Held 25 years ago, the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California was initially marked by poignant tributes – celebrating the life of the late defending champion Payne Stewart, who had tragically died in a plane crash less than eight months prior, and serving as a farewell to golf icon Jack Nicklaus, playing in his 44th and final U.S. Open.
Ultimately, however, the tournament unfolded as a landmark event showcasing the extraordinary talent of Tiger Woods, who delivered one of the most dominant performances ever witnessed in men`s professional golf over four remarkable days.
Woods arrived at Pebble Beach in peak form, having recently secured his 19th PGA Tour victory and fourth win of the season just three weeks earlier at the Memorial Tournament. There, he made history as the first player to successfully defend the title at the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
His recent track record was nothing short of spectacular, winning 11 of his last 20 PGA Tour starts. This incredible run included an opening playoff victory at the Mercedes Championship, a dramatic come-from-behind win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and a commanding four-stroke triumph at the Bay Hill Invitational.
At the young age of 24, Woods had already surpassed $15 million in career earnings on the course. He already held two major titles – the 1997 Masters, won by a record-setting 12 strokes, and the 1999 PGA Championship – putting him halfway to golf`s coveted career Grand Slam.
Coming off a strong third-place tie just two strokes behind Stewart at the previous year`s U.S. Open, Woods was the overwhelming favorite heading into Pebble Beach. Nicklaus himself predicted Woods could post an exceptionally low score and potentially break the Open record if conditions were favorable, although the record of 272 (set by Nicklaus in 1980 and tied by Lee Janzen in 1993) seemed formidable.
Given Woods` scorching pace and consistent dominance, the U.S. Open scoring record appeared to be in serious jeopardy. Fellow players marveled at his ability to win, not just narrowly, but by significant margins.
“He had already arrived in a big way in one tournament [at the 1997 Masters], but that was the start of Tiger winning tournaments by a lot of shots,” commented Stewart Cink. “Not just winning but like oh-my-gosh winning, more than five or six shots. That`s just unheard of considering how close all of us are together as far as skill.” Australian pro Stuart Appleby succinctly put it: “Tiger would be favored anywhere. Put him in a car park and he`d be favored.”
An Unseen Level of Play
Upon Woods` arrival at Pebble Beach to begin his preparations, his caddie, Steve Williams, quickly recognized that Woods was exceptionally sharp and ready to contend. Despite a recent performance in Germany where he tied for third, Williams and swing coach Butch Harmon observed a level of precision in Woods` ball striking that prompted them to suggest dialing back practice slightly before the tournament began.
“We didn`t want Tiger to overdo it before the tournament started because both of us had never seen him strike the ball with such precision and just the way he was shaping the shots,” Williams later recalled. Sam Reeves, a close friend of Harmon`s who had seen Woods` swing evolve, echoed the sentiment: “I`ve never seen anything like it. I`ve never seen him hit the ball that well.”
Woods played practice rounds with friends, including Mark O`Meara. During one round, NBC golf announcer Johnny Miller joined the group. Williams recounted O`Meara telling Miller, who was initially skeptical of Woods` ultimate potential, “Hey, just watch this kid play for a few holes. This guy`s going to be the best player you`ve ever seen.”
Under clear skies and light winds during the first round, Woods delivered a masterclass. He shot a bogey-free 6-under 65, setting a new record for the lowest U.S. Open round at Pebble Beach and taking a one-stroke lead. After spending considerable time practicing his putting the previous night, Woods needed only 24 putts, including 12 one-putts.
As Woods moved into a share of the lead on the 14th hole, Johnny Miller made a bold prediction on the broadcast: “I think it`s going to be very tight with the rest of the field, but I really do believe, I`ve got this hunch, that Tiger`s going to break every U.S. Open record this week and maybe win by a big margin… I just had the feeling that if he could get off to a great start, which he has done, it could be a week that he just says, `See ya, guys.`” Later in the afternoon, dense fog rolled in, suspending play for many players and highlighting the advantage of the morning start.
“It`s Just Not a Fair Fight”
Due to the previous day`s delays, Woods` second round didn`t begin until late Friday afternoon. By the time he was on the first tee, Jack Nicklaus was finishing his emotional final walk up the 18th fairway in a U.S. Open. Nicklaus missed the cut, concluding his examination by the challenging championship.
Woods` game, however, was proving to be a complete package. After his first bogey of the tournament, he faced a difficult shot from the rough on the par-4 sixth. Most players would punch out, but Woods aimed for the green from over 200 yards, needing to clear a tree on the cliffside.
