He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
Another collapse I remember was 1992 US Open. Dr. Gil Morgan got to -12 by round 3 hole 7 and had a big lead (7-8 shots maybe) but then in the remaining 1.5 rounds proceeded to give away something like 15 shots to the eventual winner Tom Kite.
When I played the golf course in LA years ago, I saw the plaque on the 18th hole that said Arnold Palmer got and 8 on this hole and lost the tournament and it showed where he hit each ball. Glad you mentioned this one Chris. By the way, are you related to Grant Brimhall?
Bad days are very common in golf, happens to every golfer, but of course when it happens in major tournments with top professionals it has another relevance.
These cruel instances almost always destroy careers, and the people who are affected never ever admit that the pressure got to them. I think if they admit then they can get over such instances
I see it's been addressed by commenters and OP, but the moment I hear "golf meltdown" or "choke", the first thing that comes to mind is Van de Velde. That one game to a stomach ache in real time it was so painful to watch. Norman's massive Augusta fail sits next to Van de Velde's. The others are all great candidates, but this list can never be accurate without the Frenchman's watery demise. Did he ever win again? Was he ever seen again? I don't remember ever hearing of him except in relation to his fail. Ouch. Nice work overall though; thanks.
It's already been mentioned in the comments but I would be remiss to not say Jean van de Velde in the ‘99 Open Championship was the ultimate number one major collapse of all time. Nothing else even comes close to this heart breaker.
#4 - That year a golf retailer ran a huge promotion where you could buy the newest driver ($5-600) and if DJ won, you’d get your money back. Unbelievable how lucky they got.
List is null and void without 1999 open with Van de velde. Most crushing absurd loss in golf history. Doug Sanders at St. Andrews missing the 2 footer on the 18th for the win would also make 90+% of top 10 worst collapses.
5:12 yes, who reads the rules of the sport they're playing when they have 5 minutes between each action in that sport? Reasons they called me a sandbagger for playing Golf while the rest of you played well-funded fratball.
He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
@@ESNGOLFregardless on if it’s covered in a different video, it’s still #1. It would be like a top 10 hockey players list without Gretzky. Solid list otherwise, although you mispronounced Fuzzy Zoeller and Royal Lytham
Curtis Strange had a 4 shot lead on 10th tee at Augusta in 1985 and lost the tournament! Almost as bad as his choke job in his singles match against Nick Faldo in the 1995 Ryder Cup at Oak Hill!
Van de Velde is the biggest collapse in golf. Its not even close. He had a huge lead and hit the water but still could just take a drop and still win the British Open but he decided to play the ball from the water against all advice and ended up losing everything
Mike Reid's loss to Payne Stewart at the PGA is super painful to watch. And yes, it has all the qualities of a choke. I don't think one bad shot qualifies: it has to be a series of bad judgments/swings where clearly the player's anxiety has compromised him. Sometimes you get lucky. At the 82 Masters, Craig Stadler just escaped an epic choke. It would have dogged him forever, like it has Hoch, an about equally accomplished player.
I wouldn't call a 3 putt from 12 feet or a bad drive on the last hole a choke - could happen to anyone. Certainly Norman's capitulation at the '96 Masters was a collapse but Faldo did play superbly to put the pressure on. What Faldo supposedly said when embracing Norman was "Don't let the bastards [i.e. the press] grind you down". McIlroy's is a big collapse. Van de Velde should definitely be here because he had three shot lead on the 18th. He hit a wildish drive but got away with it so he just needed to punt it down the fairway, chip on and hole/two putt for an easy win. What he actually did was ridiculous. The irony is he is probably more famous because of his collapse and richer from adverts - but that doesn't compensate for not having a Major against his name.
That's true. Had he won, he would have been resented by many as a mediocre one-hit-wonder cluttering up the Claret Jug. The guy who did win, Paul Lawrie, made up an 11 shot deficit--still a major tournament record, but he's relegated to a foot note. Sometimes I wonder if these things mean way more to the fans than a lot of the players. More in it for the business than the glory? Look how quickly players rejected tradition for big buck exhibition golf. 🤷♂️
How dare I mention Arnold Palmer at the 66 US OPEN losing a 7 shot lead to Billy Casper, on the back side Sunday. Vandeveld and Greg Norman at Augusta in 1996 also
One that you didn't include was Arnold Palmer playing the 18th hole in Los Angeles (I think this was the LA Open) where he was leading the tournament. When he got to the 18th hole, he choked, got an 8 and lost the tournament. To this day, there is a plaque at the tee box on 18 that says, "this the hole where Arnold Palmer got an 8 and lost the tournament." When I played this golf course years ago, I saw the plaque. I think it showed where each of his balls went. This might be a good one to include next time. I wish I could remember more details.
if you're talking about the LA Open of 1961 at Rancho Park it was the FIRST round and he took 12 shots. Not really a choke. Just a few bad swings with a 3 wood that went out of bounds. He did lose the US Open in 1966 with a 6 shot lead and 9 to play. That was a choke.
