Henrik Stenson Wins Open Championship

In a weekend of sensational golf between Sweden's Henrik Stenson and USA's Phil Mickelson, it was Stenson that came out on top, winning his first major championship, at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Stenson was sensational with his shot making, shooting an 8-under final round 63 to win by three strokes over Mickelson, who finished 2nd in a major for the 11th time.

Rory McIlroy Wins PGA Championship

Golf new superstar has arrived. At the 86th PGA Championship today at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, Rory McIlroy won his fourth career, and second consecutive, major championship, winning by a stroke over Phil Mickelson. McIlroy, who won the British Open last month to move within a Masters win of the career slam, was the leader entering the final round, but struggled to start the day, falling behind by three shots.

However, at the 11th hole, he bombed his second shot at the 11th onto the green and holed the ensuing eagle putt from 8 feet. That started a back-9 run that concluded by him winning by one-stroke over Mickelson and two-shots over Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson, holing out in the darkness, due to the final round being delayed an hour due to earlier rains in the area.

"I didn't think in my wildest dreams I'd have a summer like this," said McIlroy, only the seventh player to win the last two majors of the year and third youngest ever to win four majors. "I played the best golf of my life. I really gutted it out today."

Rory McIlroy Wins British Open

It was never in doubt. Rory McIlroy led wire to wire at the Open Championship this weekend, at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, winning by two shots over Sergio Garcia and Ricky Fowler, by shooting 66-66-68-71 to finish at 17-under par. The win gives McIlroy his third career major championship (after the 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship) and puts him one Masters victory away from the career Grand Slam at 25 years old.

"It feels incredible," McIlroy said before heading out to collect the oldest trophy in golf. "Today wasn't easy. A few guys were making runs at me. I just needed to stay focused and stay in the present and really concentrate on what I was doing out there."

Bubba Watson Wins Masters

Behind incredibly long tee-shots and gutsy approaches (what else), Bubba Watson shot a final-round 69 at the Masters, to finish at 8-under par and beat fellow American Jordan Spieth and Sweden's Jonas Blixt by three shots. For Watson, who also won the 2012 Masters, it is his second career major championship. 

Down two shots through seven holes on Sunday, Watson trailed the 20-year old Spieth by two shots. But a stunning four-shot swing over the 8th and 9th hole, in which Watson made birdie, birdie and Spieth made bogey, bogey, gave him a lead he would not relinquish over the back nine.

"This one's a lot different," Watson said. "The first one, for me, it was almost like I lucked into it."

Jason Dufner Wins PGA Championship

After a heartbreaking collapse a couple years ago, Jason Dufner wasn't about to let it happen again. 

The ever-stoic 36-year old Dufner didn't make a single mistake Sunday, as he closed out his first major championship, winning the PGA Championship at Oakhill Country Club by two strokes over Jim Furyk. Swedes Henrik Stenson and Jonas Blixt finished three and four shots off the lead, respectively to finish third and fourth.

Dufner, who shot a major-record low 63 during Friday's second round to grab the weekend lead, was steady throughout, as he failed to record a bogey for 26 holes between the 8th hole in the third round and the 17th hole in the final round today. In that stretch, his approach shots were simply amazing, leaving tap-in birdies on both 8 and 16 today. 

"It's been a tough day, and a long day," Dufner said. "It probably hasn't hit me yet. ... It's a great feeling to actually win it."

Phil Mickelson Wins British Open

After a heartbreaking, sixth 2nd-place finish at the US Open last month, Phil Mickelson bounced back to win his fifth major championship and first Open Championship by shooting a final round 66 at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane Scottland, to finish at 3-under par and win by three strokes over Henrik Stenson.

Mickelson, who came into today's final round five shots back, birdied the four of the final six holes and shot an incredible round on a day most of the other contenders struggled greatly.

"This is such an accomplishment for me," Mickelson said. "I never knew if I'd be able to develop the game and the shots to play links golf effectively. To play what is arguably the best round of my career, to putt the way I putted, to shoot the round of my life, it just feels amazing to win the claret jug.

