Best PGA Golf Comebacks

Despite its rather laid-back appearance, golf is one of the most competitive, cutthroat, and professional sports in the world. As an avid golfing enthusiast, I grew up supporting legendary players like Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els 'The Big Easy', Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, and Mark McNulty.

Over the years, I've watched in absolute amazement as PGA Tour golfers have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Whether it's a Final-Round comeback, or a return to form after a lengthy absence, the best PGA golf comebacks are certainly worthy of consideration.

True to form, each of the aforementioned golfers has been involved in some big comebacks over the years, but the truly memorable PGA Tour performances stand head and shoulders above the competition. Many outstanding  PGA Tour comebacks have featured in the golfing annals of history.

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The Masterclass of Steve Elkington in 1995 at the PGA Championship at Riviera

We begin with Steve Elkington in 1995 at the PGA Championship at Riviera. Elkington outperformed the competition on the final round of this illustrious PGA Championship. He was 6 strokes behind the legendary Ernie Els, and tied for fifth place. What happened next was unthinkable: Elk – the Australian golfing legend – shot a 7-under par 64 to earn a berth in the play-offs with golfing great Colin Montgomery. Needless to say, the play didn't go on for too long, especially when Elkington sank a 20-foot putt on the 18th hole for a birdie. It was a Major victory in more ways than one!

Paul Stewart Lawrie gets his Just Deserts with Incredible Comeback on the PGA Circuit

Next up is the 1999 British Open. This is the true story of a 10-stroke PGA Tour comeback that resonates with golf fans to this very day. Paul Stewart Lawrie is a world-class golfer from Scotland who racked up many European tour victories, including 2 x Ryder Cup wins. On 18 July, 1999 Paul Lawrie won a golfing Major title. He took the proverbial bull by the horns and turned his game around, hit the right shots, sank the right putts, and bested golfer Jean Van de Velde, and won the Claret jug. Whether or not he got the recognition he deserved remains in question – but he certainly earned his berth in golf’s best ever comeback books.

Tiger Woods Reclaims Green Jacket in Spectacular Fashion at 2019 Masters Championship

Tiger Woods is always going to be credited with major golfing achievements. He deserves all of them. A child prodigy turned golfing legend, Woods was always going to be the champion that we know him to be. His greatest comeback is arguably his 2019 Masters Championship. The miracle on the green took place at 3:20 PM local time, in Augusta, Georgia. What makes Tiger’s victory even sweeter is the adversity that he had to endure before he won the title.

He had overcome multiple back surgeries, braved through countless scandals, been vilified in the media, and effectively written off for dead until he showed the world why Tiger Woods is arguably the greatest golfer of all time. That he achieved his first Masters title with a glorious 13-under par is a truly stunning achievement.

He began the Final Round, 2 shots behind Francesco Molinari. By hole #12, Molinari found himself in deep trouble, and that's when Tiger pounced. On holes 13, 15, 16, Tiger Woods blew past the competition and had a commanding 2 shot lead as he was teeing off on the 18th hole. Woods only needed to bogie to win the championship, but he did better than that by putting for par to win his fifth iconic Green Jacket, and land his 15th PGA Major title.  Exhilarating. Breathtaking. Spectacular. These words don't do justice to Tiger Woods’ performance on that day.

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John Mahaffey Defies Expectations & Plays His Way into The Record Books

Let's wind the clocks back to the 1978 PGA Championship. This time around, a lesser-known PGA winner – John Mahaffey comes into his own. He shot a first-round score of 75 (the highest start for a winner) and by the Final Round, he was 7 shots under par. This achievement was recognized as the best ever comeback in the Final Round in golfing history. That he managed a 68-under par on Day Four, resulting in a play-off between Jerry Pate and Tom Watson, was world class.

Mahaffey drew cheers from the crowds when he lined up a 12-foot putt on one of the play-off holes at Oakmont, securing the prestigious title and leaving a lasting impression on the golfing world for generations to come. Unfortunately for Tom Watson, it was the closest he had ever came to winning the PGA Championship, although he won the 5 Open Championships, the Masters in 1977 and 1981, and the US Open in 1982.

Steve Jones Braves Ligament and Joint Damage to Win A Major PGA Golf Title

Steve Jones was a hot ticket prospect in 1987 and 1988. He won 4 championships on the PGA Tour during those years, but injury cut his career short. In 1991, the suffered terrible ligament and joint damage by dirt bike riding. The injuries were so severe that it took him several years before he qualified for his first U.S. Open in 5 years, that time being 1996. His spirited performance during the contest saw him gain the advantage over Davis Love III and Tom Lehman to claim his first Major title – the US Open. It was also the last Major title he would ever win in his career. Fortunately, Steve Jones won 3 PGA Tour titles, but his injury-plagued body could not keep pace with his determination to win, ultimately leading to his retirement.

The list of incredible PGA Tour comebacks is an impressive one, and spans many golfers over time. The aforementioned listings are some of the more memorable golf comebacks, and you can bet your bottom dollar that many more are bound to follow.

*Pic of Tiger Woods by David J. Phillip  and AP