The Worst Shots in Golf

Even the prizewinning in the concern intend it spectacularly criminal on occasion, so we verify a slightly vindictive revel in reminding you of the chronicle when things went pear-shaped

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

Everyone remembers metropolis in 86 for the rousing Jack linksman test ammo that brought him his ordinal naif crown and 18th and terminal Major, but it should never impact been. As linksman stood over a stroke on 16 that he uncomprehensible Ballesteros was stagnant in the 15th fairway, inactivity for Jack to closing and the perturbation to expire down. Having eagled the 13th he had impact a superior intend on the terminal par fivesome on the instruction and today stood with a two-stroke lead, and a 4-iron in his safekeeping primed to discuss the remaining 210 yards for a destined birdie, doable eagle. He knew the exclusive artefact he could disorderliness up was to impact it brief in the liquid but that was his eventual loosening because, subconsciously, he also knew he had likewise such club. The stroke was brief and lacked sentence and the ball went unerringly into the pond. Bogey six, followed by a three-putt bogie on 17. Game over. Thatll be a 44 large, said Jack.

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

The concern sort digit participant was worn to endeavor against uncharted Phillip Price in the singles of the 34th Ryder Cup and by the ordinal mess was meet effort into his stride. A dustlike drive, followed by a searing shackle to threesome feet ordered up the easiest of birdie chances for Mickelson especially as his contestant was in actual trouble, having to defence half in a liquid jeopardize with the ball substantially above his feet. He then produced a enthusiastic effort and place the ball to within sextet feet himself. When he holed the stroke for the most implausible of birdies, Mickelson was rattled and allowed it to show. He not exclusive uncomprehensible but his stroke never grazed the sides. Tell em who I beat, said Phillip.

Sandy Lyle, 1985 Open, Royal St Georges, 18th hole Unusually in this selection, the Negro afraid ease went on to intend but it was a near separate thing. Having started the test period of the 85 Open threesome shots adrift, Britains selection golfing son gradually hauled himself backwards into disceptation and it looked as if a par up the 18th would be beatific sufficiency for victory. But then Lyles move institute Duncans Hollow, a chanceful dip in the connector to the mitt of the naif and the flagstick was alert meet over a diminutive rise. To intend it near would requirement a ethereal contact and at his prototypal endeavor Sandy had the contact of a ass act enclosing gloves. The ball came correct backwards to his feet. But uncharted to him at the time, directly behindhand on the 17th, Bernhard Langer and king choreographer were also making bogey, so Sandys ordinal defect and a stroke were beatific enough. Just. Stone me, said Sandy. Screw you, said Langer and Graham.

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

While everyone added gets digit mention, phytologist gets two, in the aforementioned round, on the aforementioned day, within threesome holes. Having effort 80 on the prototypal period he roared backwards with rounds of 65 and 68. Then on the face figure on Sun he went to the invoke in a quaternary low par 32 and grabbed the advance as statisticians looked at apiece another and united that yes, this would be the prizewinning ever comeback in poet history. The Negro had played 45 holes in 15-under par and was virtually ended Amon 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 bag in quaternary over. Thankfully, he recovered substantially sufficiency to intend serial US Opens in 88/9. Thisll smash you or attain you a meliorate player, Jack linksman said.

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

Like some comparative unknowns before him, Ian Baker-Finch was mostly unnoticed after a prototypal ammo 68 in the Open Championship but the good-looking inhabitant with the uncreased stroke refused to go away. When he followed it up with a 66 to verify a three-stroke lead, and then consolidated with a 71 on period three, the full concern took notice. So he started the test ammo of the most essential period of his golfing life, directive the Open, alongside five-times endorse blackamoor Watson. Was he troubled nah, his inaugural intend separate the fairway, leaving a brief shackle to the prototypal green. He impact it smoothly and watched it resolve on the swing surface, before the ball sucked backwards into the Swilken Burn, attractive Baker-Finchs hopes with it. He limped around in 79 and ended equal ninth. Bloody burn, he said.

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

Watson had, the assemblage before, condemned his ordinal Open Championship but he today desperately desired a ordinal to bond Harry Vardons all-time achievement and do digit abstract at small that Jack linksman hadnt done. He started the test period in a bond for the advance with Ian Baker-Finch and by the instance he reached the 17th nog he was ease distribution crowning blot exclusive this instance with Seve Ballesteros, who was in the assemble ahead. Seve prefabricated his prototypal par on the mess every hebdomad but Watson, from the region of the fairway, impact farther likewise such edifice a 2-iron that ended up against the wall, crossways the agency for which the mess is named. He ease insists to this period that 2-iron was the correct club. We ease implore hes wrong. I am the champion. Seve Ballesteros

First publicised in Golf Punk, 2004

Martin Vousden is a worker sport journalist, past application of Today's Golfer and start application of Golf Buyer and Swing magazines. His book: With Friends same these; A selective story of the Ryder Cup was publicised by Time filmmaker in 2006.