1. Tiger’s rise from the ashes
Tiger Woods rose from the abyss multiple times throughout the decade, most notably from scandal at the beginning of 2010 and again following four back surgeries from 2014-17, the last one a spinal fusion. The decade broke with Woods’ life in turmoil after a Thanksgiving car crash that destroyed a fire hydrant and led to revelations of serial infidelity. The public shame ultimately ended his marriage, cost him millions in endorsements and shattered his then impeccable image.
Woods didn’t regain his footing on the golf course until winning the 2011 Chevron World Challenge. He won three times in 2012 and regained his No. 1 ranking in the world during a five-win season in 2013. His back betrayed him the following year and the spinal fusion procedure was a last gasp effort to get healthy enough to return to the game. After not winning for four years, he captured the 2018 Tour Championship. In 2019, after not winning a major championship since 2008, he lit up the golf world with his fifth victory in the Masters and 15th major title. In his last official PGA Tour event of the decade, he won the Zozo Championship, his record-tying 82nd Tour title.