Sure 2022 was packed with turmoil in the world of golf (thank-you LIV) — but all that aside, there was a lot of history made this past season — so let’s get to it!
Scottie Scheffler: Fastest Rise To World No. 1:
This in and of itself was simply amazing. Scottie Scheffler went from winless on the PGA Tour to No. 1 in the world in a matter of 42 days — that’s the fastest-ever for that to occur. Scottie took home his first major at The Masters and eventually would become PGA Tour Player Of The Year.
Historical First: All Four Major Champions Under The Age Of 30:
This has never happened before. All four winners of the major championships were under the age of 30. Here’s how they stacked up and their age when they won their respective majors:
The Masters: Scottie Scheffler (25).
The PGA: Justin Thomas (29).
The U.S. Open: Matt Fitzpatrick (27).
The Open Championship: Cameron Smith (28).
Never Before: Two Players Open A Tournament With Triple-Bogey Or Worse — Then Win!!!
Tom Kim and Rory McIlroy proved it’s not how you start — it’s how you finish.
Tom Kim opened with a quadruple-bogey on the very first hole and went on to win the Wyndham Championship.
Rory’s first hole at the 2022 Tour Championship was a triple-bogey. He went on to win even though he was spotting Scottie Scheffler strokes.
This hasn’t happened in 40 years.
Matt Fitzpatrick Joins Jack Nicklaus With This First:
Before this year’s U.S. Open, Jack Nicklaus was the only player ever to win a U.S. Amateur Championship and a U.S. Open Championship on the same course. Jack did that at Pebble Beach. Matty Fitz won the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club (Brookline), same venue where he won the U.S. Amateur.
J.T. At The PGA — Biggest Final Round Comeback Since 1999:
Justin Thomas came from seven back at the PGA Championship then beat Mito Pereira in a playoff. That’s the biggest comeback since the 1999 Open Championship when Paul Lawrie overtook Jean van de Velde at Carnoustie.
Will Zalatoris: Six Top Eights At His First Nine Majors:
Will Zalatoris will be a factor at major championships — he proved it with six top eights in his first nine appearances. Hasn’t been done since 1957 and that was Antonio Cerda from Argentina.
Cam Young Joins Payne Stewart:
Cameron Young had seven top threes during the 21-22 season without a win. Last time that happened was 1993 when Payne Stewart accomplished it.
Sebastian Munoz And A Pair Of 60s:
Sebastian Munoz was the first player in PGA Tour history to shoot rounds of 60 twice in the same season. He shot 60 at the RSM and the Byron Nelson.
Russell Henley’s Really Low Score:
You probably don’t want to be the owner of this one but Russell Henley shot 257 for 72 holes at the Sony and DIDN’T win. He lost in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama. That was the lowest 72-hole score by a non-winner at a tournament.
Cool stuff. It’s going to be hard for 2023 to top that!
