliber player that he was during the early 2000s. In 2008, he won twice on the European Tour. This May he acquired his first European Tour victory since 2008 by defeating Chris Wood and David Lynn at the Iberdola Open in Spain.

This victory was followed, of course, by his three-stroke win at the Open Championship - a tournament in which he seemingly had complete control of his game, emotions, and the field - from day one until his final putt dropped.

But what is the actual reason for his latest success? Three words seem to sum up the method behind his most recent victories - stability at home.

Last December, his engagement to former Miss Northern Ireland Alison Campbell was announced. With a future wife and step-mother for his two sons, Darren appeared to be happier than he had been in years. Such happiness and fulfillment, as well as a steady home and family life, led him to finally achieve his childhood dream of becoming an Open champion - the Champion Golfer of the Year.

At the age of 42, Clarke's best playing days may still lie ahead of him. With the monkey of being one of the world's greatest golfers without a major championship victory off his back, there is no telling just how much Clarke will achieve throughout the coming decade.

With his fiance and two boys by his side, Clarke is genuinely happy for the first time since he lost Heather. Such happiness will likely lead to continued success - both on and off the golf course.

Of course, one fact remains certain. Even if Clarke fails to capture another major championship, or even a tournament from here on out, his name will forever be etched in golf's oldest and most coveted trophy - the claret jug.

For Clarke, there could not have been a much better story line for the second half of his playing career than that.


Darren Clarke's Worldwide Victories

1992 Ulster Professional Championship
1993 Alfred Dunhill Open
1994 Irish PGA Championship
1996 Linde German Masters
1998 Benson & Hedges International Open
1998 Volvo Masters
1999 Compass Group English Open
2000 Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship
2000 Compass Group English Open
2001 The Crowns
2001 Smurfit European Open
2001 Dimension Data Pro-Am
2002 Compass Group English Open
2003 NEC Invitational
2003 Benmore Developments Northern Ireland Masters
2004 Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters
2005 Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters
2008 BMW Asian Open
2008 KLM Open
2010 JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am
2011 Iberdola Open
2011 The Open Championship

Steve Stricker Earns Third Consecutive John Deere Classic Title

~ Three-peat! - This past Sunday, 11-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker joined an elite list - he is one of only ten golfers since World War II to have won a PGA TOUR tournament three consecutive times. ~

Throughout the last five seasons, Steve Stricker has truly transformed his career. Since 2007 alone, he has won eight PGA TOUR titles, including such renowned championships as The Barclays, Memorial Tournament, and Deutsche Bank Championship.

His play has been especially inspirational when one considers just how much he struggled to maintain consistency from 2002 to 2005. In each of those seasons, he finished 88th, 188th, 151st, and 162nd on the PGA TOUR money list, respectively.

For some professional golfers, such finishes would have been highly respectable - but not for Stricker, an individual who once contended for the 1998 PGA Championship (finishing runner-up, two strokes behind Vijay Singh), dominated the 1996 Western Open (winning by eight shots), and defeated European Tour member Pierre Fulke for the 2001 Accenture Match Play Championship (a World Golf Championship event).

Without a doubt, Stricker was one of the TOUR's rising stars - and one of America's most talented golfers - throughout the mid and late 1990s, as well as the early 2000s.

Just when it seemed he was well-prepared to take his career to the next level after winning the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2001, Stricker soon lost his game - and his confidence - throughout the next few years.

But, what led Stricker to fall outside of the top 500 of the World Golf Rankings only a decade after he had contented for multiple major championships and had finished in the top 30 of the TOUR's money list on a regular basis?

Some point to the various injuries that Stricker endured, while others believe he lost confidence in his driving and putting, which led to inconsistent scoring and numerous missed cuts.

No matter the reason for his inconsistency, Stricker eventually lost his TOUR card after the 2005 season, ultimately relying on sponsor's exemptions throughout 2006.

Stricker's irregular play and results from 2002 to 2005 have surprisingly led to one of the greatest comebacks in PGA TOUR history.

In 2006, Stricker finished 34th on the TOUR's money list as he relied completely on the mercy of sponsor's exemptions. His efforts were well-noticed though as he was rewarded with the TOUR's Comeback Player of the Year award.

