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Even the best in the world get it spectacularly wrong on occasion, so we take a slightly malicious delight in reminding you of the days when things went pear-shaped

Seve Ballesteros, 1986 Masters, Augusta National, 15th hole

Everyone remembers Augusta in ‘86 for the stirring Jack Nicklaus final round that brought him his sixth green jacket and 18th and last Major, but it should never have been.
As Nicklaus stood over a putt on 16 - that he missed - Ballesteros was standing in the 15th fairway, waiting for Jack to finish and the fuss to die down. Having eagled the 13th he had hit a superb drive on the last par five on the course and now stood with a two-stroke lead, and a 4-iron in his hands ready to negotiate the remaining 210 yards for a certain birdie, possible eagle. He knew the only way he could mess up was to hit it short in the water but that was his ultimate undoing because, subconsciously, he also knew he had too much club. The swing was short and lacked conviction and the ball went unerringly into the pond. Bogey six, followed by a three-putt bogey on 17.
Game over.
‘That’ll be a 44 large,’ said Jack.

Phil Mickelson, 2002 Ryder Cup, The Belfry, 6th hole

The world number two golfer was drawn to play against unknown Phillip Price in the singles of the 34th Ryder Cup and by the sixth hole was just getting into his stride. A fine drive, followed by a searing iron to three feet set up the easiest of birdie chances for Mickelson - especially as his opponent was in real trouble, having to stand half in a water hazard with the ball well above his feet. He then produced a great shot and put the ball to within six feet himself. When he holed the putt for the most unlikely of birdies, Mickelson was rattled and allowed it to show. He not only missed but his putt never touched the sides.
‘Tell ‘em who I beat,’ said Phillip.

Sandy Lyle, 1985 Open, Royal St George’s, 18th hole
Unusually in this selection, the man concerned still went on to win - but it was a close run thing. Having started the final day of the ‘85 Open three shots adrift, Britain’s favourite golfing son gradually hauled himself back into contention and it looked as if a par up the 18th would be good enough for victory. But then Lyle’s approach found Duncan’s Hollow, a dangerous dip in the ground to the left of the green - and the flagstick was perched just over a small rise. To get it close would need a delicate touch and at his first attempt Sandy had the touch of a donkey wearing boxing gloves. The ball came right back to his feet. But unknown to him at the time, immediately behind on the 17th, Bernhard Langer and David Graham were also making bogey, so Sandy’s second chip and a putt were good enough. Just.
‘Stone me,’ said Sandy. ‘Screw you,’ said Langer and Graham.

Curtis Strange, 1985 Masters, Augusta National, 13th and 15th holes

While everyone else gets one mention, Curtis gets two, in the same round, on the same day, within three holes. Having shot 80 on the first day he roared back with rounds of 65 and 68. Then on the front nine on Sunday he went to the turn in a four under par 32 and grabbed the lead as statisticians looked at each other and agreed that yes, this would be the best ever comeback in Masters history. The man had played 45 holes in 15-under par and was virtually through Amen Corner unscathed. And then he took his 4-wood and chunked it in the water. And then he did it again at 15 and came home in four over. Thankfully, he recovered well enough to win consecutive US Opens in ‘88/9.
‘This’ll ruin you or make you a better player,’ Jack Nicklaus said.

Ian Baker-Finch, 1984 Open, St Andrews Old Course, 1st hole

Like many comparative unknowns before him, Ian Baker-Finch was largely ignored after a first round 68 in the Open Championship but the good-looking Australian with the smooth swing refused to go away. When he followed it up with a 66 to take a three-stroke lead, and then consolidated with a 71 on day three, the whole world took notice. So he started the final round of the most important day of his golfing life, leading the Open, alongside five-times champion Tom Watson. Was he nervous - nah, his opening drive split the fairway, leaving a short iron to the first green. He hit it smoothly and watched it settle on the putting surface, before the ball sucked back into the Swilken Burn, taking Baker-Finch’s hopes with it. He limped around in 79 and finished tied ninth.
‘Bloody burn,’ he said.

Tom Watson, 1984 Open, St Andrews Old Course, 17th hole

Watson had, the year before, taken his fifth Open Championship but he now desperately wanted a sixth to tie Harry Vardon’s all-time record - and do one thing at least that Jack Nicklaus hadn’t done. He started the final day in a tie for the lead with Ian Baker-Finch and by the time he reached the 17th tee he was still sharing top spot - only this time with Seve Ballesteros, who was in the group ahead. Seve made his first par on the hole all week but Watson, from the middle of the fairway, hit far too much club - a 2-iron that finished up against the wall, across the road for which the hole is named. He still insists to this day that 2-iron was the right club. We still insist he’s wrong.
‘I am the champion.’ Seve Ballesteros

First published in Golf Punk, 2004

Martin Vousden is a freelance golf journalist, former editor of Today’s Golfer and launch editor of Golf Buyer and Swing magazines. His book: With Friends like these; A selective history of the Ryder Cup was published by Time Warner in 2006.

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