54-hole leader Lee Westwood, who started today's final round with a two-shot lead, failed to finish strongly on a major Sunday once again, and finished in a tie for third for his record-8th top 3 finish without a major championship. Adam Scott, who blew up in the final round at last year's Open Championship, also briefly had the lead today, but bogeyed four straight holes from 13-16 to finish at one-over par.

Adam Scott Wins Masters

Australia finally has its green jacket.

After fellow countryman Jason Day, who was up two shots with three holes to play faltered down the stretch, Adam Scott won his home country of Australia its first ever Masters title, by beating Angel Cabrera on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff in the rain at Augusta National in Georgia.

Cabrera, who was going for his third major and second Masters, had the lead for most of the day until his approach shot fell into the water hazard at the 13th hole Sunday, leading to a bogey. However, he rallied down the stretch as he birdied the 16th and 18th holes to force the playoff with Scott, who birdied the 13th, 15th, and 18th holes while fellow countrymen Jason Day (birdied 13, 14, and 15, before bogeying 16 and 17) and Marc Leishman (shot just even-par 72 on the day) faltered down the stretch.

In the sudden death playoff, Scott and Cabrera matched each other shot for shot, as they both made par on the first hole at #18. In the second playoff hole, at #10, both Cabrera and Scott reached the green in two. But Cabrera's birdie putt just missed by a foot, while Scott holed his putt, to win his first ever major championship, after finishing 2nd at the 2011 Masters and 2nd at last year's Open Championship.

Ernie Els Wins British Open

In a stunning finish at the Open Championship at Lyntham St. Annes, England, Ernie Els wins his fourth major, and second British Open after third round leader Adam Scott blows a four shot lead with four holes to play by finishing with four straight bogies.

Els, who last won the Open Championship ten years ago at Muirfield, started Sunday's final round six shots behind Scott. But, he played a flawless back nine, birdieing the 18th hole to move to -7 under before watching Scott collapse.

"I'm a little numb at the moment," said Els, who was on the practice green behind the clubhouse when he won. "First of all, I feel for Adam Scott. He's a great friend of mine. Obviously, we both wanted to win very badly. But you know, that's the nature of the beast."

Tiger Woods finished a distance third, shooting a 3-over 73 and could never recover after he triple bogeyed the sixth hole.

Webb Simpson Wins U.S. Open

Another major, another first-time major champion. Golf has its ninth straight first-time major winner, as Webb Simpson shoots a 2-under 68 on Sunday to win the 112th U.S. Open by a stroke over Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson.

After last year's record-breaking performance by Rory McIlroy, the USGA returned to its normally brutal course setup at the Olympic Club in San Francisco this year, frustrating the most elite players in the world, and turning the tournament's final day into a survive and advance mentality.

Simpson, 26, did just that in capturing his first major, shooting a 68-68 in the final two rounds to become just the fifth U.S. Open champion to shoot in the 60's on the weekend. 


However, despite his outstanding final round, which included four birdies in five holes from holes 6-10, he had to watch third-round leader Jim Furyk bogey two of his last three holes and McDowell unable to recover from a horrible start, before securing the trophy.


"I never really wrapped my mind around winning," said Simpson. "This place is so demanding, and so all I was really concerned about was keeping the ball in front of me and making pars."

Bubba Watson Wins Masters

Another great final round at Augusta National, as another first-time major champion is crowned.

Bubba Watson, who came oh-so-close at the 2010 PGA Championship, 33, finally won his first major championship and green jacket, as he defeats Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff yesterday at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Watson's win makes it 14 straight majors with a different winner.

After Oosthuizen's amazing double eagle on the front nine earlier in the final round, it seemed like he would be on his way to a second major championship. But Watson, on the second playoff hole, may have hit and even better shot. In the trees on the 10th hole, Watson bent his ball around the tree and onto the green for incredible par save and a win by a stroke over Oohuisthuizen.