In 2007, Stricker defeated K.J. Choi by two shots for his first win on American soil in eleven years at The Barclays, a FedEx Cup playoff event. Upon winning the tournament, he finished fourth on the TOUR's money list and earned his second consecutive Comeback Player of the Year Award - the only golfer to have won the award more than once.

Stricker did not win a tournament the following season, but he still finished 22nd on the money list and contented in a wide array of tournaments, including the season-opener Mercedes Championship, which he lost in a playoff to Daniel Chopra.

In 2009 and 2010, Stricker acquired three and two PGA TOUR wins, respectively, all the while finishing second and fifth on the TOUR's money list. During each of those seasons, he also represented the United States as a member of the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup teams.

Therefore, Stricker's awe-inspiring play throughout 2011 has certainly not been surprising.

Following a one-stroke victory during May's Memorial Tournament, Stricker was clearly the favorite to win the 2011 John Deere Classic - for the third consecutive time.

He did not disappoint.

With rounds of 66, 64, 63, and 69, including a 25-foot putt for birdie and the victory during the tournament's 72nd hole, Stricker defeated TOUR rookie Kyle Stanley with a four-round total of 22-under-par.

In doing so, he joined a select class of golfers to have won at least three consecutive PGA TOUR events, including the likes of Arnold Palmer, Walter Hagen, Tiger Woods, and Johnny Miller.

Stricker's timing for low scoring is absolutely perfect.

As he continues to search for his first major championship victory, Stricker knows that, at age 44, Father Time is no longer on his side. Yet, he is also arguably playing some of the best golf of his career.

As a result, he is a clear favorite to win this year's Open Championship at Royal St. George's.

There are very few golfers who are more deserving of a major championship victory than Steve Stricker, especially when one considers his natural abilities, work ethic, and perseverance in order to complete one of the greatest comebacks in the history of golf.

For Stricker, and thousands of his fans, a victory during this week's Open would be the ultimate Cinderella story.

This Sunday could very well be the day that Stricker has waited his entire life for - the day in which he joins golf's most exclusive club....as a major champion.

Steve Stricker's PGA TOUR Victories

1996 Kemper Open
1996 Motorola Western Open
2001 Accenture Match Play Championship
2007 The Barclays
2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
2009 John Deere Classic
2009 Deutsche Bank Championship
2010 Northern Trust Open
2010 John Deere Classic
2011 Memorial Tournament
2011 John Deere Classic

Other Accolades and Accomplishments

Member, 1996, 2007, and 2009 Presidents Cup
Member, 2008 and 2010 Ryder Cup
2006 and 2007 PGA TOUR Comeback Player of the Year

The Top Five Most Successful Young Golfers of All Time

~ Youthful Exuberance - Throughout the last two centuries, some of golf's greatest champions earned multiple major championship victories before the age of 25. But which golfers truly stand out for the success they enjoyed during their youths? ~

In honor of 22-year-old Rory McIlroy's dominating performance at this year's U.S Open championship, it is appropriate to remember some of the game's most successful younger champions.

The following five golfers are well-regarded for their career achievements, multiple tournament victories, and record-setting performances - which occurred before they celebrated their 25th birthdays.

1.) Bobby Jones

By the time Robert Tyre Jones Jr. retired from competitive golf at the age of 28, he was well-known as the most successful golfer in the history of the game.

With thirteen major championship victories, including a record-tying four U.S. Opens, three British Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, and one British Amateur, no one had ever enjoyed so much success in such a short time span.

Jones earned his first major championship at the age of 21 (at the 1923 U.S. Open) and claimed twelve more major victories throughout the next seven years.

To this day, his claim to fame remains the 1930 season in which he captured the Grand Slam - the U.S. Open, the British Open, the British Amateur, and the U.S. Amateur - during a single calendar year.

Even after 81 years, no other golfer has yet matched such a feat - and, likely, no one ever will.

2.) Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is arguably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, golfers of all time. Whether or not he will eventually break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship victories has yet to be determined.

But one fact is certain. Few golfers have ever dominated the game at such an early age like Woods.

