The Best Plays of 2019: Tiger Woods, Howie Kendrick & More

Kawhi Leonard’s Four-Bounce Game-Winning Dagger

Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors finished the job in their first-ever NBA Finals, but they may have not even been there had Kawhi not delivered in the closing seconds of the Eastern Conference Finals. Tied 90-90 against the 76ers in Game 7, Kawhi hit one of the most epic buzzer-beaters I’ve ever seen. The situation was amazing by itself, but the way the shot fell through the net added to the drama. Everyone will remember Kawhi in full crouch, waiting for the result of his falling-out-of-bounds jumper.

Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Dagger.

Howie Kendrick (pt. 1)

The Nationals were 19-31 at one point in the 2019 regular season, yet by the end of the year, they were World Series Champions. It doesn’t happen without veteran Howie Kendrick, who delivered two go-ahead homers, each coming late in the final game of a series. The first came in the NLDS: tied 3-3 in the top of the 10th, Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Kendrick. On the second pitch of the at-bat, he deposited a 97-mph fastball over the centerfield fence for a grand slam, blowing the game open and sending Washington to the NLCS.

Howie Kendrick (pt. 2)

Over the course of the next 10 games, the Nationals would sweep St. Louis in the NLCS and split the first six games of their World Series matchup against Houston. Kendrick won the NLCS MVP but didn’t homer, instead waiting for the moment when his squad needed him most.

Leading 2-0 after six innings, the Astros were nine outs away from another World Series title. Then Anthony Rendon hit a solo home run. Then Juan Soto walked. Then Howie Kendrick came up to the plate and delivered a two-run home run to give Washington a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Play of the Century

Around Charlottesville, it’s just “The Play,” but immediately after it happened, Ty Jerome called it “The Play of the Century,” which won’t get much argument here. Of course, I’m referring to the infamous tip, pass, and shot by the Virginia Cavaliers at the buzzer in the Elite Eight against Purdue, sending the game to overtime. Purdue had a 91-percent chance to win right before “The Play,” per ESPN, which sort of explains how crazy it was.

So much had to happen when Ty Jerome stepped to the free-throw line with five seconds remaining. Trailing 70-67, he had to make the first, miss the second, have a teammate grab an offensive board and make a shot before time ran out. He did make the first and miss the second, but Mamadi Diakite‘s tip-out sent the ball way beyond halfcourt. Freshman point guard Kihei Clark was there to scoop it, though, and he made what some people call the greatest assist in NCAA Tournament history. After looking off Jerome and Kyle Guy, Clark zipped a 40-foot, one-handed pass to Diakite, who caught and shot the ball in one fluid motion about 10 feet from the cup. Splash.

Virginia would win in overtime to go to their first Final Four under Tony Bennett.

Kyle Guy’s Cold-Blooded Free Throws

In their Final Four game against Auburn, the Hoos had another ridiculously dramatic game. Down two with 1.5 seconds remaining, Virginia drew up a play to get Kyle Guy a look at a corner three. He caught the inbounds pass and got the shot off, drawing a foul in the process. Guy stepped up to hit three of the most cold-blooded free throws ever, all with just 0.6 seconds remaining on the clock. Like the Purdue game above, Auburn’s win percentage was above 90 percent with five seconds remaining.

After another extreme nail-biter against Texas Tech, Virginia cut down the nets for their first national title in school history.

The Return to Glory

On the heels of several scandals and a decade without a major win, Tiger Woods got back on top in 2019 with a triumph at the Masters. Several shots were key to victory, especially his tee shot on No. 16 on Sunday, but the best moment came when he sank the tournament-sealing putt on No. 18. He knew he needed to make a five going in and he delivered without panic. When that final putt went down, everyone knew what a special moment it was — everything came full-circle. Jim Nantz captured the moment perfectly on national television.

“The return to glory.”