Golf is a sport of inches, nerves, and patience—but when everything’s on the line, it comes down to one stroke. A clutch putt can flip a career, shake up history, or send fans into absolute chaos.
From major championships to Ryder Cup magic, these putts weren’t just made—they were delivered with ice in the veins. Let’s count down the 25 most clutch putts in golf history, the kind that still give fans chills.
24. Patrick Reed – 2016 Ryder Cup
Reed drained a fiery birdie putt on 8 to cap off a duel with Rory McIlroy that felt more like a heavyweight fight than a golf match. It was the loudest golf has ever sounded.
23. Jordan Spieth – 2015 Tour Championship
Spieth rolled in a confident birdie on the 18th to lock up the FedEx Cup and a $10 million payday. The kid looked like a seasoned assassin.
22. Francesco Molinari – 2018 Open Championship
Molinari calmly sank his par putt on 18 to become Italy’s first major winner. No fist pump, just cold-blooded history.
21. Matt Fitzpatrick – 2022 U.S. Open
On a pressure-packed Sunday, Fitzpatrick buried a tricky par putt on 18 to seal his first major. He didn’t flinch—just stepped up and delivered.
20. Justin Thomas – 2017 PGA Championship
Thomas dropped a curling birdie on 17 that essentially iced his first major title. It was the kind of moment that turned “promising” into “proven.”
19. Graeme McDowell – 2010 U.S. Open
McDowell drained a clutch par putt on the final hole at Pebble Beach to clinch the win. It was a gritty exclamation point on a brutal course.
18. Jack Nicklaus – 1975 Masters
Nicklaus poured in a 40-footer on 16 to surge past Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller. Just another vintage Bear moment at Augusta.
17. Payne Stewart – 1999 U.S. Open
That dramatic par putt on the 18th green at Pinehurst beat Phil Mickelson and capped one of the gutsiest wins ever. His fist-pumping celebration is etched in time.
16. Dustin Johnson – 2020 Tour Championship
With nerves finally conquered, DJ holed a par putt on the 18th to take the FedEx Cup crown. It wasn’t flashy, but it was final.
15. Rory McIlroy – 2016 Tour Championship
Rory buried a long eagle putt in a playoff to win the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup in dramatic style. Cue the fireworks and the FedEx money shower.
14. Jose Maria Olazabal – 1994 Masters
Olazabal drained a 30-footer on 17 to all but seal his first green jacket. It was the moment Augusta knew a new champion had arrived.
13. Justin Rose – 2013 U.S. Open
Rose buried a short par putt on 18 at Merion, then calmly walked off like a man who knew he’d just joined the major club. It was classy and clutch.
12. Martin Kaymer – 2014 U.S. Open
Kaymer calmly rolled in putt after putt all week, but the clincher on 18 sealed a wire-to-wire win. That final tap-in was a mic drop.
11. Phil Mickelson – 2004 Masters
Phil nailed an 18-footer for birdie on the final hole to win his first major. The leap afterward might’ve been two inches off the ground—but emotionally, it was sky-high.
10. Brooks Koepka – 2018 PGA Championship
With Tiger charging, Koepka stepped up on 16 and dropped a dagger birdie putt to hold him off. It was the putt that said, “Not today, Tiger.”
9. Seve Ballesteros – 1984 Open Championship
Seve’s birdie on 18, followed by that iconic fist-clench celebration, gave him his second Claret Jug. Vintage flair meets cold-blooded finish.
8. Jason Day – 2015 PGA Championship
Day calmly sank a birdie putt on 16 to give himself breathing room and end years of close calls. It was the most emotional two-putt victory in recent memory.
7. Zach Johnson – 2007 Masters
Johnson rolled in a birdie putt on 16 under immense pressure to grab the lead and never let it go. Not flashy, just surgical.
6. Collin Morikawa – 2020 PGA Championship
His eagle putt on 16 sealed the deal and broke the hearts of a packed leaderboard. Talk about making a major statement.
5. Jack Nicklaus – 1986 Masters
At 46 years old, Jack sank a birdie on 17 that sent roars echoing through Augusta. It was vintage magic from the Golden Bear.
4. Bubba Watson – 2012 Masters (playoff)
After that wild recovery hook shot on 10, Bubba still had to knock in the par putt to win—and he did it like a seasoned vet. Cue the tears.
3. Tiger Woods – 2005 Masters (16th hole)
The chip-in gets the love, but don’t forget the knee-knocking par putt he drained after. That entire hole was golf theater at its best.
Read More: The 10 Most Clutch Performances in Golf History
2. Tom Watson – 1982 U.S. Open
Watson chipped in on 17, but the icy par putt on 18 finished the job and kept Nicklaus at bay. Cool, calm, and clutch.
Read More: Ranking the 10 Hardest Holes in Golf History
1. Tiger Woods – 2008 U.S. Open (playoff)
On the 18th green in sudden death, Woods buried a birdie to extend the duel with Rocco Mediate. It was Tiger in his absolute pressure-cooker prime.
Read More: 15 Golfers Who Treated Every Missed Putt Like a National Crisis