From his twelve-shot triumph at the 1997 Masters (at the age of 21) to his fifteen-shot romp at the 2000 U.S. Open (at the age of 25), Woods has established, re-established, and once again broken multiple records, time after time - all before be celebrated his 30th birthday.

With more than 70 PGA TOUR wins and 14 major championship victories, no one has ever won at such a rapid - and consistent - pace in the history of the game.

No matter what Woods accomplishes in the future, he will always be remembered, along with Jones, as one of the two most successful young golfers of all time.

3.) Seve Ballesteros

The late Seve Ballesteros changed the landscape of European golf forever when he almost defeated Johnny Miller during the 1976 British Open at the tender age of 19.

Three years later, Ballesteros captured the claret jug to become one of the youngest winners in the history of the British Open championship. Upon doing so, he dominated world golf - and major championships - throughout the next five years.

In 1980, he became the youngest winner of the Masters Tournament. By 1984, at the age of 27, he had claimed two British Opens and two Masters, along with dozens upon dozens of tournaments in all four corners of the globe.

By the time he retired from the game in 2007, he had won 50 European Tour events, five major championships, and more than 90 tournaments across the world.

Amazingly, he had earned all of his professional victories before he was 40-years-old.

Few golfers have ever captured the attention - and imagination - of the sporting world like Ballesteros. He truly was one of a kind - and will always be remembered as one of the game's most likable personalities and most naturally gifted individuals.

4.) Young Tom Morris

On Christmas Day 1875, Young Tom Morris, the son of one of the game's founders, Old Tom Morris, tragically passed away at the age of 24.

Although his time on earth was far too short, his impact on the game remains as significant today as it was when he contended in multiple Open Championships throughout the 1860s and 1870s.

Morris competed in his first Open Championship when he was only 14-years-old. He finished in ninth place the following year and in fourth place in 1867, while he was still only 16-years-old.

In 1868, at the age of 17, Morris became the youngest major champion of all time after defeating his own father by three strokes at the Open Championship.

Morris would then claim three more Open Championships, including an 11-stroke victory in 1869 and a 13-stroke triumph in 1870 - all before he was 22-years-old.

He is still the only golfer to have won four consecutive Open Championships, as well as the only major champion to have claimed a title at the age of 17.

In addition, he, along with Tiger Woods, is the only golfer to have won a major championship by more than 12 strokes.

One can only wonder what else he would have accomplished had his life not ended so abruptly and tragically.

5.) Gene Sarazen

As golf commentators and fans remember some of the most talented champions of all time, they often forget to mention seven-time major champion Gene Sarazen.

But, throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Sarazen enjoyed one of the finest careers in golf history, especially when he captured multiple major championships during his early 20s.

In 1922, at the age of 20, Sarazen defeated Bobby Jones for his first U.S. Open victory. A few months later, he earned the 1922 and 1923 PGA Championships to become one of only a handful of individuals to have successfully defended the tournament.

Additionally, Sarazen won dozens of PGA TOUR events - 39 in total - all before he celebrated his 41st birthday.

Quite simply, few golfers have ever captured so many tournaments in such a time short time span - including all four of golf's major championships.

The "Squire," along with Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, changed professional and amateur golf throughout the 1920s and 1930s, allowing individuals like Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus to pave the way for today's generation.

As each of these five individuals, along with Rory McIlroy, proved on a regular basis, age is just a number.

Greatness can be achieved at all times and amidst all circumstances.

Yet, as golf's future champions prepare to leave indelible imprints on the game, two questions linger - which one of today's young golfers will dominate the game next - and what type of impact will they have on the future of golf?

Looking Back - The Top Five Most Memorable Moments at Congressional Country Club

~ Memories Galore - Numerous golfing legends, including Ernie Els, have created fond memories at Congressional Country Club, one of the nation's most popular, top-tier courses. But, which memories truly stand out the most? ~

For the past fifty years, Congressional Country Club, site of the 2011 U.S. Open, has hosted a variety of professional and amateur major championships, including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, as well as dozens of PGA TOUR tournaments.

However, of all the championships that have been contested at Congressional, which five will likely stand the test of time and remain engraved in peoples' memories for years to come?

The following five championships - and champions - will arguably continue to be remembered well into the future, far more than any other events that have been held at Congressional in the past.

