How did Ed Sneed mess up the Masters?

Question

Sneed was well positioned to win the Masters in 1979, but in the end it didn't happen - what went wrong on the last three holes?

Answer 1

Sneed choked spectacularly, after starting the day with a five-shot lead. He maintained a lead of at least a few shots throughout the entire day, but on both the 16th and 17th, his putts for par stopped right on the lip of the hole. Worse was to follow, as he only needed to make par on the 18th to win - but while his ball went agonisingly close, again it failed to go in. He had bogeyed the the last three holes to tie with Fuzzy Zoeller, who beat him in a play-off. Sneed never came close to winning another major.