Saturday, July 6, 2024

Golf’s biggest major chokes and where Rory McIlroy’s US Open meltdown ranks

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8. Adam Scott – 2012 Open Championship

Oh, Adam Scott and his belly putter went on a terrible journey together on the final four holes of the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Up four shots, Scott bogeyed the final four holes and brought Jean Van de Velde back to 1999. Ernie Els proved the beneficiary this time.

7. Jason Dufner – 2011 PGA Championship

Jason Dufner started choking away a five-stroke lead by hitting his 15th tee-shot into the water at the Atlanta Athletic Club. He ended it with three bogeys and a play-off loss to Keegan Bradley.

6. Ed Sneed – 1979 Masters

Ed Sneed continues the trend of late-round leads vanishing into thin air (look, it’s the worst collapses in majors history, what do you expect?). Sneed blew a three-shot lead on his final three holes, ultimately conceding victory in a sudden-death play-off to the excellently named Fuzzy Zoeller.

5. Dustin Johnson – 2010 US Open

Sadly for ‘DJ’, you could enter two US Open collapses into this list, but it’s the initial meltdown that allowed Graeme McDowell to take the spoils that makes the top 11. He shot an abhorrent 11-over in the final round at Pebble Beach, including a triple-bogey and double-bogey on consecutive holes.

4. Sam Snead – 1947 US Open

Snead is the lone member of this list to not implode in his final round, but in the ensuing play-off. After birdieing 18 with ice in his veins, he forced that play-off. Snead first blew a two-shot lead, before missing a two-foot putt on 18 at the St Louis Country Club to allow Lew Worsham to claim victory.

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