The moments that defined golf in 2021

April 4: Thai golfer Patty Tavatanakit celebrates winning the ANA Inspiration, her first major.

April 11: Hideki Matsuyama lifts his arms aloft in celebration after romping to victory at the Masters. He became the first Japanese man to win a major.

May 22: Phil Mickelson stands over his ball on the 16th hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort. He would go onto become the oldest major winner in golf history.

May 23: Crowds swarm the 18th green at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort as Mickelson makes his final putt to win the PGA Championship. In doing so the 50-year-old created golf history.

May 25: A rivalry between US golfers Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau became the hottest topic of conversation in golf after a video clip of the former losing his train of thought "hearing that bulls**t" as the latter walked behind him in the middle of an interview at May's PGA Championship went viral. The golfers rivalry would only intensify during the rest of the year.

June 6: Yuka Saso celebrates with her teammates after winning the US Women's Open Championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. In doing so, she became the first Filipino player to win a golf major.

June 20: Jon Rahm celebrates after making a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the 121st US Open at Torrey Pines. With the putt, he won the major, the first of his career, a victory falling on his first Father's Day as a Dad.

June 27: Nelly Korda poses with the Women's PGA Championship trophy after clinching the first major of her career.

July 18: Collin Morikawa stands with his arms aloft after finishing first at The Open at Royal St George's Golf Club. Morikawa became the first man to claim both the PGA Championship and the Open on his debut at the tournaments.

July 25: Minjee Lee is sprayed with champagne after winning the Evian Championship, her first major victory. She came from seven shots behind in the final round and secured victory on a playoff hole to complete the comeback.

August 1: Xander Schauffele stands atop the podium after winning the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia took silver while Pan C.T., representing Chinese Taipei at the Olympics, won bronze.

August 7: Nelly Korda bites into the gold medal after claiming first place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It continued her excellent season after winning her first major earlier in the year.

August 22: Anna Nordqvist putts on the 18th green during the final round of the Women's Open at Carnoustie Golf Links. She would end up winning the major, the third of her career and her first major victory in almost four years.

September 5: Jon Rahm plays his shot from the 11th tee during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. The Spaniard topped the PGA Tour rankings for earnings in 2021, taking home $7.7 million.

September 6: Matilda Castren and Madelene Sagstrom celebrate with the Solheim Cup after claiming a famous victory over Team USA at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Rookie Castren rolled home the winning putt.

September 26: Team US celebrates winning the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin. Led by Dustin Johnson, Team US beat Europe by a record-breaking margin, 19-9.

November 21: Jin-young Ko plays her shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship. The South Korean topped the LPGA rankings for earnings in 2021. In 19 LPGA events. she earned $3.5 million.

November 26: After a year of feuding, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau finally faced off on the course, taking part in the fifth edition of "The Match" in Las Vegas. It was a one-sided affair though as Koepka won 4&3 with DeChambeau not winning a single hole.

November 29: Lee Elder, who was the first Black golfer to play at the Masters, died at the age of 87. At the 2021 Masters, Elder was honored as he joined Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter in the ceremonial first tee shot to begin the tournament.

November 30: Tiger Woods holds his first press conference since his February car crash. "As far as playing at the Tour level, I don't know when that is going to happen," Woods said.