10 worst flukes in the history of golf
There are times many even the best of the best choke and act clumsy. It can be pressure, bad game plan or the last one to be blamed unsuitable weather conditions. Here are the 10 worst moments in the history of golf which cannot be forgotten.
Year 2006, US Open Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson deserted himself by changing his strategy for the game. He started as a calm and consistent gradually leaning towards a more aggressive side. The result was in his favour but as soon as he switched back to his calm side his driver ditched him. It started by hitting a trash can with the ball, then the roof of the hospitality tent and then hitting a spectator in the spectator area.
Then again instead of choosing an iron and shooting the ball over a short distance he chose a driver and the result was he landed in the trees. The ball did as expected it hit a branch and stopped 25 yards in front of him. The last of his short distance strategy was that he plunged into a back bunker and ended with a double bogey. What a loser?
Year 2006, US open Colin Montgomery
Almost near to the victory after hitting a birdie of 45 feet just before the 18th hole, Colin Montgomery decided to switch the clubs. He changed from 6 iron to 7 iron which meant more loft resulting into bigger driving distance. There he was stuck very short of the green, he shot again to get out of it, resulting into a long par putt rolling past the hole ending up with a double-bogey six.
Year 2005, U.S. Women's Openorena Ochoa
Just one hole from the victory Openorena Ochao hit the driver just inches behind the ball hitting it into the water. Bad luck bought a rough in her second drive resulting into quadruple bogy on the 18th hole. All that was required there was a straight aimed shot passing half of the lake into the greens but bad luck bought a divot and a left headed shot. “Phew when your strokes are not working well!”
Year 1995, Ryder Cup Jay Haas
Being under pressure by Philip Watson who shot his 16 and 17th hole with a par, Haas thought of a shot that would bring her on the same foot , unfortunately it did not turn out to be right for the 18th tee she shot the ball at a distance of 150 yards creating a double bogey for herself and a hysterical moment for the spectators to remember.
Year 2003 British Open Thomas Bjorn
Four holes were left and three strokes followed but on the 15th hole he dropped a stroke following another disaster at the 16th hole. He shot the ball into a deep bunker, all two of his strokes went wasted to get the ball out, and finally with the third stroke he got the ball out but ended with a double bogey.
Year 1990 U.S. Women's Open Patty Sheehan
Near to her 5th victory, the hands of the clock ticked in the wrong direction and Patty Sheehan shot 76 on her last day with 33 holes at 9 over, earlier that day she had a 12 shot victory in the third round but the wrong wedge took her all the way to the losing end against Betty King.
Year 1986 Masters Greg Norman
All was going well for Greg Norman when he was in a tie Jack Nicklaus at the 18th hole. A wrong shot took him into the grandstand where during his last shot he tripped towards the hole missing the 10 feet putt and ended out of the playoff.
Year 1978 Masters Hubert Green
Hubert Green was all set to snatch the playoff away from Gary Player who finished the round at 64. Just before hitting the shot, Hubert Green heard the radio humming the word action, he got confused and instead of his good drive he took a shot with the stroke being pushed towards the right.
Year 1970 British open Doug Sanders
Having a wrong strategy of two putts took the victory in the 1970 British Open away from Doug Sanders. He had a one shot lead but all of a sudden Doug Sanders' putt could not even make 3 feet from the cup as there was a downhill slider, to gather himself and take a shot at the ball he slid and the ball slipped in the wrong direction which eventually led to a defeat.
So you see at times the great players whom we envy have their down falls as well but this certainly doesn’t mean they give up. If they did not lose to begin with, how could they muster the courage to win?
Year 1961 Masters Arnold Palmer
The shots were perfect from both the sides Gary Player and Arnold Palmer were giving each other a hard time when the game took a plunge at the 18th hole when Gary Player found a back bunker which he managed to get out with 8 under the par but when Arnold palmer tried using his luck with the bunker, his shot blasted the ball over the greens into the crowd finally landing at the television tower. He got the ball back to the greens but ended with a double bogey.
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