Inscrutable Koepka
While Woods fell short in the majors, the inscrutable Brooks Koepka won two - successfully defending his US Open crown before adding the PGA Championship - with performances that were greeted with a proverbial yawn in the golf world.
It is not so much that fans dislike Koepka as much as they are generally apathetic about a player whose lack of charisma and outward emotion make him difficult to connect with.
Reed in limelight
Koepka was joined on the major honour roll by Patrick Reed.
Even his giant chip on his shoulder did not prevent the American from slipping easily into the green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters.
Molinari raised his game
And 35-year-old Francesco Molinari raised his game to a new level, finally finding a short game and putting stroke to match his long-admired full swing, as he became Italy's first-ever major winner in the British Open.
Molinari also swept all five of his matches in golf's premier team event, the Ryder Cup, as Europe again proved invincible in their own backyard.
Ariya is women's star
Ariya Jutanugarn captured the biggest women's event, the US Open, but not before blowing a seven-stroke lead on the back nine at Shoal Creek in Alabama.
A triple-bogey at the 10th hole greased the wheels for the Thai, who eventually skidded into a play-off with South Korean Kim Hyo-joo.
Tragic death of Celia
The golf world endured several losses in 2018, none more tragic than that of 19-year-old Spanish amateur Celia Barquin Arozamena, murdered while playing alone at a course in Iowa, where she had been on a university golf scholarship.
The sport also mourned the passing of five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson (88), double major winner Hubert Green (71), 13-time PGA Tour winner Bruce Lietzke (67) and Australian Jarrod Lyle.