"I've never had a dream go this far, so I can't really say it's a dream come true," Watson said. "I don't even know what happened on the back nine. ... Nervous on every shot, every putt. Went into a playoff. I got in these trees and hit a crazy shot that I saw in my head, and somehow I'm here talking to you with a green jacket on."

Keegan Bradley Wins PGA in Playoff

It was all over for Keegan Bradley after the 15th hole at the 93rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday. Only two shots back of 54-hole leader Jason Dufner going into the brutal final four holes, Bradley's second shot on the par-three from the rough was a chip downhill onto the green that was hit way too hard, and ended up falling into the waterhazard, leading to a triple bogey.

But whether you can call it a complete collapse by Dufner, or a miraculous comeback by Bradley, Dufner's ensuing tee-shot on the 15th also found the water, starting a set of three consecutive bogeys on 15, 16, and 17. Bradley, meanwhile, holed long, difficult birdie putts on 16 and 17, and suddenly, four shots were made up in just two holes.

Both Americans would make par at 18, forcing a three-hole aggregate playoff.

In the playoff, at #16, Bradley would answer Dufner's amazing tee-shot with one of his own. When Dufner's birdie putt slid past and Bradley made birdie, Dufner's seemingly insurmountable lead was gone. After a birdie/par finish on the final two playoff holes, 25-year old Keegan Bradley had won the Wannamaker Trophy and become only the third player in 100 years to win a major championship in his first try.

"It feels unbelievable," Bradley said. "It seems like a dream and I'm afraid I'm going to wake up here in the next five minutes and it's not going to be real."

Darren Clarke Wins British Open

What a run it's been for Northern Ireland golfers. Graeme McDowell at last year's U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy at this year's U.S. Open, and now 42-year old Darren Clarke makes it back to back major championships for his country, by winning his first career major today at the Open Championship at Royal St. Georges.

Clarke, whose previous highest finish in a major was second at the 1997 Open Championship, beat a pair of Americans, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, by three strokes, finishing at 6-under par after an even par final round after triumphantly battling the elements successfully with consistent putting and a little bit of luck (several shots into the wind bounced over bunkers).

"Pretty amazing right now," Clarke said. "It's been a dream since I've been a kid to win the Open, like any kid's dream is, and I'm able to do it, which just feels incredible."

Records Fall as Rory McIlroy Wins U.S. Open

Tiger Who? The next great prodigy in golf has arrived in the form of 22 year old Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, who blew away the field and shot a record low 16-under par at the U.S. Open at the Congressional Country Club just outside Washington, D.C. (besting Tiger Woods' 12-under from '00). McIlroy, which led wire to wire and was under 70 in all four rounds, beat his closest competitor, Jason Day, who finished in second place for the second straight major, by an insane eight shots. Robert Garrigus, Kevin Chappell, Lee Westwood, and Y.E. Yang finished a distant tie for third at 6-under par.

But this was Rory's weekend, and any thought of lingering effects from his final round Masters' collapse was put to rest early on, as he shot an opening round 6-under par on Thursday and only increased his lead throughout the weekend.

"Going back to Augusta this year, I felt like that was a great opportunity to get my first major. It didn't quite work out," McIlroy said. "But to come back straightaway at the U.S. Open and win, that is nice. You can always call yourself a major champion, and hopefully after this, I can call myself a multiple major champion."

Charl Schwartzel Wins Masters

Incredible drama at Augusta National today in the final round of the 2011 Masters. At one point down the stretch of the back nine, nine golfers were within two shots of the lead.

In the end, it was South African Charl Schwartzel who came away with the green jacket and his first major championship. Schwartzel birdied the final four holes of his round, to finish at -13 and defeat Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day by two shots.

"It was just such an exciting day," Schwartzel said. "There were so many roars and the atmosphere out there was just incredible.

