Devil Ball Golf - Golf

With the decade of the 2000s almost over, we're running through the best of the last ten years in the world of golf. Today: the best PGA players of the last ten years. 

1. Tiger Woods. You knew this. Your grandmother knew this. Tiger is in the conversation for best athletes of all time, not just best golfers of the decade. But, for the record and by the numbers, he had 56 PGA wins and 12 majors in the 2000s. Compare that with the players below for an idea of how dominant he's been.

2. Vijay Singh. You'd think that Mickelson was the no-brainer No. 2, but get this -- Vijay has as many majors, two more tournament wins, three top money list finishes, and the 2008 FedEx Cup. 

3. Phil Mickelson. He's got more prominence than Vijay, and going forward he'll be more of a challenge for Tiger, but the numbers put him just behind Singh. Phil's got three majors, which along with Vijay and Padraig Harrington is more than anybody else in golf in the 2000s except you-know-who. He's also snagged 24 wins over the decade.

4. Ernie Els. There's a fairly steep dropoff from 3 to 4, but nonetheless this isn't a bad place to be. With 9 PGA Tour wins and 17 European Tour wins, including the 2002 British Open, Els was at his best in the early part of the decade.

5. Jim Furyk. He's camped out in the top 10 almost every year since 2003, and during the decade he's won nine events, including the 2003 U.S. Open. Consistency throughout the decade puts him right here, though some more wins would have been nice.

6. Padraig Harrington. Feast or famine, but when he feasts, it's all-you-can-eat. He's got 13 European Tour wins and five PGA Tour wins, including three double-counted majors in those totals -- the 2007 and 2008 British and the 2008 PGA. His lack of consistency cost him, but he's a good bet to move up this list in the future.

7. Retief Goosen. He's dropped off the pace of the early part of the decade, where he won the U.S. Open twice, in 2001 and 2004, but he's still secured seven PGA wins, including the Transitions earlier this year.

8. Davis Love III. His best golf bracketed the turn of the millennium, but he's still achieved four top-10 money list finishes and snagged seven tournaments, highlighted by his four-win 2003. 

9. David Toms. He's been an anonymous sort of champion, but with nine PGA wins in the 2000s, topped by the 2001 PGA, he's a champion nonetheless. Majors carry significant weight in these rankings; the best have to come up big at the biggest moments.

10. Mike Weir. And here the debate really begins. Weir has 7 wins in the 2000s, one more than Stewart Cink, and his 2003 Masters gives him the slightest of edges over Perry and Garcia. He ranks 11th in career earnings among 2009 players, but his consistent decade-long play is enough to get him into the top 10 here.

Also receiving much consideration: Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink, Sergio Garcia. And now it's your turn. Who else belongs on this list? Who should move up/down? Have your say!

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52 Comments

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  1. ShagOnSports
    1. Posted by ShagOnSports Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:33 am EST

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    Looks like Kenny Perry is number eleven... That is way to low...
  2. ShagOnSports
    2. Posted by ShagOnSports Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:34 am EST

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    Perry should be in the top 10...
  3. Vito Puzzo
    3. Posted by Vito Puzzo Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:12 pm EST

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    World Ranking:
    1. E. Woods
    2. PGA
    3. Nationwide
    4. Hooters Tour
    5.lpga
  4. Lamont D
    4. Posted by Lamont D Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:36 pm EST

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    If there is a steep drop off between 3 & 4, what do you call it between the #1 vs # 2,3, & 4 players a bottom less pit? Oh I forgot you guys call it a rivalry!
  5. LeeP
    5. Posted by LeeP Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:16 pm EST

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    Perry is fine at 11 in my book....it's a list of how you did over the entire decade, not just the past few years. I'm not sure I would have D. Love on the list as I don't feel he was very consistent for the whole decade, he fell off the earth for a few years. I would have dropped him off the list and moved everyone else up a spot and then put in Garcia. Being a sore loser doesn't take away the fact that he was in the discussions on Sundayd during many majors, won the players as well as other events.
  6. Chazzy1
    6. Posted by Chazzy1 Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:25 pm EST

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    More subjective BS.
  7. HamM
    7. Posted by HamM Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:30 pm EST

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    Yet these dummies rate Paul Casey # 5 in PGA ratings. Go figure.
  8. myron t
    8. Posted by myron t Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:50 pm EST

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    The list is fine, not too sure garcia is top twenty though. a good golfer that falls apart at the end of an important tournament. it always looks like he overthinks it and waits to make the mistake that will assure he doesn't win. stewart cink looks like the best or the rest.
  9. bah
    9. Posted by bah Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:37 pm EST

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    wth is on tiger's lip
  10. Scorpio
    10. Posted by Scorpio Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:40 pm EST

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    Mike Weir on this list? You gotta be kidding.
  11. bionicbonk
    11. Posted by bionicbonk Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:43 pm EST

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    Tiger woods is in serious condition according the cbssportsline, apparently he was in a car accident
  12. kyledrozenski
    12. Posted by kyledrozenski Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:45 pm EST

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    ^^^ Details to come
  13. chris t
    13. Posted by chris t Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:55 pm EST

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    #9 it's a pencil.
    Where the hell is stricker on this list. anybody? helllooooo. great list guys.
  14. orange
    14. Posted by orange Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:58 pm EST

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    Is Tiger smoking a spleef in the photo?
  15. Steve S.
    15. Posted by Steve S. Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:00 pm EST

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    Also putting Vijay ahead of Phil? You forgot to mention that Vij is the last person not named Woods to have the world No. 1 ranking; Phil's never done that.
  16. Steve "The Hack" Cofield
    16. Posted by Steve "The Hack" Cofield Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:37 pm EST

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    Holy [profane], tiger hit a tree. This time with a car.
  17. 55sportfan
    17. Posted by 55sportfan Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:58 pm EST

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    As much as i like mike weir hes cant be in the over all top 10 ten golfer in the decade hasnt showed enough top metal especially on nbc which always hates the canucks.
  18. Andrew
    18. Posted by Andrew Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:38 pm EST

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    What about el pato? Angel Cabrera hes won two majors over the last three years
  19. benc
    19. Posted by benc Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:43 pm EST

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    Weir $28.5 million career earnings.... he is a dawg!
  20. Mr.OK
    20. Posted by Mr.OK Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:28 pm EST

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    its phillllllllll time and i say great master phil will claim all 4 majors while spanking and whippng sissy cussing whinning greeding bullying jerking woods in the process.... adinaro
  21. cpr1487
    21. Posted by cpr1487 Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:39 pm EST

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    Mike Weir without a doubt deserves to be on this list. Anyone who disagrees clearly does not follow enough golf. In 03, Mike was as high as 3rd in the world, and he has significant career earnings and good showings to solidify this placement. I think this list is quite accurate.
  22. GC
    22. Posted by GC Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:09 pm EST

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    One problem with the list. I would replace Davis Love III with Kenny Perry.
  23. rotina b redhot
    23. Posted by rotina b redhot Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:17 pm EST

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    hey! orange was your momma!!
  24. JEFF L
    24. Posted by JEFF L Fri Nov 27, 2009 7:28 pm EST

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    Screw Tiger
  25. David
    25. Posted by David Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:50 pm EST

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    Where does Steve Stricker come into play? He was playing well in the late 90s, won the WCG Match Play in 2001, then fell off the map for four years, only to rally in the last half of the decade. I think only Tiger (and maybe Phil) are playing better golf now.

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