1964 U.S. Open - Ken Venturi Defeats Dehydration, Heat, and....Congressional

By the time the U.S. Open was contested in 1964, Ken Venturi had already claimed ten PGA TOUR titles. But, unfortunately, he was more well-known for his heartbreaks in major championships, including his runner-up finishes at the 1956 and 1960 Masters, than for his tournament successes.

Yet, all of that changed during one scorching afternoon in Bethesda, Maryland. While battling 100 degree temperatures and severe dehydration, Venturi still managed to play 36 holes during Sunday's finale (the last year in which 36 holes were contested on a Sunday during the U.S. Open).

With third and final round scores of 66 and 70, Venturi finished the tournament at two-under-par - enough to defeat Tommy Jacobs by a commanding four strokes.

It was truly a miracle that Venturi even finished the tournament, let alone won it, as he had been ordered by a doctor, who had been following him throughout Sunday's action, to stop playing altogether.

While avoiding doctor's orders and constantly consuming salt tablets to relieve his dehydration, Kenturi ultimately played two of the best rounds of his entire career.

Although he would never capture another major championship, Venturi's awe-inspiring play at Congressional, and endurance in spite of all sorts of obstacles, remains among the most memorable performances in major championship history.

1997 U.S. Open - Ernie Els Captures Second U.S. Open Victory in Four Years

For the third consecutive year, Tom Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion, found himself in a familiar setting - in the final pairing of the final round at the U.S. Open, with a chance to obtain a second major championship.

Similarly, Colin Montgomerie, one of the most successful golfers in European Tour history, was focused on capturing his very first major championship in order to finally silence his critics, who believed he would never win a significant tournament, once and for all.

In the meantime, Ernie Els was in position to create his own success story. By winning a second U.S. Open in just four years, Els would become the first golfer of the decade to earn two U.S. Open titles - and would further prove why he was the number one ranked golfer in the world.

Neither golfer would have guessed that their destinies would be decided on one hole though - the 72nd hole of the tournament.

By bogeying one of the most challenging finishing holes in all of golf, Montgomerie and Lehman both conceded the tournament to Els, who played steadily and intelligently throughout the final round.

With a final tournament score of four-under-par, including a final round of 69, Els proved that tenacity and endurance truly do pay dividends during the National Open.

Heartbreak. Humility. Courage. Such words would best describe the theatrics of the 97th playing of the United States Open. For such reasons alone, the 1997 U.S. Open will be remembered as one of the most significant tournaments hosted at Congressional - for decades and decades to come.

1976 PGA Championship - Dave Stockton Earns Second PGA Championship Victory

To this day, Dave Stockton is well-renowned within the golfing community as one of the most talented putters in the history of the game, comparable with the likes of Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus.

Few individuals actually realize that Stockton was one of the most competitive and successful golfers of the 1970s though, a decade in which he acquired two major championships - the 1970 and 1976 PGA Championships.

The 1976 PGA Championship was held at Congressional; it was actually the first championship to be contested at the course since Venturi's dramatic U.S. Open victory.

Yet again, the weather was a factor throughout the week as golfers were forced to encounter ever-increasing temperatures and humidity and still manage to play to the best of their abilities.

In spite of the weather, Stockton managed to finish the tournament at one-over-par, with scores of 70, 72, 69, and 70, to defeat four-time major champion Raymond Floyd and 1967 PGA Champion Don January by one stroke.

Although the victory did not propel Stockton to further major champion success, he still finished his career with ten PGA TOUR wins - and captained the 1991 Ryder Cup team to a dramatic victory during the most regarded and compelling Ryder Cups in the history of golf.

1995 U.S. Senior Open - Tom Weiskopf Finally Overtakes Jack Nicklaus for Major Championship Glory

Throughout Tom Weiskopf's PGA TOUR career, golf fans were far more interested in his close calls and runner-up finishes than in his 16 PGA TOUR victories, which included the 1973 British Open.

Far too often Weiskopf played brilliantly in all four major championships, only to watch fellow competitors like Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Johnny Miller walk away with trophies.

He finished runner-up in the Masters Tournament on four separate occasions. During dozens of other tournaments and major championships, he achieved top-ten and top-five finishes while Watson and Nicklaus continued to acquire more and more victories.