Among those adding to the roar was Tiger Woods, who shot 67 today, including -5 on the front nine. However, he was even-par on the back-nine, falling four back in a tie with Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald. Three-round leader Rory McIlroy, who had a four shot lead coming into today, led throught nine holes, but completely fell apart on the back 9, and finished shooting an 80.

2010: The Year in Sports

Well, another year, amazingly has passed, and before we head to 2011, here's a quick rundown of the biggest sports stories of 2010. And despite all four Houston franchises missing the playoffs :(, it has been a great year in the world's sports scene.

NFL
Behind MVP quarterback Drew Brees and Tracy Porter's game clinching interception (below), the Saints boost up New Orleans and beat the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.

College Football
Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton leads undefeated #1 Auburn to BCS Championship Game, as they will play #2 Oregon and LaMichael James in Glendale on January 10. Boise State was looking to jump into title miss, but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Nevada in overtime, while undefeated TCU misses out because of it's soft schedule. Still no playoff.
MLB
It was the year of the pitcher, six no-hitters were thrown (Ubaldo Jimenez, Dallas Braden, Edwin Jackson, Matt Garza, Roy Halladay X 2) including two (should have been 3, Armando Gallaraga) perfect games (Halladay, Braden). In the end, the San Francisco Giants rode their pitching and clutch hitting to win their first World Series since moving to the Bay Area, beating the Texas Rangers in five games.
NBA
The Celtics and Lakers played another epic 7-game NBA Final, with Kobe and LA winning the title for the second straight year. In the world championships, Kevin Durant led team USA to a gold medal. But the story of year was the most active free agency period in NBA history, with LeBron James making his decision to sign with the Heat, joining Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade to make an instant title contender in Miami.
College Basketball
It was another great NCAA tournament, with Duke and cinderella Butler playing a classic championship game. (final 2 minutes of game below)

Hockey
The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1961, but the play of the year had to be Sidney Crosby's golden goal for team Canada (below) in the Vancouver Olympics. It came in sudden death overtime after the United States had tied it with 24 seconds to go in regulation with a goal from Zach Parise.


Soccer
Colorado Rapids won their first ever MLS Cup, but the biggest story was the World Cup obviously. Landon Donovan rescued U.S. with an epic goal against Algeria in stoppage time to send the U.S. to the knockout stage, but in the end, it was Spain which reigned supreme, beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final (highlights below)


Golf
It was a wild year in golf. Tiger Woods goes winless for the season, while the relative four different countries were represented as major champions: Martin Kaymer (Germany), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Phil Mickelson (United States).
Tennis
Rafael Nadal returned from a tough 2009 and dominated, winning Wimbledon, the French Open, and the U.S. Open, while John Isner and Nicolas Mahut played the longest tennis match in history (11 hours, 5 min)
NASCAR
Jimmie Johnson won his fifth straight Sprint Cup title, in the closest Chase ever.

Martin Kaymer Wins PGA Championship in Playoff

At the season's final major at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Martin Kaymer of Germany emerged as winner of the 92nd PGA Championship, edging Bubba Watson in a three-hole playoff.

Kaymer, who won his first major title, made a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to tie Watson for the clubhouse lead at 11-under par, forcing the playoff.

American Dustin Johnson looked to join the pair as he birdied #17. However, his drive on #18 went well right of the fairway into a crowd of spectators. Not knowing that he was in a bunker that people had been walking in all week, Johnson ground his club into the sand before hitting his second shot into the rough behind the 18th green, eventually bogeying the hole and forcing what seemed like a three-man playoff. However, the PGA enforced a two-shot penalty on Johnson for the grounding, causing him to fall back to 9-under in a tie for fifth place.

In the playoff, Watson birdied the first hole at #10, while Kaymer answered with a birdie at #17. On the third playoff hole at 18, Watson's second shot was well short of green and fell into Seven Mile Creek. From there, Kaymar just needed bogey for the win and he calmly tapped in from two feet.

