3 of 11
8. 1999 Payne Stewart vs. Phil Mickelson
279-280
The first ever Open played at Pinehurst No. 2 featured a bewitching setup, but the great names ascended and fell back before leaving just the beknickered one and beeper-wearing father-to-be Phil Mickelson with a chance to win at the final hole. When Mickleson's 25-foot birdie putt stopped short, Stewart had to hole a 15-footer for par to win. The gum-chomping Stewart stepped up and rammed home the putt. He punched the air emphatically, then bear-hugged caddie Mike Hicks. That October, a plane crash took Stewart's life, but nothing could dim the memory of one of the game's greatest showmen winning an unforgettable duel.
Credit: Reuters
