We conclude our look back at the top stories of 2009. Just one guess what ended up No. 1.

3. Change at the top of the LPGA. It's no secret that the LPGA had some difficulties with its upper leadership. Former commissioner Carolyn Bivens faced numerous challenges -- financial, organizational, international -- and eventually lost the confidence of her constituency. So the players sent her packing, and following an extended search, the LPGA selected Michael Whan as its new commish. Good luck, fella.

2. Tom Watson very nearly triumphs one more time. This should have been one of the greatest stories in golf history, and it was hands-down the greatest on-course story of the year. Tom Watson's charge up the leaderboard and his agonizing near-miss on the 18th at Turnberry was a reminder of why we all watch and play this silly little sport -- anything can happen at any time, and there's always hope that our finest days lie ahead of us. Well, almost all of us.

1. "Transgressions." A guy goes and bumps his car into a fire hydrant. Unfortunately, the story doesn't come close to ending there. The Tiger Woods debacle is the biggest story to hit golf in decades -- perhaps the most scandalous golf story ever -- and like it or not, these last two weeks will change the way we perceive golf's most famous player forevermore.

So for a year that started out on a slow note, it ended up being one of the most significant years in golf's history, for better or (much) worse. Here's hoping 2010 gives us more golf, less TMZ.