Ernie Els at the 1997 U.S. Open (Phil Sheldon/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

5. Ernie Els

PGA Tour victories in 1990s: seven (of 19 total)

Major titles in 1990s: two (of four total)

The Big Easy broke through in the U.S. in a big way, winning the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont in a playoff over Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie – Els beat Roberts on the second hole of sudden death after Montgomerie was eliminated in the threesome’s 18-hole playoff. Els again held off Montgomerie, this time by a shot in regulation, at the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional. Els added two more major titles, both at the British Open, in 2002 and 2012.

The South African also won seven times in the ’90s on the European Tour, and he played a truly international schedule with victories around the world. He still competes on the PGA Tour, and he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.