There’s nothing like a controversial moment in match play to ignite the passions of golfers and fans alike.

Match play represents golf in its rawest, most intimate form, a head-to-head contest that’s as personal as it gets. Whether in iconic events like the Ryder and Solheim Cups, featuring one-on-one battles between legends or Davids versus Goliaths, match play has a unique way of forging lasting memories. The stakes are high and so are the emotions, often leading to moments of contentiousness and gamesmanship that push the boundaries of sportsmanship. These elements only add to the allure and mystique of match play. 

Some of the greatest match play battles have stood the test of time, becoming legendary stories within the sport. Others have gained notoriety for their controversy or significance. Here are 10 of golf's most memorable matches in chronological order:

In the anchor match of the Sunday singles, Nicklaus arrived at the 18th green dead even with Jacklin, the Englishman who had just won the Open Championship. The Ryder Cup was still in the balance, as the overall team match was tied as well. After Nicklaus made a clutch par putt, Jacklin had a two-foot putt to secure the first tie in Ryder Cup history. Nicklaus, contemplating the despair a miss would cause Jacklin and the European team, gave him the putt. It has been called “The Concession” ever since and is considered one of the greatest gestures of sportsmanship in golf history. Meanwhile, U.S. captain Sam Snead and some other American players who wanted a chance for victory were in stunned disbelief.

The 1991 Ryder Cup, the first to receive extensive live coverage in the U.S. on network television (NBC), forever changed the event, transforming it into arguably golf’s most dramatic and anticipated competition. The three-day contest at Pete Dye’s diabolical new Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort—dubbed “the War on the Shore”—was an intense battle fraught with contentiousness between the U.S. and European teams. It all came down to the 18th hole of the final match between Irwin and Langer. After Irwin missed his par putt by a foot, Langer conceded his bogey. That left the stage entirely to the German star, who had a 6-foot putt to win the hole and the match. If he made it, the competition would end in a 14-14 tie, retaining the Ryder Cup for Europe. When his ball slid by the edge of the cup, the U.S. secured the half point it needed to win the Ryder Cup—their first victory since 1983.  

Ballesteros, in his last Ryder Cup as a player, faced the heavily favored Lehman in the first match of the day. Throughout his career, Seve’s legendary match play gamesmanship was not subtle. He had a penchant for well-time muffled coughing, jingling of coins, invading his opponent’s space, standing in their line, and tapping his white shoes. Lehman was well-prepared and didn't look at Ballesteros. He told Seve he wanted him to stand off the green when he was putting. Lehman won the match, 4&3. Nonetheless, Seve’s scrambling ability allowed him to hang in early—the match was tied after nine— which inspired his fellow Europeans teammates. By taking the singles 7 1/2 to 4 1/2, the Europeans pulled off an impressive comeback and won the Ryder Cup, 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.

Heading into the 36-hole final, Tiger Woods was a heavy favorite as he aimed for an unprecedented third straight U.S. Amateur Championship. Woods had already won a USGA amateur title in five consecutive years and he was facing a relatively unheralded opponent in 19-year-old Steve Scott. Scott stunned onlookers by finishing the morning 18 with a five-up lead, and he was still two-up with three holes to play. On the green of the 34th hole, as Woods was about to putt, Scott reminded him to move his mark back—Woods had moved it earlier to clear Scott's line. Had Woods not replaced it before putting, he would have lost the hole and the championship. Woods won that hole, tied the match on the next, and completed the comeback in sudden death on the 38th hole, clinching the title with a par—the only time he led Scott all day. The 1996 U.S. Amateur Championship was Tiger’s last event as an amateur. He celebrated by turning pro the very next day.  

By the time Leonard and Olazabal reached the 17th green, Leonard had erased a 4-down deficit. If the American could win the hole he would be guaranteed a half point, enough to secure the cup for the U.S. Both players had long birdie putts, especially Leonard. His unlikely birdie from 40+ feet set off a stampede-like celebration, even though Olazabal could still keep the European’s cup hopes alive if he made his putt. The jubilant Americans—players, wives, and even cameramen—trampled on his line and delayed play. Olazabal and his teammates were livid at the poor sportsmanship of the Americans. “Golf hooliganism” was the way British broadcaster and critic Alistair Cooke described the scene. Olazabal eventually missed and victory belonged to the U.S. In the "Battle of Brookline," the Americans pulled off the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

In this first-round matchup, Woods was the prohibitive favorite. Ames raised eyebrows by saying, “Anything can happen, especially where he’s hitting it.” That pointed comment was a seed Ames hoped would rattle Woods. Instead, it fired him up. Tiger responded by winning all nine holes on the front nine en route to a ruthless 9&8 victory. When asked if he had extra motivation after Ames made his comments, Woods simply replied, “9&8.”

In a foursome match on day two, Allison Lee and Brittany Lincicome of the United States reached the 17th green tied with the European duo of Charley Hull and Suzann Pettersen. With the Europeans in with par, Lee had a 10-foot birdie putt to win the hole. She missed and her ball finished 18 inches from the cup. Hull began walking to the next hole, whereupon Lee picked up her ball, thinking the very short putt for par had been conceded. Pettersen, however, insisted that it hadn’t and the tournament referee sided with her, awarding the hole to the Europeans and putting them one up. On the 18th hole, Hull, still visibly upset over what had just happened, nonetheless made birdie to clinch the match 2 up for the Europeans.

After her action on the 17th hole, Pettersen received universal condemnation for her lack of sportsmanship. The U.S., which entered the singles trailing 10-6, used the disputed lack of a concession as fuel for a monster comeback to take the Cup. Pettersen issued many apologies and acknowledged she had let down “the game of golf itself.”

With the U.S. three-up starting play in singles, this was the leadoff match and the marquee battle that set the tone for the day. Reed was in his full “Captain America” role, revving up the crowd in this duel against Europe's leading star. Both men played great. During the amazing four-hole stretch between the 5th and 8th, they played a combined nine under par. The highlight moment was on the 8th, when after Rory drained a 40-footer for birdie and yelled to the frenzied crowd, “I can’t hear you,” Reed equaled him with a 25-foot birdie of his own, accompanied by a finger wag. Reed wound up winning 1 up in a head-to-head match of extraordinary quality.

In this tightest of all Solheim Cup competitions, no team ever led by more than one point after any session. The U.S. and Europe entered the Sunday singles tied, and it looked like the U.S. was going to at least retain the cup (which they would do if the sides finished tied) until the very end. Everything turned in the final moments of the last two undecided matches. First, Ally McDonald (now Ewing) of the U.S. missed a putt on the 17th hole that sealed a point for Europe’s Bronte Law. Literally seconds later, Suzann Pettersen stared down a birdie putt on the 18th hole that would either win the Solheim Cup for Europe or, if she missed, allow the U.S. to retain it. She became an instant hero when drained the 8-footer to defeat Marina Alex, securing a 14.5-13.5 overall victory for Europe. Pettersen immediately announced her retirement from competitive golf, making it a career walk-off for the ages.

The Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson rivalry - showcased in The Match at Shadow Creek - ramped up a notch with the addition of the great NFL quarterbacks who were also famous rivals. The Match II, the most popular in the series, pulled in a whopping 5.8 million viewers. Trash talking and gamesmanship predominated. The best exchange occurred on the 5th hole, when Mickelson, after Woods had reached the green, asked Tiger to mark his ball before he hit his 150-yard approach. Woods threw shade back in the form of Mickelson’s most glaring career shortcomings. “You want me to use one of my U.S. Open medals (as a marker)?”

What magical match should also be on this list? Let us know in the comments below.

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