Golf

Roberto DeVicenzo, 1968 Masters (Golf)

Widely regarded as one of the nicest guys in professional golf, the 45-year-old Argentinean began the final round two shots behind the leader and shot a sizzling 65. His playing partner and marker, Tommy Aaron (in pro events your playing partner keeps your score and you keep his), mistakenly gave him a par 4 on […]

Hale Irwin, 1983 British Open at Royal Birkdale (Golf)

On Saturday, in contention for the lead during the third round, Irwin whiffed a 2-inch tap-in on the par-3 14th. On Sunday, he lost the championship to Tom Watson by one stroke. “I guess I lifted my head,” he said afterward, “because my club just bounced over the ball.”

Jerry Pate, 1982 World Series of Golf at Firestone

The 1976 U.S. Open champion reached the fringe of the par-5 2nd hole in two and had a 50-footer for eagle. His approach putt rolled 5 feet past the hole, and his comebacker for birdie was also too strong, ending up 3 feet away. Annoyed at himself, Pate carelessly hit the short par putt, and […]

Jeff Sluman, 1987 Tournament Players Championship at Sawgrass (Golf)

Sluman and Sandy Lyle were in a sudden-death playoff, with Sluman facing a 5-footer on the 17th to win. Just as he was about to strike the putt, a spectator dove into the lake surrounding the island green, causing the gallery to break into cheers and catcalls. Sluman stepped back to compose himself and then […]

T. C. Chen, 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills (Golf)

After shooting 65-69-69, Taiwan’s Tze-Chung Chen carried a two-stroke lead into the final round and boosted it to four by the time he reached the par-4 No. 5. After a good drive, he pushed a 4-iron into the trees and then hit his third shot into thick greenside rough. He took a sand wedge for […]

Patty Sheehan, 1990 U.S. Women's Open at Atlanta Athletic Club (Golf)

With the last two rounds being played on Sunday, Sheehan took a nine-shot lead into the final 27 holes but lost to Betsy King by one stroke. Most collapses are mental, but in Sheehan’s case, the breakdown was physical. “I had no fuel on board when I went out [Sunday morning],” she said. “I started […]

Scott Hoch, 1989 Masters (Golf)

    You’re never safe — certainly not when you’re nervous, and apparently not even when you’re calm: On the 10th green of a playoff with Nick Faldo, Hoch missed a 2-footer to win the Masters, and lost the playoff on the following hole. Later, Hoch expounded on the nightmare: “I was so at ease. […]

Mark Catcavecchia, 1991 Ryder Cup at KiaWah Island (Golf)

Calcavecchia was four up with four holes to play in his singles match against Colin Montgomerie. He lost the 15th and 16th, and then, at the par-3 17th, after Montgomerie hit his tee shot into the water and all he had to do was put his ball somewhere on dry land, Calcavecchia topped his tee […]

Gil Morgan, 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Golf)

After opening rounds of 66 and 69, the 45-year-old former optometrist had a seven-shot lead when the wind started to gust off the Pacific. He double-bogied the 8th, bogied the 9th, double-bogied the 10th, bogied the 11th and 12th, and double-bogied the 14th. Though he managed to birdie 16 and 18, his lead was reduced […]

Gil Morgan, 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Golf)

After opening rounds of 66 and 69, the 45-year-old former optometrist had a seven-shot lead when the wind started to gust off the Pacific. He double-bogied the 8th, bogied the 9th, double-bogied the 10th, bogied the 11th and 12th, and double-bogied the 14th. Though he managed to birdie 16 and 18, his lead was reduced […]

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