Golf Special Report: Unbelievable meltdowns that have led to loss (Part 2)
Among Jean Van de Velde and Lorena Ochoa’s bogeys, Sergio Garcia’s missed par and Tom Watson car crash there are still 6 more players who have all faltered in one event or two, due to their inability to handle pressure. The index presented below is dedicated
to those players who made mistakes that are unimaginable and played shots that can collapse a solid empire.
From the 16th to 17th:
Thomas Bjorn stands at position number six. Bjorn played his 15 holes of the 2003 British open to attain a 2 stroke lead over other players. However, the player faltered at the 16th when he double bogeyed. As if that wasn’t enough, the player
then made another bogey at the 17th hole. His performance at the second last hole gifted his so-called victory to Ben Curtis.
Once upon a time:
Standing halfway in the list of chokers, Sam Snead steps into the future from the year 1947. A gifted golfer he was, Snead had always been able to attain many triumphs. His basic reason to be in this list is not because of his countless triumphs but because
of his frustratingly low performance at the US Open. In 1947, he missed his game not because he needed a fairly difficult birdie, but because he missed a two foot putt. The player needed this putt to grab the U.S. Open but his missed shot sent the Open victory
in Lew Worsham hands.
This trend was the successor of the 1939 play. No one is sure of what actually happened but know this- Snead came under pressure, his shot faltered and bogeys took over. The last hole of the open in this year required only a par from him but apparently,
Snead had other plans, he triple bogeyed.
His game has always been amazing be it any event but his ability to break under pressure always got the best of him, specially the end of countless U.S Open.
Pebble trouble:
The list gets more ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as we drop down further and Matt Gogel is responsible for it. At the 2000 pebble beach event, the now thirty nine year old was playing brilliantly against Tiger Woods. He had a seven stroke lead over Woods and had seven
more to play but Gogel choked up. The golfer didn’t win, Tiger Woods caught up with the seven stroke deficiency and Gogel lost the event. Where many would feel awed at Woods catching up with seven strokes, many would question the free give away lead from Gogel.
One choke and you’re out:
The 1996 Master witnessed Greg Norman playing an amazing game to hold a six stroke lead. His record show that he has had a rather up and down career but is also an incredible golfer. According to the critics, players who can’t perform well in a tight situation
usually end up making the stupidest mistakes of all time. Greg Norman held the lead over Nick Faldo in the 1996 event however, the scores at the end of the day displayed different results. Norman at the end of the tournament held a score of 78 while Faldo
stood with a 67. The six shot lead was soon transformed into a 5 stroke deficit.
The top two falterers:
The top of the list holds Phil Mickelson and Arnold Palmer from the 2000 and the 1966 U.S. Open. Mickelson had a tough tussle with Woods for the title of the best golfer of the year. His game had a stroke lead over Woods which ended when he tried to play
a bit aggressively. His shot sent his ball to hit a tree and hence a painful collapse. The event was won by Geoff Ogilvy.
The number one position is held by Arnold Palmer from the 1966 U.S Open. He had a 5 stroke lead and 4 holes to play which was taken over by Billy Casper. Palmer then tied himself with Casper and had to play 8 holes with a 2 up. However, Palmer once again
slipped in the playoff after carding a 73 while Casper scored a 69. The fact that Palmer had a 7 stroke lead that lead into the fourth day and then managed a playoff, which later disappeared is an enough excuse for many critics to place Palmer at the number
one position.
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