Top 10 Major Meltdowns

10

Greg Norman

1996 Masters,

Augusta National Golf Club

This finally looked like the Masters title that had eluded Norman so often in the past. Opening with a course record 63, he added rounds of 69 and 71 to start the final day at 13 under. Paired with him was rival Nick Faldo, who had slipped to a 73 in the third round to fall six shots behind.

            The sad tale is well known as Norman had one of his worst days on a golf course, taking five bogeys and two double bogeys en route to a disastrous 78. However, that was still good enough for second place. What made the fall look so dreadful was yet another stunning final round by Faldo in a Masters. He played magnificently, and having caught Norman and the 12th, it then became a procession as Nick fired a stunning 67 to win his sixth and final major by five shots.

            When the final putt dropped, Faldo hugged Norman and whispered something that both declined to repeat in the immediate aftermath. Eight years later, Faldo disclosed in his autobiography that he had said: “Don't let the bastards get you down over this.” Norman later confirmed and added: “Why didn't I laugh? I wasn't in much of a laughing mood at the time.”