Ten Of The Biggest Masters Chokes Of All-Time

These are ten of the biggest chokes in the Masters that we’ve ever seen.

Think about the pressure you feel standing over a putt when playing against your buddies in a friendly match at a local course. Now, imagine the pressure that the best golfers in the world face when they’re oh-so-close to seeing their dreams come true by putting on the Green Jacket at Augusta National as the winner of The Masters. Unfortunately, these ten players just couldn’t handle the pressure.

Greg Norman (1996)

This is perhaps the most famous of all. Greg Norman looked to be cruising home to the championship that had forever eluded him, and entered Sunday with a six-shot lead. But, he hit his tee shot into the water on both Par 3’s on the back nine, shot 78, and Nick Faldo won instead.

Rory McIlroy (2011)

Just 21 years old, McIlroy was the best young player in the world in 2011, and he was poised to announce his arrival as possibly the best player in the world when he took a four-shot lead into the final round of The Masters. But, he carded a humiliating 80, including a stunning triple bogey at the 10th hole after he hit his tee shot so far left it was up by the cottages. To this day, he has yet to win The Masters.

Jordan Spieth (2016)

Unlike the first two players on this list, Spieth already had a Green Jacket. He was coming off the most dominant year of major championship performances since Tiger Woods won the grand slam with three majors in 2001 and The Masters in 2001. And, he looked poised to win his third major in five starts when he entered the back nine with a five-shot lead on Sunday. But, after bogeys on 10 and 11, Spieth made a quadruple bogey on 12, finding Rae’s Creek twice. It was as shocking a meltdown as any in golf history.

Francesco Molinari (2019)

2019 will always be remembered for the miraculous Tiger Woods victory. But, it was made possible by a complete meltdown by playing partner Francesco Molinari. He looked unflappable through 11 holes, but a stunning tee shot on 12 found Rae’s Creek, and he found the creek once more on 15. Tiger was the steadiest player down the stretch, and Molinari missed out on a chance to win consecutive majors.

Scott Hoch (1989)

Scott Hoch and Nick Faldo found themselves in a playoff, and Hoch needed to make just a two-footer on the first playoff hole to win The Masters. His putt didn’t even hit the cup, and he would lose to Faldo on the next playoff hole.

Curtis Strange (1985)

Strange, who ended up being a two-time US Open Champion, had a three-shot lead with six to play. But, he found the water on both Par 5’s on the back, 13 and 15, and ended up losing to Bernhard Langer

Tom Watson (1991)

Watson had a phenomenal Sunday charge, eagling both of the Par 5’s on the back nine, and came to the 18th hole tied with Ian Woosnam. But, a poor drive led to a double bogey.

Jeff Maggert (2003)

2003 is most remembered for a chaotic playoff that saw Mike Weir win with a bogey on the second playoff hole over Len Mattiace But, those two players may not have even reached a playoff if Jeff Maggert hadn’t had a total collapse. He didn’t have a single bogey or double bogey all day. The problem is, he made a triple bogey on 3 and a QUINTUPLE bogey on 12 to finish well back.

Brooks Koepka (2023)

Koepka was a ridiculous -12 through the first two rounds, and took a four shot lead into Sunday. But, he just didn’t have it that day, as he shot a 75 and lost to Jon Rahm.

Roberto Di Vicenzo (1968)

This is the worst collapse of all, and it had nothing to do with what happened on the golf course. Di Vicenzo had earned himself a spot in a playoff with Bob Goalby. But, he signed a scorecard that had him making a 4 on 17, when he actually made a 3. By rule, the higher number counts, even though it’s wrong, and Goalby won.