While many golf watchers remained focused on whether Tiger Woods would rediscover his A-game, Luke Donald rather quietly went about the business of establishing himself as a golf superstar. Donald, No. 1 in the world, made history by becoming the first golfer to win both the American and European money titles.

Yani Tseng practically owned the LPGA Tour in 2011. The 22-year-old from Taiwan won seven tournaments, including the LPGA Championship and women's British Open, and finished in the top 10 14 times in 22 starts. Women's golf hasn't seen a player this dominant since Annika Sorenstam in her prime.

Europe's Suzann Pettersen birdied her last three holes to beat Michelle Wie and help lead Europe to a 15-13 victory in the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Dunsany near Dublin. It was Europe's first victory in the event since 2003.

The sights were epic, like this view of the 16th hole during the third round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
 

Rory McIlroy stepped to the first tee at Augusta for the final round of the Masters with a four-shot lead, ready to claim the first major victory of his career. But he imploded on the back nine on his way to a final-round 80, a collapse some compared to Greg Norman's epic meltdown in 1996.

Luke Donald reacts after chipping in for a birdie on the 18th hole on the final day of the Masters at Augusta. Donald tied for fourth.

Charl Schwartzel finished the 2011 Masters in grand style, becoming the first Masters champion in the 75-year history of the tournament to finish with four straight birdies. He celebrated on the 18th green after making a birdie putt to secure his two-shot victory.

2010 champion Phil Mickelson shakes hands with Charl Schwartzel after the traditional green jacket presentation at the Masters. Schwartzel didn't take the lead until making a birdie putt on the 17th hole.

Tiger Woods is congratulated by caddie Steve Williams after his the final round of the Masters. It would be Williams' last major championship as Woods' caddie. In June, Woods announced he had fired the caddy who was on his bag for 13 major championships.

The Masters victory may have gotten away from him, but Rory McIlroy wouldn't let the US Open slip through his grasp. The Northern Irishman finished the tournament at Congressional Country Club at 16-under 268, shattering a US Open scoring record held by four players, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Bubba Watson reacts after chipping from just off the green of the ninth hole during the third round of the US Open. Watson raised some eyebrows at the Open by wearing camouflage clothing to help a military outreach charity.

Five-time British Open champion Tom Watson celebrated a hole in one on the sixth hole during the second round at Royal St George's in Sandwich, England. At 61, Watson still had a way of capturing the fancy of the gallery across the pond.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was a crowd favorite at Royal St George's, but errant shots forced him into situations like this one. The 2011 US Open champion shot a final-round 73 and finished tied for 25th with a seven-over 287.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke acknowledges the crowd after putting out on the 18th green during the second day of the British Open. Clarke had consecutive rounds of 68 on the first two days to seize control of the tournament, then hung on to win his first major championship at the age of 42.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke holds up the Claret Jug trophy as he celebrates winning the British Open at Royal St George's.

Keegan Bradley celebrates on the 18th green after winning a three-hole playoff for the PGA Championship. Bradley became the second player in nearly 100 years to win a major in his first appearance in one. He beat Jason Dufner in a three-hole playoff.

Brendan Steele looks at his ball under some trees on the fifth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship. The co-leader after three rounds, Steele closed with a 77 and tied for 19th.

Jason Dufner reacts after nearly holing his approach on the 16th hole, the first hole of a three-hole playoff for the PGA Championship. Dufner lost the playoff to Keegan Bradley.

Javier Ballesteros, walking alongside his sister Carmen, carries the ashes of his father, Seve Ballesteros. The legendary Spaniard died in May from complications of a cancerous brain tumor. He was 54.

Tiger Woods' former caddie, Steve Williams, could be magnanimous after helping his new boss, Adam Scott, rout Woods and Steve Stricker of the US Team, 7 and 6, on Day 1 of the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course in Australia. It equaled the worst loss in tournament history. Woods fired Williams in July after a successful, 12-year partnership.

Webb Simpson of the US team finds himself in a precarious situation during the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia. Things would ultimately work out for Simpson and his partner Bubba Watson, though, as they just had enough to take down the International team of Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa by a score of 2 and 1.

For much of his comeback journey in 2011, this became a familiar sight -- Tiger Woods reacting in frustration as a putt narrowly misses. This one was for an eagle on the 15th hole Sunday at the Masters. Woods shot a 67 to tie for fourth. One wonders how the tournament might have finished differently had this eagle landed.

Phil Mickelson won the Shell Houston Open and finished tied for second at the British Open in 2011, but the rest of the year was mostly a test of his patience. He was T-27 at the Masters, T-54 at the US Open, and T-19 at the PGA Championship, and fell to No. 14 in the world rankings. His putting was so erratic at times that he even experimented with a belly putter.

Hunter Mahan plays a shot from behind a tree on the eighth hole during Day 2 action at the Presidents Cup in Australia. Unfortunately, this lie pretty much summed up Hunter's day, as he and teammate David Toms dropped their match to the South African duo of Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel.

His game has been a work in progress for two seasons. He won only once in Presidents Cup play heading into the final day of match play. And his standing as the top golfer in the world has long disappeared. But facing Aaron Baddeley in Baddeley's native Australia, Tiger Woods hammered home the final nail in the International team's coffin, defeating Baddeley 4 and 3 to give the US the decisive 18th point to secure the Cup.