Saturday, April 10, 2010

Forgotten Masters collapses

The Masters has seen its share of heart ache. When final round collapses are discussed, Greg Norman in 1996 is usually at the top of the list. He led by 6 going into the final round, shot a final round 78 and lost to Nick Faldo by 5 shots.

Other collapses that get brought up but not nearly as much as Norman are Ed Sneed who led by 5 going into Sunday and by 3 with three holes to go. Three closing bogeys dropped him into a tie with Tom Watson and Fuzzy Zoeller. Zoeller won with a birdie on the 2nd hole of sudden death.

Scott Hoch of the infamous missed two and a half footer on the first hole of sudden death in 1989. Nick Faldo won it on the 2nd hole of sudden death with a birdie

In 1961 Arnold Palmer came to 18 with a one-shot lead, made a double bogey on the hole and finished in a tie for 2nd with Charlie Coe one shot behind Gary Player. It was Player's first Masters triumph.

Roberto DeVicenzo's incorrect scorecard in 1968 is mentioned more often than anyone but Norman in 96 and maybe Sneed's collapse.

But here are the lost Green Jacket winners you may have forgotten

Tom Watson 1991- He came to 18 tied for the lead, made double bogey to finish 3rd two shots behind Ian Woosman
Tom Watson 1978- He came to 18 tied for the lead, made bogey, and finished tied for 2nd one shot behind Gary Player
Greg Norman 1986- Made bogey on 18 to finish tied for 2nd one shot behind Jack Nicklaus
Severiano Ballesteros 1986- Led for most of Sunday, came to the par 5 15th tied for the lead at 7 under and hit his 2nd shot in the lake. Finished well back.
Curtis Strange 1985- Opened with an 80, got the lead the back nine on Sunday, hit balls in the water on both 13 and 15 and finished 2nd two shots behind Bernhard Langer.
Johnny Miller 1971- Came to 15 on Sunday with a 2-shot lead, finished two over par, and finished 2 shots behind Charles Coody.
Charles Coody 1969- Was one up with three holes to go, finished bogey-bogey-bogey to finish 5th two shots behind George Archer.
Peter Oosterhuis 1973- Opened the final round with a 3-shot lead, shot a final round 74 and finished 3rd two behind Tommy Aaron.
Gay Brewer 1966- He three-putted 18 for a bogey which resulted in a 3-way playoff. Jack Nicklaus won it the next day.

The most unheralded lost green jacket of them all.

Mike Reid 1989- The player nicknamed Radar. A short hitter who was never very good with the short stick, opened the final round one shot out of the lead. Reid pulled into a tie for the lead on 8 and by the time he teed off 14, had a one-shot lead.

Reid 3-putted 14, hit it in the water on 15 and took a double, and made bogey on 16. Radar's chance to take the mantle of 'most unlikely Masters champion ever' failed. Herman Keiser, the 1946 champion, still holds it.

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