However, during one week, Weiskopf finally stared down his nemesis - Jack Nicklaus - and won. For four rounds at Congressional, throughout the 1995 U.S. Senior Open, Weiskopf played to his full potential and earned his long-awaited national title.

With rounds of 69, 69, 69, and 68, Weiskopf was simply no match for anyone, even two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Nicklaus.

While defeating Nicklaus by four strokes for his second major championship victory, Weiskopf proved to himself - and to his critics - that he still had the game to play head-to-head against the greatest golfer of all time...and win.

To this day, the 1995 U.S. Senior Open still remains one of Weiskopf's finest career achievements.

2009 AT&T National - Tiger Woods Wins as Tournament Host

Throughout the past century, certain PGA TOUR tournaments have been associated with some of the game's greatest champions. From Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament to Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament, a select few golfing champions have been privileged with opportunities to host their own tournaments.

In 2007 Tiger Woods joined the likes of Palmer and Nicklaus as the host of one of the TOUR's newest tournaments - the AT&T National, contended at Congressional.

Although he did not win the first two versions of the tournament, he played consistently well throughout the 2009 AT&T National, with scores of 64, 66, 70, and 67. With a tournament record finish of 13-under-par, he defeated fellow Ryder Cup member and three-time PGA TOUR winner Hunter Mahan by one stroke.

The victory remains one of Woods's last PGA TOUR titles.

Undoubtedly, Congressional Country Club has been host to some of golf's most significant and memorable championships, as well as prestigious champions.

As dozens of the game's greatest players prepare to tee it up this week during the playing of the 111th U.S. Open championship, one question lingers - who will make history this week as one of Congressional Country Club's past champions?

Will a more popular player like Phil Mickelson or Sergio Garcia capture their first U.S. Open? Or, will a lesser known name shock the golf world again?

Simply sit back, relax, and stay tuned. If history repeats itself, this U.S. Open ought to be just as memorable as all other championships previously held at Congressional.

Anticipate drama. Expect greatness. And enjoy yet another Congressional U.S. Open championship.

Tom Watson Captures 14th Professional Major Golf Championship

~ Age is Simply a Number - More than eight months after his 61st birthday, Tom Watson is still playing golf at the highest level - and reaping the rewards of his latest successes on the golf course. ~

Believe it or not, there actually was a time in which most golfing professionals were considered well past their primes once they blew out the candles on their birthday cakes during their 40th birthdays.

When 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus earned his eighteenth major championship victory during the 1986 Masters, the entire golf world was utterly stunned.

As golfers like Julius Boros, Raymond Floyd, and Gary Player remained competitive well into their 40s - and captured numerous golf tournaments and major championships around the world - many professionals and golf fans alike began to reconsider prior theories that golfers should consider retirement after the "primes" of their careers have passed.

In recent years, more professionals, such as Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry, have proven that golfers can indeed climb near to or all the way to the top of the world golf rankings no matter how "old" they may be perceived in comparision to other professional athletes.

Yet, in spite of the awe-inspiring performances of "late bloomers" like Perry or major champions like Singh, no other golfer has proven that golfers can remain competitive well into their 40s, 50s, and 60s than....Tom Watson.

Back in 2009, at the ripe age of 59, the five-time British Open champion almost won his record-tying sixth Open Championship - and came close to rewriting the history books altogether - before losing a four-hole playoff to Stewart Cink, who happens to be 23 years younger than Watson.

Incredibly, Watson has yet to slow down in the years since, even after his heartbreaking loss to Cink during a tournament in which most fans, critics, and television announcers believe he actually should have won.

To prove that he can still compete at a high level, this past Sunday, Watson rekindled some of his old magic on the golf course at the Senior PGA Championship as he defeated four-time Champions Tour winner David Eger during a sudden death playoff.

While displaying the silky smooth swing and steady putting stroke that helped him win 39 PGA TOUR tournaments, including eight major championships, Watson appeared to be much like the same player who regularly competed against - and defeated - Jack Nicklaus during his prime throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Just how impressive has Watson's play been since he joined the Champions Tour at the age of 50 back in 1999?

