Tiger Woods will long be remembered for his phenomenal achievements on the course, but perhaps his 2000 US Open win stands out above all others.
Woods won the 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at the iconic Californian course, before going on to secure the US Open title at the same venue shortly after.
American legend Woods advised amateurs to work hard after he lifted that trophy, which represents one of his 15 major championship wins.
But that Pebble Beach success – his third major championship – was particularly special thanks to his stunning 15-shot winning margin.
Joint runners-up Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez could only stand and watch Woods, helpless as the 24-year-old did his thing.
Tiger Woods said it ‘doesn’t get much better’ after 2000 US Open win at Pebble Beach
He followed in the footsteps of a handful of legendary compatriots with the success, with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tom Kite having previously won the US Open at Pebble Beach.
Asked what it meant to emulate them, particularly having grown up in California, Woods said in his winning press conference: “Well, the past champions are remarkable, to put my name on that list at this site.
“It’s hard to put into words growing up as a kid, watching, I guess, when I first started watching it was the Crosby and the AT&T on TV.
“And then seeing all the… even the great champions win, as a little boy, those tournaments, year in and year out tournaments.
“And then to watch the ’82 Open. I remember vaguely, the only thing I really remember is Watson make that big putt on 19, and put his arms up, I vaguely remember that.
| Place | Player | Score | To par |
| 1 | Tiger Woods | 65-69-71-67=272 | −12 |
| T2 | Miguel Angel Jimenez | 66-74-76-71=287 | +3 |
| Ernie Els | 74-73-68-72=287 | ||
| 4 | John Huston | 67-75-76-70=288 | +4 |
| T5 | Lee Westwood | 71-71-76-71=289 | +5 |
| Padraig Harrington | 73-71-72-73=289 |
“I don’t really remember the chip-in. In fact, I didn’t understand it at the time, what that meant, how big a chip-in that was.
“I guess I was only like six-and-a-half. But I watched Tom Kite win, saw how difficult it was, what a true champion it took to win that tournament.
“And to come out there, come out here this week and perform the way I did, and on one of the greatest venues there is in golf, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus among Pebble Beach US Open champions
As it was put to Woods at the time, legendary figures Nicklaus, Watson and Kite all won the US Open at Pebble Beach before him.
Nicklaus was the first to achieve the feat in 1972, followed by Watson a decade later and Kite a decade after that.
Graeme McDowell, now of LIV Golf, then joined the exclusive list with his 2010 US Open triumph at Pebble Beach, 10 years on from Woods.
A competition dominated by American players, the Northern Irishman became the first European winner of the major since England’s Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Remarkably, his compatriot Rory McIlroy won the competition the following year, with Englishman Justin Rose and German Martin Kaymer continuing the trend of European victories shortly after.
Back to Pebble Beach success, however, and another home favourite emerged victorious when Gary Woodland won the US Open there in 2019.
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