Greg Norman, 1996 Masters (Golf)

The greatest disaster in golf history happened to the reigning number-one player in the world. With more than 70 tournament victories worldwide, Greg Norman is certainly the best player never to win a green jacket (the symbol of a Masters victory), although he came close twice: In 1986, he bogied the 18th to lose by a stroke to Jack Nicklaus, and the following year he lost in a playoff when Larry Mize chipped in from 50 yards. But his opening three rounds at Augusta in 1996, including a record-tying 63 the first day, gave him a seemingly invincible six-shot lead. (No one with such a lead going into the final round had ever lost before.)
But on Sunday, he couldn’t do anything right. Norman bogied the 9th, 10th, and 11th. He hit into the water on both 12 and 16 for double-bogey 5s. All told, he missed 10 of 18 greens on his way to a 6-over-par 78. He lost to Nick Faldo’s 5-under 67 by 5 shots, an incredible 11-shot turnaround.
Norman somehow managed to smile during the excruciating post-round press conference. “God, I’d love to be up there putting that green jacket on, but it’s not the end of the world,” he told reporters. “I’m disappointed, I’m sad about it. I’m going to regret it, because I know I let it slip away. It’s not the end of my life.” He exhibited such dignity in the face of crushing disappointment that he received thousands of cards and letters praising his sportsmanship. He later described the outpouring of support as a transforming experience, claiming that he took more from the loss than he would have gained from a win.