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Shark reels after losing 1996 chance
Posted: Saturday April 13, 2002 11:44 PM
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Greg Norman shows the agony of blowing a big lead in the Masters on the final day in 1996. The Augusta Chronicle |
By Scott Michaux
The Augusta Chronicle
Greg Norman's history at Augusta National is stacked with pain upon pain.
Among his eight top-five finishes at the Masters, Norman has been reeled in by Jack Nicklaus (1986), chipped in by Larry Mize (1987) and beaten in by Jose Maria Olazabal (1999).
As unforgettable as his many and varied April defeats are, none can compare with the long green miles of 1996, when Norman blew a seemingly insurmountable six-stroke lead to Nick Faldo in the final round.
"I just screwed up," was his succinct assessment.
It was almost as unbearable to watch as it was for Norman to execute. The tournament played out to a worldwide audience that could only cringe at the sight of one of golf's greatest players playing the part of a weekend hacker.
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In this series of articles, The Augusta Chronicle looks at some of the 'disasters' throughout Masters history. Use the pull-down menu to get from story to story.
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With only one man to beat and a larger cushion than anyone had ever blown in major-championship history, Norman's quest for his Holy Grail seemed to be nearing an end. But his own end became apparent long before he reached the 72nd hole. Norman was finished before he ever got through Amen Corner.
With the advantage over Faldo already pared to three strokes through eight holes, Norman was reeling as the conclusion neared.
The collapse came soon after. Five more strokes disappeared in a four-hole stretch from Nos. 9 to 12, giving Faldo a two-shot lead that under the circumstances seemed less vulnerable than Norman's overnight gap.
"It was evident he was ruined through the middle of the round," said Faldo, whose finishing 67 and five-stroke victory were all but lost in Norman's meltdown.
When Norman doubled over - a beaten man - after splashing his tee shot in the water on the par-3 16th, the once chilling Shark had been transformed into a sympathetic figure. The responses of support from around the world poured in throughout the ensuing year.
Even Faldo felt it, embracing Norman on the 18th green after securing his third green jacket with a round 11 shots better than Norman's 78.
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| 54-hole leaders who lost: |
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| Losses |
Player |
Years |
| 3 |
Sam Snead |
1951, 1957, 1958 |
| 3 |
Ben Crenshaw |
1977, 1987, 1989 |
| 3 |
Raymond Floyd |
1983, 1985, 1990 |
| 2 |
Ben Hogan |
1952, 1954 |
| 2 |
Greg Norman |
1986, 1996 |
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"With everything unfolding, you know it was as good as any I've played," Faldo said of his 5-under-par 67.
"I don't think he's gotten the credit he deserves," Norman said. "He shot a great score when he had to shoot a great score. He put the pressure on me. I don't think enough attention has been paid to him on that."
So much attention was paid to Norman that the world's No. 1 player stopped reading magazines and newspapers for a year and even consulted motivational guru Tony Robbins. When he talked with reporters at length about it before the 1997 Masters, he hoped it would be the end of the story.
"We can all deal with flushing the toilet every now and then and getting all the crap out of your head," he said. "If you keep thinking about the worst round you've ever had in your life, you're going to keep playing the same (crappy) round. I don't want to keep thinking about it."
Norman, now 47, returns by special invitation this year to make his 22nd attempt at winning the elusive green jacket.
Greg Norman lost the biggest 54-hole lead in Masters history when Nick Faldo came from six shots back.
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