pre-1900 | 1900-30 | 1930-60 | 1960-80 | 1980-2000 | 2001+

1980's

The eighties saw boron, carbon, graphite, and titanium being used to manufacture lighter clubs - allowing greater clubhead speed for increased distance. But the most explosive component of the decade was the young Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros.

1980 began with Seve becoming the first European to win the Masters and, at 23-years-old, the youngest ever champion. Europe would never look back, and by the end of the 80's, Europe had won the Ryder Cup and produced no lfewer than nine major titles, with Seve bagging four of them.

Meanwhile, the familiar name of Jack Nicklaus continued his remarkable career with a fifth two-major year which saw a fourth US Open win and fifth US PGA title in 1980. His chief rival, Tom Watson, won the third of his Open Championships that same season. He also had the pleasure of lifting the US Open trophy in '82 at Pebble Beach.

Ballesteros won a second Masters title in 1983, and the following season the Spaniard tasted Open success for a second time. He finished two strokes ahead of Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson, who was to be denied the chance of equalling Harry Vardon's record of six Open wins.

Lee Trevino won his second US PGA event in 1984, eight years after being seriously injured by a bolt of lightning. It was to be his last serious preformance on the PGA Tour.

Germany's Bernhard Langer followed Ballesteros in 1985 by winning the Masters. European golf was on its way to becoming a major force, and this was confirmed as the European steam tasted uccess in the Ryder Cup, with Tony Jacklin leading his team to a convincing 16.5 - 11.5 victory at the Belfry. Two years later, the Americans tasted defeat on their own soil for the first time when Jacklin again masterminded a 15-13 win for Europe at Muirfield Village, Columbus, Ohio.

Sandy Lyle became the next European major winner, taking the Open at Royal St George's in 1985. The amiable Scotsman added a further major triumph with a Masters win in 1988 - hitting one of the most memorable shots in history - a seven iron from the sand to 10ft at the 18th.

The '86 Masters proved to be the most exciting major of the decade, as a fantastic late surge from Jack Nicklaus gave him a record sixth Masters title at the age of 46 - his 21st major victory in an unparalleled career.

Greg Norman finally won a major by taking the Open at Turnberry.

With a par on every hole during his final round, Nick Faldo claimed his first major title at the 1987 Open at Muirfield. Two years later, the Englishman shot an incredible last day 65 to force a Masters play-off with Scott Hoch, which he won at the second extra hole.

Seve Ballesteros described his final round 65 to win his third Open title in 1988 as the best of his life.

Payne Stewart won the US PGA in 1989.

1990's

Nick Faldo's best year came in 1990 when he became the only player since Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66 to defend his Masters title - again the Englishman prevailed in a play-off - this time Raymond Floyd was runner-up.

Having missed a play-off for the US Open by a stroke, Faldo arrived for the Open at St Andrews and played his most devastating golf to lift the famous claret jug for a second time. Faldo made it three Open wins two years later with another Muirfield success.

Welshman Ian Woosnam made it four European wins in a row at the Masters in 1991, while the patriotic Payne Stewart took great delight in winning the US Open in the same season.

1991 also saw Seve Ballesteros beat Nick Price to win his fifth World Match Play title at Wentworth. It would be Seve's last really big win, and the end of an era for European golf.

1992 saw Nick Price of Zimbabwe win the US PGA, a feat he was to repeat in splendid fashion in '94 at Southern Hills, Oklahoma. An incredible eagle putt on the 71st at Turnberry helped Price edge out Jesper Parnevik for the Open title in 1994, and helped ease the pain of his two previous second places.

Greg Norman's second Open win came at St George's in 1993, where scoring reached a new low - 267, 13 under par.

The great Gene Sarazen described the Australian's win by two shots from Nick Faldo as "the greatest Championship I have known."

Bernhard Langer delivered a second Masters success in 1993, while Spaniard Jose Marie Olazabal continued Europe's good run at Augusta the following season.

An incredible eagle putt on the 71st at Turnberry in 1994 helped Price edge out Jesper Parnevik for his third major, the Open 1994, and helped ease the pain of his two previous second places.

1994 was the also the year that a young American amateur named Tiger Woods first rose to prominence. Aged 18, he won the US Amateur Championship. He successfully defended the title a year later and would add a third title in 1996.

Bernhard Gallacher tasted victory at the third time of asking as captain of the European Ryder Cup team in 1995, when a memorable singles comeback gave the visitors victory at Oak Hill, Rochester, New York.

Nick Faldo added a sixth major triumph with a third Masters title in 1996, capitalising on Greg Norman's spectacular collapse with a final round of 67.

1997 was the dawn of a new 'modern' era, as Tiger Woods replaced Seve Ballesteros as the youngest ever Masters champion when, at 21-years-old, he postively scorched the famous Augusta course to card the biggest winning margin in the tournament's history.

Seve Ballesteros proved inspirational as winning European captain of the Ryder Cup at Valderamma, Spain, in 1997.

1998 belonged to Mark O'Meara - with triumphs at the Masters and the Open, providing inspiration for the over 40s.

The last year of the twentieth century began with Jose Marie Olazabal winning a second Masters title, and saw Payne Stewart card his third major with a gutsy win in the US Open.

The Open at Carnoustie will be remembered for the punitive conditions and blustering winds, but more so for the spectacular collapse of Frenchman Jean Van De Velde, who contrived to throw away a three stroke advantage at the 72nd hole - before losing out to Scotland's Paul Lawrie in a play-off that included 1997 winner Justin Leonard.

Tiger Woods, firmly established as the World No.1, earned the second major of his career with victory in the US PGA - where he was chased all the way by the latest young golfing superstar, Sergio Garcia.

The Ryder Cup reached new levels of drama with the US fighting back from a four point deficit to prevail on an amazing final day singles contest, while Great Britain and Ireland won a rare Walker Cup victory in Nairn, trouncing their American opponents in the process.

As the century neared its end, golf lost a great player and a gentleman in Payne Stewart, reigning US Open Champion, who was tragically killed in a plane crash.