Four shots that shaped the '08 season on the PGA TOUR

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Nov. 25, 2008
By Scott Gutterman, PGATOUR.COM Executive Producer

What will you remember about the 2008 season? That was the question we asked PGATOUR.COM staffers and freelance contributors, who responded with a series of short essays that we will post during November (click here for the archive link).

• MORE ON 2008: Essay archive | Year in Review archive

Yes, the bombers are fun to watch, but shot making is an art, and it's what wins tournaments. Four shots really stood out to me in 2008, and they all came on late holes on Sunday.

J.B. Holmes on No. 18 at the FBR Open

Holmes iced it from 70 yards out and put the ball 8 feet from the pin to defeat Phil Mickelson in the first playoff hole. Who would have thought that one of the PGA TOUR's most notable bombers would beat one of its legendary short game aces by sticking an approach shot to set up an 8-foot birdie to win after a 359-yard drive? Holmes showed poise and that he is more than the long-ball guy in earning his second PGA TOUR victory.

• MORE HOLMES: Profile | '08 results | '08 stats | Video

Tiger Woods on No. 18 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard

I know, you thought it would be about the U.S. Open, but this shot needs to be mentioned because it shows where Tiger's game was as he was heading toward the U.S. Open. Tiger used a 5-iron from 164 yards to put the ball on the green at the par-4 18th, 25 feet from the cup, to set up the winning putt. That's right, a 5-iron. People often think it's Tiger's strength and long ball that helps him win so often. It's really his finesse and shot making that are often the difference.

• MORE WOODS: Profile | '08 results | '08 stats | Video

Sergio Garcia on No. 17 at THE PLAYERS Championship

Garcia showed all week that he can handle irons better than most. On the first playoff hole at the island green -- after Paul Goydos put his first shot in the water -- Sergio crafted a 137-yard shot that trickled down to within 3 feet of the hole to set up the winning putt. Sergio beat one of the toughest fields in golf on one of its toughest courses to prove again he is one of the best in the world.

• MORE GARCIA: Profile | '08 results | '08 stats | Video

Phil Mickelson on No. 18 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

Mickelson was finishing his day and put his tee shot in a group of trees on the left side of the fairway 140 yards from the pin. His next shot -- to reach the green -- had to get through the trees. He managed to find a hole in an awning above his head and land the ball on the green within an inch of the rough; it then rolled to within 9 feet of the cup. Classic Phil.

• MORE MICKELSON: Profile | '08 results | '08 stats | Video

Scott Gutterman, PGATOUR.COM Executive Producer, has never hit a season-defining shot, but he's pretty handy to have around if you have a flat tire.