In addition to his attainment of the 2011 Senior PGA Championship, Watson has earned five other senior major championships, including the 2011 Senior PGA Championship, the 2003 Senior British Open, the 2003 JELD-WEN Tradition, the 2005 Senior British Open, and the 2007 Senior British Open.

At the same time, Watson has also won eight other Champions Tour events, as well as ten Senior "Silly Season" tournaments. Throughout the last ten years, he has had two top-ten finishes in major championships (the 2000 PGA Championship and the 2009 British Open)and 28 top-ten finishes in Champions Tour major championships.

He is currently the oldest player to hold the lead after 54 holes during a major championship and is also the oldest runner-up finisher in major championship history.

After winning yet another major championship, Watson himself could not believe how well he was still playing after spending more than 40 years of his life as a competitor on the PGA TOUR and the Champions Tour.

"Wow. Winning again at 61," Watson said during a post-tournament interview. "I don't think it's an age thing but, God, I've been out here a long time."

As he continued to reflect on his longevity, Watson seemed to have realized just how special the victory was, especially when one considers the limited amount of golfers who have maintained such a high level of performance and continued success for more than four consecutive decades.

"If this is the last tournament I ever win, it's not a bad one," Watson said. "I'm kind of on borrowed time out here at 61."

Even if Watson is on "borrowed time," as he suggested, the golfing world would not be surprised if he continued to obtain further tournament victories throughout the summer - and well after.

So what will Watson do for an encore? Should the golfing public expect to see him competing in this year's Open Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club? Will he somehow find a way to defy the odds yet again - and actually capture his record-tying sixth Open Championship victory?

Considering all that he has accomplished during the past 40 years, nothing that Watson achieves in the future will likely surprise anyone.

The old adage that age is just a number has certainly been mentioned by thousands of individuals throughout the globe in recent years.

However, few people actually live out this phrase on a regular basis - time after time again - much like Watson does.

It will be interesting to see how Watson will continue to compete - and win - well into his 60s...and after.

For Tom Watson, age is truly just a number - and always will be.

Tom Watson's Major Championship Victories

~ 1975 British Open
~ 1977 Masters
~ 1977 British Open
~ 1980 British Open
~ 1981 Masters
~ 1982 U.S. Open
~ 1982 British Open
~ 1983 British Open
~ 2001 Senior PGA Championship
~ 2003 Senior British Open Championship
~ 2003 JELD-WEN Tradition
~ 2005 Senior British Open Championship
~ 2007 Senior British Open Championship
~ 2011 Senior PGA Championship

The Top Five Most Memorable Moments in The History of The Heritage Tournament

~ Wire-to-wire! - In 2009, Brian Gay won the Verizon Heritage by a commanding 10 strokes for the second PGA TOUR victory of his career. Gay led the entire tournament wire-to-wire for one of the most dominating performances in the championship's history. ~

Undoubtedly, The Heritage, a long-standing PGA TOUR tournament hosted on the Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbour Town Golf Links, is generally overlooked by the Masters Tournament, which typically precedes it each year.

However, in spite of its lack of attention from the general public, the tournament has definitely provided its fair share of memorable moments for both golf fans and PGA TOUR professionals alike throughout the past forty years.

With such former champions as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson, the tournament has annually attracted some of the game's most talented and beloved players since its founding in 1969.

Here are five of the most memorable tournaments in the entire history of The Heritage -

Davis Love III Collects His Record Fifth Victory (2003)

Throughout the 2003 season, Love was arguably playing the best golf of his entire career. With victories in both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship prior to the 2003 MCI Heritage, Love was competing like a man on a mission - week in and week out.

As he approached the 72nd hole of the tournament that year, he knew he needed a birdie in order to tie Woody Austin for the lead and to challenge him during a sudden-death playoff. After hitting a mediocore approach shot to the par-four 18th, he chipped in from 67 feet for a birdie to force a playoff with Austin. The shot is known as one of the greatest in Love III's PGA TOUR career and will always be remembered as one of the finest clutch shots in the history of The Heritage.

Love would go on to defeat Austin during the fourth hole of the sudden-death playoff after hitting a six-iron approach shot to three feet on the famed 18th hole and then converting the birdie putt.

