Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I wanna share a story with you, a story about golf, about the highs and lows, the victories and the heartbreaks. It’s about a guy named Greg Norman and his journey at the Masters. Now, I’m no pro golfer, but I’ve been following this sport for a while, and Norman’s story at the Masters, especially in 1996, it’s something else.
So, picture this: the 1996 Masters. I remember it like it was yesterday. Norman, known as “The Shark,” was a beast. He had 88 professional wins, two Open Championships, but the Masters, that was his white whale. He came into the final round leading by six shots. Six! Over Nick Faldo, no less. I was glued to my TV, thinking, “This is it, this is his year.”
He started strong, leading after the first three rounds. I was on the edge of my seat. But then, the turn happened. A 2-over first nine. I started to worry. “Just keep it steady,” I thought. But then came the bogeys on 9, 10, and 11. My heart sank a little with each one. And then, the 12th hole. A double bogey. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He went from a three-stroke lead to two shots down.
- Leading by six shots entering the final round.
- Bogeys at 9, 10, and 11.
- Double bogey at 12.
I watched, almost in disbelief, as Faldo, cool as a cucumber, took the lead. By the time they reached the 13th, Norman was trailing. I felt for the guy. He had been so close, so many times. Eight top-five finishes, runner-up three times. He was always the bridesmaid, never the bride at the Masters.
Faldo ended up winning by five strokes. It was his third Masters, his sixth major title. And Norman? He was the runner-up, again. I remember feeling gutted for him. It was like watching a movie where the hero falls at the last hurdle. I even found myself shouting at the TV a few times, as if that would change anything.
Now, I’ve read about how this affected Norman. Some say it was the most painful moment of his career. And you know what? I believe it. I’ve seen the interviews, the replays, and it’s tough to watch. But it’s also a lesson, isn’t it? A lesson in resilience, in dealing with setbacks. Norman didn’t win the Masters, but he kept playing, kept competing.
He had other close calls, like in 1987 when Larry Mize holed that insane 140-foot pitch. I remember that one too. It was a gut punch. But that’s golf, that’s sports. It’s unpredictable, it’s dramatic, and it’s why we love it.
So, yeah, Greg Norman’s story at the Masters, it’s a rollercoaster. It’s a reminder that even the best can have their off days, that victory can be so close yet so far. But it’s also a reminder to never give up, to keep fighting, even when the chips are down. That’s what I took away from it, anyway. And hey, it makes for one hell of a story, doesn’t it?
