Best Players of the Last Decade

Best Players Of The Last Decade

It has been a fascinating last ten years of golf, and the turn into a new decade is the perfect time to reflect on what has happened during this time. It is fair to say that nobody could have foreseen what would have happened between 2010 and 2019.

Before the turn of 2010, Tiger Woods was the dominant force, but his powers were beginning to wilt as personal troubles began to take their toll. That opened the door for some new stars to emerge, and they left fans and punters waiting with bated breath for the next major. In comparison with boxing betting, golf is hugely unpredictable, and that’s what makes fans love the sport. But, which players have captivated us the most over the past decade?

Phil Mickelson

When it comes to longevity, nobody can question the player that stands out more than most. He was the first player to win a major in the previous decade with a remarkably emotional success at Augusta. No fan will forget that success in a hurry, as there was raw emotion on the final green as his wife, who was suffering from breast cancer at the time, greeted him.

He went on to win the Open Championship in 2013, before having to wait for over four years for his next success on the PGA Tour. That win came at the World Golf Championships in 2018, before he added a final victory for the decade in the form of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Justin Thomas

It is hard to ignore what Justin Thomas had achieved over the past decade. He managed to win eleven events on the PGA Tour despite only joining during the 2014-15 campaign. Only Dustin Johnson beats that record. The American managed 12 successes. Meanwhile, nobody can claim to top the ten wins that Thomas has achieved since 2016.

His biggest season to date came back in 2017 where he won five events, including the FedExCup. However, his domination has been derailed over recent years as he has struggled with a wrist injury. Thomas also joined an esteemed group by winning eleven titles before turning 27. He joins Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy in that prestigious club. His young age means that is isn’t impossible that he can surpass the achievements that he has already recorded. He will certainly be a player to watch over the next decade.

Rory McIlroy

Talking of players that have burst onto the scene in emphatic fashion, that links us very nicely into Rory McIlroy. He has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA circuit over the past decade, and that is highlighted by the honours that he has won. He became only the second player to win two majors by eight or more shots when he claimed the 2012 PGA Championship, while he recorded an astounded 18 wins between 2010 and 2019 in PGA events.

He also won four majors during the decade and added two FedExCup successes and three World Golf Championships. The Northern Irishman is the only player from the last decade to have won two FedExCups, which means that his position in the list of the best players of the decade isn’t up for debate.