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Tiger Week: Players Who Finished Second to Tiger Woods Most Often

By Tim Letcher

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational on February 16, 2020 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Genesis Invitational on February 16, 2020 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – JUNE 20: Michael Thompson of the United States bumps elbows with Ernie Els of South Africa on the 18th green during the third round of the RBC Heritage on June 20, 2020 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – JUNE 20: Michael Thompson of the United States bumps elbows with Ernie Els of South Africa on the 18th green during the third round of the RBC Heritage on June 20, 2020 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Ernie Els

The man known as “The Big Easy” was also a runner-up to Tiger Woods five times during his career. It started in 1999 when the two went head-to-head at the National Car Rental Golf Classic at Disney World. Woods shot 17-under par to hold off his South African counterpart by one stroke.

In January of 2000, Woods and Els went at it again, this time at the Mercedes Championship. It was a classic duel that ended up in a playoff after both players finished regulation at 16-under par. Woods would prevail for his 16th PGA Tour victory.

Later in 2000, at the Memorial Tournament, Tiger put on one of his dominant performances. Woods torched Muirfield Village to the tune of 19-under par. That allowed Tiger to beat runners-up Els and Justin Leonard by five shots.

Just three weeks later, Woods put on a record-breaking performance at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Woods was the only player to finish at par or better, and Tiger was 12-under. He won by a whopping 15 shots over Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

And in the very next major, the Open Championship at St. Andrews, Tiger dominated yet again. He won the event by eight shots, with Els and Thomas Bjorn sharing second place.

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