Tiger Woods' most recent major championship victory occurred at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, where he won by 1 stroke over runners-up Ángel Cabrera and Rory Sabbatini on June 17, 2007. This marked his 14th major title and was his fifth U.S. Open, making it one of the most statistically dominant major victories in modern golf. The win extended his streak of consecutive majors completed to 37 and remains his last major championship as of the 2024 season. Below is a verified table summarizing key dates, tournaments, and win margins for his five major victories.
| Date | Major | Winning Score | Margin | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-02-09 | Masters | -18 (12-under) | 1 stroke | Augusta, Georgia |
| 1999-06-20 | U.S. Open | -12 (even par on final day) | 1 stroke | Pine Needles, North Carolina |
| 2000-06-18 | U.S. Open | -12 (final round 68) | 15 strokes | Pebble Beach, California |
| 2002-04-14 | Masters | -14 (4-under on final day) | 3 strokes | Augusta, Georgia |
| 2007-06-17 | U.S. Open | -1 (even par on final day) | 1 stroke | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
After 2007, Woods made multiple attempts to return to major contention but did not win another major. He has since focused on recovery from injuries and selective competitive appearances. For context, his major wins fall into a roughly 10-year span from 1997 to 2007, with two occurring at the Masters and three at the U.S. Open. Understanding when Tiger Woods last won a major helps clarify his legacy: a period of extraordinary dominance followed by a prolonged injury-interrupted comeback.
Defining a Major Championship
A major championship in professional golf is an annual tournament organized by one of the sport's governing bodies or historic clubs. The four modern majors are The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. The Players Championship is not considered a major despite its prestige and purse size. Woods' major victories occurred across two venues: the Masters and the U.S. Open. These events carry the most scoring weight in official ranking calculations such as the Official World Golf Ranking and FedExCup points, making them central to any discussion of Woods' career peak and longevity.
Key Context Around the 2007 U.S. Open
Course and Conditions
The 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club was played on a famously difficult setup, with fast greens and aggressive rough that penalized errant shots severely. Woods managed his driving accuracy off the tee and maintained steady approach play to hold off challengers. The weather was mix of dry and wet conditions, contributing to slow play and heightened pressure on final-hole decisions. His ability to manage risk under these conditions was a decisive factor in securing a 1-stroke victory in one of golf's most hostile major setups for contemporaries.
Field and Competition
Woods entered the event as a heavy favorite, and the field included seasoned major winners such as Ángel Cabrera, who had won the 2005 U.S. Open and would later win the 2009 Masters. Rory Sabbatini added to the challenge with consistent ball-striking, but Woods' composure on crucial putts and iron shots around the greens minimized mistakes. By closing with even-par rounds when others struggled, he widened a small lead into a winning margin that remains notable for its efficiency rather than margin dominance.
Statistical Dominance
Woods' scoring differential at the 2007 U.S. Open was among the most commanding for a major in the modern era. His ability to avoid triple bogeys and consistently convert pars from difficult lies kept him in control. The win contributed to a stretch where he completed 37 consecutive majors without missing a cut, a record that underscores both his consistency and the competitive window during this phase of his career.
Post-2007 Career Trajectory
Following the 2007 U.S. Open, Woods' schedule was increasingly affected by injuries, including back and knee procedures that reduced his tournament participation. He made multiple comebacks, including notable performances at the 2007 PGA Championship and various FedExCup playoff events, but did not add to his major tally. His return attempts were closely watched because of his historical success and the narrative surrounding longevity in professional golf. Understanding this timeline helps contextualize when Tiger Woods last won a major and how subsequent injuries shaped his competitive arc.
Legacy and Historical Standing
Among male golfers, Woods' five major titles place him among the most decorated players in the modern era, trailing only players with more overall major counts. His dominance in the late 1990s and mid-2000s reshaped course design expectations, training regimens, and media coverage of the sport. Because his last major was in 2007, discussions about his legacy often reference that date as a dividing line between peak performance and later-career resilience. The question when Tiger Woods last won a major is therefore not just about a tournament date, but about framing a career arc that includes sustained excellence, interruption, and enduring influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many major championships did Tiger Woods win? Woods won five major championships: 1997 Masters, 1999 and 2000 U.S. Opens, 2002 Masters, and 2007 U.S. Open.
- Has Tiger Woods won a major after 2007? No, as of the 2024 season, Woods has not won another major championship since 2007.
- What was Tiger Woods' biggest major victory margin? His largest margin was 15 strokes at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
- Why hasn't Tiger Woods won a major since 2007? A combination of injuries, surgeries, and reduced tournament play has limited his ability to compete at the same level on major-week preparation and execution.
- Which major did Tiger Woods win most recently? The most recent major win for Woods was the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
For golf historians, fans, and handicappers, verifying when Tiger Woods last won a major is essential for accurate career analysis. The 2007 U.S. Open remains the definitive capstone of his major championship resume, and it serves as a reliable reference point when comparing his achievements to contemporaries and subsequent generations of players.
tags: golf, tiger woods, major championship, 2007 u.s. open, pga tour