The 18 worst collapses in recent major championship history
Rory McIlroy plays a shot left of the 10th hole at Augusta National during the final round.
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Phil Mickelson. Rory McIlroy. Jordan Spieth. Dustin Johnson. Don’t worry, Louis Oosthuizen. You’re not alone. It happens to the best of them.
Oosthuizen, you may remember, had one of the better majors seasons last year. Though he no doubt would rather forget. At both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship a month later, Oosthuizen held at least a share of the third-round lead, only to fall short — at the U.S. Open, he finished second, and at the Open Championship, Oosthuizen ended up tied for third. (He also finished runner-up at the PGA Championship, though he started Sunday in third.)
But take solace, Louis. In a look at the 18 worst collapses in recent major championship history, meltdowns have not only happened, they’ve come in much more agonizing ways.
Jordan Spieth, 2016 Masters
Spieth led by five shots with nine holes to play, only to bogey 10 and 11 and quadruple-bogey 12 after dumping two balls into the water.
Dustin Johnson, 2015 U.S. Open
At Chambers Bay in 2015, Johnson was left with a 12-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win the U.S. Open. He missed it, then missed the 3-foot comebacker that would have forced a playoff, handing Spieth the trophy.
Adam Scott, 2012 Open Championship
Adam Scott led by four shots entering the final round at Royal Lytham and St. Annes and appeared ready to win his first major championship. He also led by four shots with four holes to play, only to close with four straight bogeys, capped by a missed par putt on 18 that would’ve gotten him into a playoff. Ernie Els shot a final-round 68 — which included a birdie on 18 — to win by a shot.
Rory McIlroy, 2011 Masters
Trying to become the second-youngest player to win the Masters, McIlroy’s four-shot lead at the start of the day quickly vanished, but he still went into the back nine tied for the lead. Then McIlroy tripled No. 10, four-putted for double bogey on No. 12, and when his tee shot found Rae’s Creek on 13, his hopes for a green jacket were over.
Dustin Johnson, 2010 PGA Championship
Needing a par on 18 at Whistling Straits to win his first major, Johnson failed to get up-and-down for the victory, but it seemed that he still had a chance to win in a playoff against Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson. But Johnson never made the playoff. On his second shot, he had unknowingly grounded his club in a bunker and was penalized two strokes after his round.
Nick Watney, 2010 PGA Championship
Watney started the day with a three-shot lead, but it didn’t take long for it to evaporate. He needed birdies on 16 and 17 to shoot an 81.
Dustin Johnson, 2010 U.S. Open
Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, Johnson, a two-time Pebble Beach Pro-Am winner, was in prime position to win his first major. But his chances ended quickly after a triple bogey on No. 2, followed by a double bogey on No. 3. Johnson shot an 82 to tie for eighth.
Phil Mickelson, 2006 U.S. Open
Standing on the 18th tee at Winged Foot, all Mickelson needed was a par to win his first U.S. Open and third-consecutive major. Instead, he made a double bogey to hand the trophy to Geoff Ogilvy. Afterward, Mickelson said, “I’m such an idiot.”
Colin Montgomerie, 2006 U.S. Open
Mickelson wasn’t the only player to throw away the 2006 U.S. Open. On 18, Colin Montgomerie came up short on his second shot, chipped on and three-putted on his way to missing a playoff by a stroke.
Retief Goosen, 2005 U.S. Open
Retief Goosen held a three-stroke lead heading into the final round at Pinehurst. But the 2001 and 2004 champ shot a front-nine 41, and he tumbled down the leaderboard with an 81. Michael Campbell shot a one-under 69 to win his first major.
Justin Leonard, 2004 PGA Championship
Justin Leonard had several chances to win at Whistling Straits, but he couldn’t get it done. He had a 10-foot birdie putt on 15 for a three-shot lead, but missed. He then missed a 5-foot par putt on 16. On 18, he dumped his second shot from the fairway into thick grass short of the green. Leonard missed his par putt and lost in a playoff to Vijay Singh.
Thomas Bjorn, 2003 Open Championship
Thomas Bjorn led by three with four holes to play at Royal St. George’s. He bogeyed No. 15, but his major collapse came at No. 16, where he took three shots to get out of a pot bunker and made double bogey. He then bogeyed 17 and lost to Ben Curtis by a shot.
Jean Van de Velde, 1999 Open Championship
Jean Van de Velde needed only a double bogey on 18 to win the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie. His third shot on 18 landed in the Barry Burn, and for a moment, he considered hitting out of the water. He took a drop and hit his fifth into a bunker. He got up and down for a triple bogey and a spot in a playoff, which he eventually lost to Paul Lawrie.
Kenny Perry, 1996 PGA Championship
Instead of keeping loose on the driving range at Valhalla, Kenny Perry decided to sit in the television tower to see if he would be in a playoff. When Mark Brooks tied Perry, the two went into a playoff, and Brooks won when he made a 5-foot putt for birdie.
Greg Norman, 1996 Masters
Greg Norman started the final round six strokes ahead of Nick Faldo. All Norman likely had to do was shoot even par, and the green jacket would finally be his. But Norman collapsed in heartbreaking fashion, shooting a final-round 78 to Faldo’s brilliant 67.
John Cook, 1992 Open Championship
John Cook had a two-stroke lead with two holes left at Muirfield, and he looked to build on his lead at the par-5 17th. But Cook missed a 2-foot birdie putt, then bogeyed 18 to lose to Faldo.
Scott Hoch, 1989 Masters
On the first hole of a playoff with Faldo, Scott Hoch missed a 2-foot par putt for the win. On the second playoff hole, Faldo drained a 25-foot birdie putt for the title.
T.C. Chen, 1985 U.S. Open
T.C. Chen seemed in control of the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills outside of Detroit, leading by four shots after four holes on Sunday. Then at the 5th, Chen double-hit a chip out of the rough and made an eight. He also bogeyed the final two holes and lost to Andy North.
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