1. 2000 U.S. Open
Dominance: 4.43
Woods’ epic 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach holds several distinctions beyond being the most dominant performance of professional tournament history.
At 4.43 standard deviations better than the 295.81 field average, it is also the most dominant performance in the history of the U.S. Open.
His 15-stroke margin of victory surpassed the all-time record of 13 strokes set by Old Tom Morris at Prestwick in 1862.
It is also the most statistically dominant performance in Major Golf history, a statement that encompasses 745 men’s and women’s majors since the inaugural playing of the British Open in 1860.
Finally, the extent of Woods’ dominance can be appreciated this way. At each of the other three men’s majors, the difference between the most dominant and second most dominant historically works out to about two-tenths of a standard deviation. Yet the gap between Woods’ at the 2000 Open and the runner-up – in this case Rory McIlroy at 3.35 in 2011 – approaches a full standard deviation. That’s nearly five times the size of the gap between first and second for any of the other men’s majors.
In weather that bothered everybody in the field except Woods, he shot 66 to open a one stroke lead on Thursday, then backed it up with a Friday 69 to lead Thomas Bjorn and Miguel-Angel Jimenez by six.
By Woods’ standards, his third round 71 was ordinary. But only Ernie Els did better, and although that round lifted Els into second place, he remained 10 strokes behind Woods.
The champion’s Sunday 67 was memorable only for the sustained pursuit of excellence he displayed; there was certainly no question about the identity of the eventual champion. He began the day as the only player under par for the week and never lost that distinction, recording four back nine birdies.