Collapses are a part of Augusta National's history. But perhaps none remain as iconic as Nick Faldo's comeback in 1996 when Greg Norman's lead was shattered.

The Great White Shark had made a reputation for himself in the 1980s and 1990s. But there was one thing that still eluded him: the Green Jacket. And he came incredibly close in 1996.

“It’s all on me. I know that, but losing the Masters is not the end of the world. I let this one get away, but I still have a pretty good life. I’ll wake up tomorrow still breathing, I hope. All these hiccups I have, they must be for a reason. All this is just a test; I just don’t know what the test is yet.”

On the 14th of April, 1996, Augusta National witnessed one of the worst collapses of the sport. With a six-shot lead at the start of the final round, Norman fell behind by five at the end. Six-time major winner Nick Faldo chased Norman and toppled him. It certainly looked like the day Norman would get his hands on the Green Jacket, but rather he fell to his knees in anguish.

“The tide was really against me at that point. I thought it was in all the way. If that goes in, there is hope.” Norman said about the 15th-hole. 

However, Norman took the bitter defeat with every ounce of sportsmanship. He shared a hug with Nick Faldo and answered every question at the post-Masters press conference with grace. It wasn't his first near-miss at the event. He finished as the runner-up in 1986 and 1987 as well. That's why he added:

“People could see I put the game and its values first. For every golfer, that is our ultimate responsibility."

And it's not just Norman who's given up a lead at Augusta.

The Masters and Collapses

The final round of The Masters has seen many leads disappear. Not long ago, Jordan Spieth was about to be one of the few players to win the Masters twice in a row. He had a lead of five with just nine holes to play. After hitting two balls into Rae's Creek, his lead quickly evaporated.

In 2011, Rory McIlroy blew a four-shot lead. Kenny Perry collapsed even worse. He gave away a two-shot lead with just two holes to go in 2009.  

Back in 1979, Ed Sneed lost to Fuzzy Zoeller after having a five-shot lead. Faldo was on the right side of another collapse in 1989 when Scott Hoch missed a two-foot birdie putt in the playoff. Faldo, calm as always, capitalized on that and secured another Green Jacket.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar