Top 10 Euro story lines of the decade: Rory’s statements, Sergio’s tantrum

The European Tour hardly gets a break at all.

Last season ended Sunday at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, where Jon Rahm earned the $3 million first-place check for winning his second DP title, and a further $2 million bonus for finishing the season as No. 1 on the Race to Dubai.

The next season starts this week at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, a mere four days later.

With not much time to catch our breath, Golfweek’s Alistair Tait takes a look back at the top 10 story lines on the European Tour in the last decade:

Sergio Garcia during the Saudi International at the 2019 Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

10. Sergio’s Saudi meltdown

Sergio Garcia displayed a lack of etiquette during the 2019 Saudi International that left fellow competitors disgusted. Garcia willfully damaged several greens during his third round. Players behind complained and the Spaniard was disqualified. It was yet another poor breach of etiquette from the Spaniard, following throwing a shoe in anger during the 1999 World Match Play Championship and spitting into Doral’s 13^th hole during the 2007 CA Championship.

Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson will battle it out in the final group Sunday at the British Open.

9. Henrik Stenson/Phil Mickelson showdown

It wasn’t as epic as the famous Duel in the Sun between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977, but it was close. At the 2016 Open Championship, Stenson and Mickelson separated themselves from the field and then engaged in a heavyweight contest. Stenson won his first major championship and became Sweden’s first ever male major champion.

Rory McIlroy during the first round of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield.

8. ‘Brain dead’ Rory McIlroy

McIlroy opened with a 79 in the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield and then said: “That was brain dead!” That line was manna from heaven for British newspapers and duly filled the back pages of sports pages nationwide.

Europe’s Rory McIlroy during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Ryder Cup at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.

7. Rory nearly misses 2012 Ryder Cup singles

McIlroy almost gifted the United States the 2012 Ryder Cup by nearly missing his Sunday singles tee time against Keegan Bradley, which he won 2&1. McIlroy claimed he was confused by the time zone and needed a police escort to make his tee time with just 10 minutes to spare. Had he failed to show there would have been no Miracle at Medinah.

Tiger Woods during the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Warren Little/Getty Images)

6. Tiger WDs from 2017 Dubai tournament

Tiger Woods shot an opening 77 in Dubai and then couldn’t peg it up in the second round ostensibly due to a “back spasm,” although all sorts of other reasons were chucked around. A large contingent of journalists descended on Dubai to cover Woods, most of whom departed when he withdrew. Cue rampant speculation regarding Woods’ future.

Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood celebrate after winning their match during the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National. (Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)

5. Moliwood: the 2018 Ryder Cup

Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood became the eponymous Moliwood phenomenon which Europe rode to an underdog Ryder Cup victory against one of the strongest U.S. teams ever assembled. They were unbeaten as a pair, and then Molinari made history by becoming the first European to win five points out of five, delivering the coup de grace by beating Phil Mickelson in singles.

Rory McIlroy during the 2016 British Open.

4. McIlroy: ‘I didn’t get into golf to try to grow the game.’

McIlroy made this statement during the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon in response to a question about whether he had a responsibility to play in the 2016 Olympic Games. He spoke his mind, but British newspapers, out in force at the Open Championship, had a field day.

Suzann Pettersen putts to win her match and the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in Auchterarder, Scotland. (David Cannon/Getty Images)

3. Pettersen’s payoff, the 2019 Solheim Cup

Hollywood writers couldn’t have penned a better ending to this year’s Solheim Cup. Suzann Pettersen was a dubious European wild card after playing three Rolex Ranking tournaments in 18 months with two missed cuts. Fate dictated that the Solheim Cup rested on the Norwegian making a 7-foot putt on the final green to defeat Marina Alex. Pettersen did to deliver a fairy-tale win, made all the more dramatic by her immediate retirement from golf.

Europe’s Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy talk as they walk up the first hole during a four-ball match at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.

2. The Miracle at Medinah: 2012 Ryder Cup

Ian Poulter’s bug eyes on Medinah’s 18^th green on Saturday is now part of Ryder Cup lore. The Englishman had just made his fifth birdie in five holes as he and Rory McIlroy came from 1 down with five to play to beat Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner in fourballs. Although Europe entered the singles trailing 10-6, Poulter had given Europe that all-important intangible: momentum. Europe won 14 ½-13 ½ to mount the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history, duly dubbed “The Miracle at Medinah.”

Rory McIlroy ahead of the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

1. McIlroy threatens to quit European Tour

European Tour CEO Keith Pelley had to scramble to Northern Ireland to talk his most prized asset into coming back to the European fold when McIlroy threatened to quit the Tour after the 2018 season, saying he would concentrate solely on the PGA Tour in 2019. The Northern Irishman delayed renewing his membership until April and eventually rejoined the Tour. The story generated huge headlines.