Tiger Woods kisses his mother, Kultida, on Feb. 19 after making his first public statement regarding his sex scandal. It was a long, difficult year for the world's most famous golfer as he also became the most infamous golfer.

It often was a circus when Tiger was in town. These women, put up to the stunt by a radio show, played to the cameras outside the TPC Sawgrass course where Woods made his statement.

Did we say circus? Check out this banner over Augusta National during the first round of the Masters.

There weren't a lot of highlights for Phil Mickelson in 2010, but winning the Masters for the third time in April pretty much made his year.

Phil Mickelson's Masters win meant even more because he shared it with his wife 11 months after she was diagnosed with cancer. “I don’t know if we said anything; we just hugged,” he said. “We just hugged.”

Mickelson became the eighth player with at least three green jackets, and it was the fourth major of his career, breaking him out of a pack that included Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh from his generation.

There was plenty of magic in the air at the British Open in July.

John Daly wasn't a major player on the course this year, but his garish golf pants always got plenty of attention. He went with a pastel motif during the second round of the British Open.

Daly's outfit wouldn't be complete without a cigarette — and he usually needed one or two, the way he played this year.

One big highlight of 2010? Louis Oosthuizen, a 200-1 long shot, won the British Open.

At 46, Paul Goydos became the oldest player to shoot 59 when he went low in the first round of the John Deere Classic in July. He ended up finishing second to Steve Stricker.

The PGA Championship in August was held at Whistling Straits, and it did  not disappoint.

Camilo Villegas was in fine form at the PGA Championship, where he tied for eighth, and he later struck this same pose for a national magazine cover — in the nude.

Tiger Woods wasn't around at the end of the PGA Championship, as it was decided in a three-hole playoff, with Martin Kaymer beating Bubba Watson for his first major championship.

Jim Furyk's big save at the Tour Championship in September netted him not only the winner's $1 million prize, but also the $10 million bonus for winning the FedExCup.

Corey Pavin got off to a forgettable start as U.S. Ryder Cup captain by failing to introduce Stewart Cink during the opening ceremony. Then he got Cink's hometown wrong. Afterward, an amused Colin Montgomerie declared the Europeans were 1 up thanks to Pavin's goof. Bad start for the Americans, and things would get worse.

The wives and girlfriends of the American and European teams put on their own show.

The WAGs attend the Ryder Cup Dinner at Cardiff Castle.

Way to go, Mrs. Pavin. The Americans put her in charge of the Ryder Cup rainsuits and they did everything except one thing: keep the rain out. They soaked so bad that the team had to buy new suits at the PGA merchandise tent.

Graeme McDowell, left, and Ian Poulter show how much more the Europeans wanted the Ryder Cup after holding off the United States on Oct. 3.
 

M-V-P — what else can you say about Graeme McDowell? When the whole Ryder Cup came down to his match with Hunter Mahan, he came through with a 3-and-1 win. Thanks to their big rally killer, the Europeans held on in the final round to avoid another U.S. miracle and take the trophy back. Call 'em the Brookline Dodgers.

Hunter Mahan took it pretty hard after losing the Ryder Cup to Graeme McDowell on the final hole. But Phil Mickelson stepped up and said what everyone knows: There were plenty of guys to blame for the Americans' loss — starting with Phil himself. Hunter had a lot of heart just to be the man in that situation.

Jonathan Byrd smooched the trophy after hitting the first hole-in-one to end a PGA playoff, winning the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas in October. It was so dark when he hit the shot that he never saw it go in.

There weren't many light moments for Tiger Woods this year, but he smiled and struck a pose with a sword during a photo op before the HSBC Champions in Shanghai win November. However, Woods failed to end his winless drought or reclaim the No. 1 ranking he lost to Lee Westwood.

Amid the roughest year of his life, Tiger Woods endured the first winless season of his career, as he never regained his winning ways following his sex scandal. Check out more of the best of 2010