Brian Gay Makes History (2009)

Prior to earning his second PGA TOUR victory at the 2009 Verizon Heritage, Gay was known as a journeyman pro who had enjoyed prior successes on the TOUR, but had never reached his full potential.

That all changed after Gay shot rounds of 67, 66, 67, and 64 to set a tournament record of 20-under-par for a 10-stroke victory over Briny Baird and Luke Donald.

Throughout the entire tournament, Gay hit laser-like iron shots and made seemingly every putt that he looked at. Gay's performance will likely remain the most dominating and awe-inspiring in tournament history for years and years to come.

Although he has been unable to play at such a high level in the tournaments in which he has competed in since, he did win the 2009 St. Jude Classic by five shots for yet another wire-to-wire victory. Only time will tell if Gay will be able to collect more TOUR victories in such a record fashion as he did on Hilton Head Island in April 2009.

Payne Stewart Successfully Defends His Title (1990)

Following his victory in the 1989 PGA Championship, Payne Stewart had become one of most popular and successful golfers in the entire world - and he continued to acquire victories in some of the TOUR's most regarded tournaments throughout the 1990 season.

In 1989, Stewart had defeated Kenny Perry by five strokes for the first MCI Heritage Golf Classic victory of his career, as well as his fourth PGA TOUR tournament win in just his seventh season on the TOUR.

Yet, his victory in 1990 was not obtained quite as easily. Following a sudden-death playoff with eight-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Jones and 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize, Stewart became the first individual in tournament history to successfully defend his title.

To this day, Stewart remains one of only three players to win consecutive Heritage tournaments.

Arnold Palmer Wins First Annual Heritage Golf Classic (1969)

In 1969 Arnold Palmer was no longer the most dominating golfer in the world; at that time champions like Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Billy Casper had begun to replace him as the most consistent members of the PGA TOUR.

However, Palmer was still no stranger to winning. With his three stroke victory over Dick Crawford and seven-time TOUR winner Bert Yancey, Palmer collected a PGA TOUR win for the fifteenth consecutive season - one of the best streaks in the history of golf.

Palmer remains one of the most popular - if not the most popular - champions in Heritage history more than 40 years after his first and only Heritage victory.

Bernhard Langer Follows His Masters Victory with a Win at The Heritage (1985)

As hard as it may be to believe, 42-time European TOUR winner Bernhard Langer has only earned three PGA TOUR victories throughout his highly successful career - and two of them were obtained in two consecutive weeks.

Following his two-stroke victory over Seve Ballesteros, Raymond Floyd, and Curtis Strange at the 1985 Masters, Langer continued his hot streak at the Sea Pines Heritage - just one week after wearing his first green jacket.

Langer finished 11-under-par for the week after shooting rounds of 68, 66, 69, and 70. The finish was strong enough to tie Bobby Wadkins, the brother of 1977 PGA Champion Lanny Wadkins. Upon defeating Wadkins in a sudden death playoff, Langer had earned the second of his four worldwide victories that year for one of the most successful campaigns of the entire 1985 season.

Fantasy Picks - Top Five LPGA Tour Professionals to Watch Out For in 2011

~ The Pink Panther Strikes Again - With her four-stroke victory in last year's U.S. Women's Open, Paula Creamer finally achieved her lifelong goal of winning a major championship. This year she hopes to obtain further major championship success. ~

As the LPGA Tour's brightest stars prepare for this season's upcoming major championships, strive to obtain consistency week in and week out, and focus on improving their resumes and increasing their trophy collections, five female golfers will likely rise above the rest of the competition throughout the coming months.

The following five golfers - Yani Tseng, Karrie Webb, Ai Miyazato, Christie Kerr, and Paula Creamer - are among the most accomplished female athletes throughout the world. During their careers, they have enjoyed numerous tournament successes, maintained consistent track records, and have rewritten sports history books.

Therefore, as you prepare for your LPGA Tour fantasy league this spring and summer, you ought to keep the following ladies in mind. You will likely not be dissapointed by their consistently high levels of play.

1.) Yani Tseng

Ms. Tseng is currently the number one ranked women's golfer in the world...and for good reasons. By earning three major championship victories before her 22nd birthday, she became the youngest golfer in LPGA Tour history to accomplish such a feat.

