What is the worst disaster in a major golf tournament you remember?

There are lots of disasters in this beautiful sport that led to unthinkable losses, but I’ll mention the ones I saw.

Just so you know, there are cases that might remind you of the ending of the film called Tim Cup, in which Kevin Costner plays a professional golfer so stubborn that, instead of finishing in a clever way and win that major, he did everything he could to do exactly the opposite.

I know that the list can be longer and If you wish to add some more, feel free to do so. I would really appreciate that.

Let’s begin!

Greg Norman – 1996 Masters

I used to be a fan of Greg Norman. I always liked his play style, but, sadly, he achieved more disasters than any other pro golfer; especially in majors.

The worst of them was in the 1996 Masters. Norman led the first three rounds and even started the fourth round with a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo. However, he lost that major by five strokes.

It was really painful to see Norman lose like that.

Jordan Spieth – 2016 Masters

Just like Norman, Spieth was another “victim” of Augusta. He played wonderfully for the first three days. But, unlike Norman who collapsed throughout the fourth day, Spieth did it in the 12th hole,  a par three, with a quadruple bogey (7).

Spieth was 22 years old and also the defending champion. It was devastating to watch him putting the green jacket to the new champion Danny Willett.

Fortunately for him, he overcame and won the 2017 Open Championship. 

Rory Mcllroy – 2011 Masters

When Rory entered the 2011 Masters many believed, including me, he would become the new number one player replacing Tiger Woods in that position. He had all the credentials and talent to dominate the new golf era.

Even though before the Masters, Mcllroy had some disappointments, he still was among the strong favorite players to win that major. 

Rory played well the first three days. On the final day, he was the leader with four strokes ahead of Jason Day and Angel Cabrera. As soon as he started the final round he looked nervous and impatient. He played erratic and lost his advantage.

The total collapse went in the tenth hole where Rory hooked the ball and ended up between some trees and scored a triple bogey (7) and never recovered. In the end, he finished ten strokes behind the winner.  

The 2011 Masters was won by Charl Schwartzel who played very consistently and beautifully all tournament. Schwartzel made one of the most spectacular finishes in the history of golf, making birdie in the final four holes. 

Rory has won all majors, but the Masters. I hope someday he will.  

Tom Watson – 2009 Open Championship

Watson was also one of my favorite players when I was a kid. I used to be a huge fan of him.

His performance throughout this major was spectacular and not at all disappointing. It wasn’t a disaster, but a heartbreaking moment for me to see him lose in the very last hole. Why? Because Watson, who was 59 years old at that time would have become the oldest golfer to win a major. 

In the final hole he was leading the tournament by one shot. His second shot to green went to the upper fringe. For the third shot he had an easy chip, but the ball went long. Sadly, he missed the putt and went to a play-off against Stewart Cink and lost. On any other given day, for sure, Tom wouldn’t fail the 2nd, 3rd and, 4th shots. He was very unlucky and pressure got him. 

It was a mix of feelings and admirable to see him almost accomplish such an unprecedented achievement.

Jean Van De Velde – 1999 Open Championship

When Jean Van De Velde reached the 18th’s hole tee, he had a three-stroke lead and, in the worst case scenario, he needed a double bogey to win the Open.

He played superbly throughout the tournament and was about to win the tournament of a lifetime.

Let the tragicomedy begin!

Van De Velde chose a Driver for the first shot in spite of the hole was surrounded by water and rough (first mental error). He could have gone for a more conservative option like a long iron, but he didn’t.

The ball went to the right and landed on the rough. He was safe and fate gave him another opportunity; from there, he just needed five more shots.

Instead of playing safe (again) and short to the left, placing the ball in the fairway with an easy path to the green, Jean went for the hard way and tried to reach the green from there (remember when I wrote that some of these players will remind you of the movie Tim Cup?).

The ball went to the right, hit the grandstand, bounced back and landed into a thick rough. 

Playing from the rough, he hit the ball kind of heavy and went into a deep creek.  The ball was submerged into water and he considered playing from there. He took off his shoes, got into the creek, but, in the end, he decided to take the penalty shot and drop the ball back.

Playing from the thick rough again, the shot went to the bunker in front of the green and, then, he did two more shots. 

Van De Velde finished the hole in seven strokes. Went to the play-off against Paul Lawrie and Justin Leonard. In the end, Lawrie, who began the final round with ten shots behind Van De Velde, won the Open. 

For me, this is, by far, the worst and, for sure, the dumbest loss anybody has seen and will experience.

Van De Velde had the greatest opportunity every golfer dreamt to have and let it lose!

Click here to see JVDV last hole.

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