You didn't cite Arnie's collapse @ US Open @ Olympic in '66 or '67. Palmér led by 6 strokes going to the 10th tee. Someone mentioned (or he knew) he could set the Open scoring record with a good back nine. He played aggressively and made bogeys and Casper made some birdies and ended up tied after 72 holes. Casper soundly beat Arnie in a playoff the following day.
Caddy is there to help and know the local rules and any other things that the player doesant. NOT knowing the sandy lie rule for 72 holes?? didnt any one else get caught??
Got it totally wrong on what happened to DJ at 2010 PGA. It wasn’t the par 3 17th hole that was the big controversy, it was after he hit his drive on 18.
Clearly an American creating this list since Jean Van De Velde isn’t a clear No1. As Dane Thomas Bjørn in British Open 2003 should be somewhere in The list 😮
Which one was the saddest? Let us know down below.
The Lexi Thompson one for me 😢😮
@@dtnidhi6865 same
Rory, Augusta is cursed for him since
Absolutely lazy production.
Your list is broken. JVDV!
Jean van de Velde in the ‘99 Open was the ultimate one hole collapse.
He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
It was…
what was he thinking???
Collapse at Carnoustie
Correct
Sitting there patiently waiting for Vand de Velde. Watched it live with my dad, we still bring it up now and then.
Spieth was never the same after that
Yep it definitely messed his game up, still at least he had already won a few majors. Some never get that.
i mean he won the open after that
Van De Velde at the 99' OPEN makes it deep on the top 10 chokes in SPORTS history and yet somehow you forgot to put it on this list lol
I remember watching that Pereira one live. I kept repeating “go 3 wood” over and over again
Look at his meltdown swing. He was doomed with any club from that tee. No club in the world would have saved him
Van de Velde should have been #1 and didn’t even appear on this list. Neither was Scott Hoch’s missed putt to win the Masters.
Van de Velde thinks he won. That's how traumatised he is
Jean van de Velde isn't #1, let alone not even on the list??? What a joke!
VanDavelve is easy #1
If it's easy #1, why can't you remember his name? 🤔
He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
@@vandiesel5447😂
Greg Norman at 96 masters has got to be close
No van de velde? Dude.. Should have known when I heard fuzzy zoler
Adam Scott’s collapse was paaaaaaainfullllll! Four bogeys in a row.
Doug Sanders at the 1970 Brit Open, on the last hole at St Andrew's
Then losing the playoff to Nicklas
Pereira's swing on the 18th tee may be the worst swing I've seen under pressure ever, and that includes my group of hackers.
Another collapse I remember was 1992 US Open. Dr. Gil Morgan got to -12 by round 3 hole 7 and had a big lead (7-8 shots maybe) but then in the remaining 1.5 rounds proceeded to give away something like 15 shots to the eventual winner Tom Kite.
First dudes swing was nerves gone wild.
the us open for normal you cited was in 1984 at Winged Foot.
He collapsed entirely in the final round at Shinnecock in 1986
Arnold Palmer losing with a six shot lead going into the final nine holes…..not even mentioned
When I played the golf course in LA years ago, I saw the plaque on the 18th hole that said Arnold Palmer got and 8 on this hole and lost the tournament and it showed where he hit each ball. Glad you mentioned this one Chris. By the way, are you related to Grant Brimhall?
I thought he would have mentioned that
@@broad100 which course was that?
@@Mark-f9y2r Olympic Club
@@broad100That’s Rancho Park where he shot 11 or 12 in the final hole Par 5.
Saw Spieths live. The energy was uncanny after the 12th
Bad days are very common in golf, happens to every golfer, but of course when it happens in major tournments with top professionals it has another relevance.
Not having Jean van de Velde's collapse at The Open in the top 10 really makes this list a farce.
These cruel instances almost always destroy careers, and the people who are affected never ever admit that the pressure got to them. I think if they admit then they can get over such instances
Golf is hard.