"I don't realize what happened," Kaymer said. "I just won my first major. I've got goose bumps just talking about it." Kaymer's win also moves him up to #5 in the world golf rankings and earned him $1.35 million.

Louis Oosthuizen Wins British Open

In a truly dominating performance, little known Louis Oosthuizen ran away with the Claret Jug at the 139th British Open at St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland. Oosthuizen, who came into the championship as just the 54th ranked golfer in the world, seized the lead midway through the second round Friday, and never faltered, blowing away the field to win by seven shots, finishing at 16 under par. The 27-year old South African's first major came on the same day as Nelson Mandela's 92nd birthday and moves him up to 15th in the golf rankings.

"To win an Open championship is special," Oosthuizen said. "But to win it at St. Andrews ... it's something you dream about."

Oosthuizen's closest competitor ended up being Lee Westwood, who finished second at a major for the second time this year, with the first being at the Masters. But the final result was never really in doubt on Sunday, as Oosthuizen matched his playing partner Paul Casey shot for shot as Casey trailed by four coming into the final round. However, when Oosthuizen knocked in a 50-foot eagle at #8, and Casey triple bogeyed #12, Oosthuizen held an 8 shot lead with 6 holes to go.

"Nobody was going to stop him," said Casey. "He didn't miss a shot today. I don't know if he missed one all week. That was four days of tremendous golf."

Graeme McDowell Wins U.S. Open

In a final round of a major golf championship, it seemed like nobody wanted to step forward and capture the title. With Pebble Beach's golf course playing extremely difficult on Sunday, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell emerged as the winner, shooting a final round 3-over 74 to finish at even par for the week, one shot ahead of France's Gregory Havret, who finished at +1. Ernie Els finished in third at +2, while Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson tied for fourth at +3. 54-hole leader Dustin Johnson completely collapsed, shooting a final round +11. McDowell, who only had one birdie in the final round, moved up to #13 in the world rankings and became the first European to win the U.S. Open in 40 years. It was also his first career PGA Tour win. "I can't believe I'm standing with this right now," McDowell said, posing with silver trophy. "It's a dream come true. I've been dreaming it all my life. Two putts to win the U.S. Open. Can't believe it happened."

Phil Mickelson Wins Masters

In a week that began surrounding a man whose legacy as a family man was tarnished due to scandal, the ultimate champion showed all that they had been following the wrong person.

Lefty Phil Mickelson won his third Masters title Sunday, defeating Lee Westwood, by three-shots to finish at 16 under par, after playing a bogey-free final round. Afterward, Mickelson embraced with his wife Amy, who has battled breast cancer for the 12 months. "In the last year, we've been through a lot and it's been tough. And to be on the other end and feel this kind of jubilation is incredible," said Mickelson, who captured his fourth overall major championship.

For Westwood, the runner-up, it was his third straight major championship finishing in the top 3, as he finished third at both the British Open and PGA Championship last year. Anthony Kim finished third at 12-under after shooting a final round best 65. K.J. Choi and Tiger Woods, returning to professional golf for the first time since his scandal, finished tied for fourth at 11-under par.

Y.E. Yang Wins PGA Championship

It was 8 A.M. in the morning in South Korea when one of its countrymen made golf history. Y.E. Yang became the first Asian born player to win a professional men's golf major, winning the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota by three strokes over Tiger Woods. Yang finished at 8-under par for the championship, outplaying Tiger down the stretch with steady, consistent golf highlighted by an eagle chip in at the 14th and a great approach on the final hole. It was the first time Woods had ever lost a major championship when leading after 54 holes. "This might be my last win as a golfer," Yang said through an interpreter. "But it sure is a great day." Yang, who was #118 in the world coming into the tournament, capped off a year of most unlikely major champions, with Angel Cabrera coming back to stun Kenny Perry at the Masters, Lucas Glover coming out of nowhere to win the U.S. Open, and Stewart Cink breaking Tom Watson's heart with a playoff victory at the British Open.