Williams, knowing Woods` exceptional ability to hit from the rough, wasn`t surprised when Tiger called for a 7-iron. “He`s just got a freakish ability, and he`s very strong,” Williams noted. Woods took a powerful swing, the ball cleared the hazard, landed short, and bounced onto the green, stopping 18 feet away. NBC`s Roger Maltbie famously declared, “It`s not a fair fight.” Woods birdied the hole, setting a tone for the week.
He continued his strong play, birdying the par-3 seventh from 5 feet and adding another on the 11th to extend his lead. Play was again suspended due to darkness as Woods reached the 12th hole, but they were allowed to finish. Woods sank a difficult, long birdie putt on the hard green despite the low light, a moment Williams described as Tiger loving to “make a statement.” Woods finished the day 3 under through 12 holes and 9 under for the tournament, holding a three-stroke lead.
The Last Golf Ball
Woods was back on the range early Saturday morning, preparing to finish his second round. As he reached the 13th tee, Steve Williams made a startling discovery – there were only three golf balls left in the bag. Unbeknownst to Williams, Woods had taken several balls to his hotel room to practice putting and forgot to put them back.
Williams decided not to inform Woods, hoping the remaining balls would suffice for the final six holes. However, the situation became tenser on the 13th when Woods hit his drive into the rough and scuffed a ball hitting out. He tossed it to a fan near the green after making par, leaving only two balls.
“The kid was just so excited,” Williams recounted, thinking about retrieving the ball but deciding against it due to the potential distraction it would cause Woods. Woods made pars on the next few holes, avoiding any trouble. But on the 18th tee, he pulled his drive left into the treacherous rocks along the ocean, leaving him with just one ball.
Under the Rules of Golf, Woods had to complete the round with the same type of ball (Nike), meaning he couldn`t borrow one. Williams, knowing the peril, suggested using an iron off the tee for the second attempt. Woods` fiery response, urging Williams to move his hand from the driver cover, was captured in Williams` book. Williams wisely kept quiet about the critical ball situation.
Fortunately, Woods` second tee shot found the fairway. He made a bogey, finishing the round with a 2-under 69. His 8-under total gave him a six-stroke lead over Thomas Bjørn and Miguel Angel Jiménez, setting a new U.S. Open record for the largest lead at the halfway point. Only a handful of other players were under par.
Untouchable Dominance
Entering the third round, the tournament outcome seemed almost certain. Despite a rare triple-bogey on the third hole – a mistake that unusually brought a laugh from Woods, which Williams noted as a sign of his complete control – Woods managed an even-par 71 on a windy day with firmer greens. At 8 under par, he was the only player under par and held a massive 10-stroke advantage over Ernie Els, establishing the largest 54-hole lead in U.S. Open history.
“He`s out there in his own tournament, isn`t he?” remarked Padraig Harrington at the time. The scale of the impending victory generated immense public interest; the final two rounds became the most-watched U.S. Open rounds since viewership tracking began in 1975, as millions tuned in to witness history.
In the final round, Woods delivered a flawless, bogey-free 67. He finished the tournament at 12 under par with a total score of 272. His nearest competitors, Els and Jiménez, finished at 3 over par, a staggering 15 strokes behind. This 15-stroke margin shattered the record for the largest victory in major championship history, previously held by Old Tom Morris from 1862. Woods was also the first player in the championship`s 106-year history to finish in double digits under par.
“It was a complete show with one guy,” said NBC announcer Dan Hicks. “This was history, and I think people picked up on the fact that how can one single guy be that dominant? How can one guy take it to 12 under par and the next guy be plus-3? We`re never going to see anything like that… It`s the absolute Sistine Chapel of major championship performances, and I really believe it will never be equaled.”
After signing his final scorecard, Woods turned to Williams and asked about the commotion during the second round on the 18th tee. When Williams explained they were down to their last golf ball, Woods laughed, having been unaware of the precarious situation. Williams later recalled Woods` immediate focus shifting to the next major: “Steve, I`m going to play even better at the British Open at St. Andrews. I want you to get your ass over there, and I want you to know every blade of grass on that course.”
True to his word, Woods dominated the British Open at St. Andrews the following month, winning by eight strokes to become the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam. He completed the “Tiger Slam” the following spring by winning the 2001 Masters, holding all four major championships simultaneously. As Stewart Cink summarized Woods` capability at the time: “They just required more of everything – and he had more.”