In addition, she has acquired three other LPGA wins in her short career, including this season's Honda LPGA Thailand. She defeated Michelle Wie by five strokes on her way to obtaining the sixth LPGA Tour victory of her career back in February.

She has claimed eight other tournament victories in all four corners of the globe - many by ridiculous margins, ranging from 14 to 17 strokes.

What will Tseng accomplish throughout the remaining 2011 season? Will she successfully defend her Kraft Nabisco Championship and Women's British Open titles? Simply sit back, relax, and watch Ms. Tseng as she continues to change the history of women's golf.

2.) Karrie Webb

Ms. Webb is arguably the most accomplished active golfer on the LPGA Tour. With 38 LPGA Tour victories, including seven major championships, the 36-year-old Webb is already a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. In addition, she has obtained 52 professional victories around the world.

So what motivates her to continue to compete while many of her former counterparts, including Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam, have already retired? Quite simply, she desires to earn more tournament victories and to acquire further major championships.

Ms. Webb believes that she still has the skills required to compete on a weekly basis on the LPGA Tour and she has surely proven this very fact already in 2011. With victories at the HSBC Women's Champions and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, she certainly appears to be prepared for future tournament success.

Undoubtedly, the word "retirement" does not exist in Ms. Webb's dictionary and will likely be nonexistent for many years to come.

3.) Ai Miyazato

As hard as it may be to believe, Japan's Ai Miyazato is only 25-years-old. Yet, throughout her short life and career, she has already accomplished more than most of her colleagues have.

With six LPGA Tour victories, 25 Japan LPGA Tour wins, and prior attainment of the status as the world's number one female golfer, Ms. Miyazato is, without a doubt, one of golf's most promising talents.

Although she has yet to win in 2011, she has become of the Tour's most popular - and feared - golfers. As she continues to gain experience and confidence, she will likely be one of the Tour's most successful and well-known members during the next two to three decades.

One question remains in regards to Ms. Miyazato - when will she collect her first major championship victory? With eight top-ten finishes in major championships since 2006, one cannot help but wonder if 2011 will be her breakthrough season in the LPGA Tour's four most exclusive events.

4.) Christie Kerr

Much like her fellow colleague Karrie Webb, Ms. Kerr has enjoyed a very successful career on the LPGA Tour. With 14 LPGA Tour victories, including the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and the 2010 LPGA Championship, she has obtained at least one LPGA Tour win every season since 2002 except for the 2003 season.

With such consistency, she has become one of the Tour's most respected members. Although she is still relatively young, at 33-years-old, she has already accomplished most of her career goals.

How does she stay motivated? Is she mainly focused on winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the Women's British Open - two titles that have alluded her thus far? Is she hoping to eventually become a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame?

Whatever the reason, Ms. Kerr remains one of the Tour's greatest competitors and hardest workers. With such incessant work ethic, LPGA Tour golfers and fans alike should not be surprised if Ms. Kerr will need to expand her trophy case upon the conclusion of the 2011 season. But, which trophies will she collect this season? And, in what type of quantity? Fantasy league members should defnitely remember her as the Tour competes for major championships this spring and summer, especially as Ms. Kerr focuses on winning the Tour's career grand slam.

5.) Paula Creamer

Paula Creamer, who is often referred to as "The Pink Panther" is well-known for her good looks and personality. However, she is also regarded for her natural golfing talents, fierce competitiveness, and successful track record, which includes nine LPGA Tour victories and three Solheim Cup appearances.

With her victory in last year's U.S. Women's Open, Creamer proved that she is not just another overrated member of the Tour with a "pretty face." She can compete against the world's best - and often.

As she prepares to defend her title this year, and also collect more tournament trophies, anticipate Ms. Creamer to compete each and every week she tees it up. She is young, at 24 years of age, determined, and skillful in all aspects of the game, from driving to putting. Ms. Creamer's name will likely appear on the top of LPGA leaderboards throughout the entire duration of the 2011 season...and for many years to come.

With their successful past track records, consistency, and determination to be the best female golfer in the world, each one of these five LPGA Tour members ought to obtain numerous tournament victories during the next eight months of the Tour's 2011 schedule.