I wasn’t surprised van de velde was omitted because the commentator had earlier pronounced Zoeller and Lytham incorrectly
D Johnson’s 3-putt from 12 feet was gut wrenching.
I remember thinking, he has hit it above the hole. I figured it was 50-50 he would 3 putt from there on those greens.
I see it's been addressed by commenters and OP, but the moment I hear "golf meltdown" or "choke", the first thing that comes to mind is Van de Velde. That one game to a stomach ache in real time it was so painful to watch. Norman's massive Augusta fail sits next to Van de Velde's. The others are all great candidates, but this list can never be accurate without the Frenchman's watery demise. Did he ever win again? Was he ever seen again? I don't remember ever hearing of him except in relation to his fail. Ouch. Nice work overall though; thanks.
Rory at 2024 us open is honorable mention. Bogied 3 of last 4.
Kinda got overshadowed by Bryson's amazing recovery shot.
These are hard to watch!!
It's already been mentioned in the comments but I would be remiss to not say Jean van de Velde in the ‘99 Open Championship was the ultimate number one major collapse of all time. Nothing else even comes close to this heart breaker.
Cool
Norman's 4 iron & a par would've only got him into a play-off.
People forget that he birdied 14, 15, 16 & 17 prior to his errant 4 iron.
#4 - That year a golf retailer ran a huge promotion where you could buy the newest driver ($5-600) and if DJ won, you’d get your money back. Unbelievable how lucky they got.
List is null and void without 1999 open with Van de velde. Most crushing absurd loss in golf history. Doug Sanders at St. Andrews missing the 2 footer on the 18th for the win would also make 90+% of top 10 worst collapses.
DJ didn't choke at Whistling Straits . DJ made a par and was enforced a penalty that had no effect on his playing of the hole.
I can't fathom the Lexi Thompson putt.. A misread or a push? or not struck off the centre of the clubface?. Which?
2:38 I have NEVER heard of the ANA Inspiration... And the DuMaurier was played walking distance from my childhood home.
3:10 that was pushed the whole way.
5:12 yes, who reads the rules of the sport they're playing when they have 5 minutes between each action in that sport? Reasons they called me a sandbagger for playing Golf while the rest of you played well-funded fratball.
Van de Velde and Zaharias don't make this list?! You're terrible at understanding golf.
Lexi Thompson's putt was never on line lol
Funny, I thought the History of Golf meant the actual History, but it appears Golf only started in 1986 according to this vid.
I was thinking exactly that bro 😂
Glad i did not have a bet on that would have been all in on Van de Velde
What about the several missed, very short putts I missed to lose our league Ryder Cup last week? Epic gags!
When I saw the thumbnail I would have bet money Momma Cass would be on the list.
You could just do a list with Rory, serial choker 🤣🤣
Wow you must like Rory. You win some Majors yourself? Shut your trap hacker.
No Vandeveld?
He had to be on that list. No question. I actually covered his choke story in one of my earlier videos (10 WEIRDEST Moments In Golf History), so I left him out on purpose. But yeah, probably not the best choice when it comes to the most painful chokes! Appreciate the feedback, though.
He covered that in another video I think
@@ESNGOLFregardless on if it’s covered in a different video, it’s still #1. It would be like a top 10 hockey players list without Gretzky. Solid list otherwise, although you mispronounced Fuzzy Zoeller and Royal Lytham
Am I the only one that thinks Lexi Thompson 2 foot missed putt to be player of the year and #1 in the world along with losing is the biggest choke?
I wonder what Spieth considers to be a choke
Just wanted to make sure the #1 entry was correct. And it was
Expected Van de Velde to be #1 for sure.
Ironic that so many of these chokers are now on LIV…
I can attest: It's pretty easy to 3-putt from 12 feet at Chambers Bay.
Content to see Norman mentioned twice. Despise the guy for what he's done to the Tour.
You know, a par on 18 at a major isn’t just a par.
They don't clearly explain the rule violation for # 8. Was it grounding his club? Thumbs down for that. No excuse.
Jean Van De Velde should be not only on this list but #1
Curtis Strange had a 4 shot lead on 10th tee at Augusta in 1985 and lost the tournament! Almost as bad as his choke job in his singles match against Nick Faldo in the 1995 Ryder Cup at Oak Hill!
Was sure Van de Veldes meltdown on the British Open 99 would number 1. But you not even had it on the list lol.
Van de Velde is the biggest collapse in golf. Its not even close. He had a huge lead and hit the water but still could just take a drop and still win the British Open but he decided to play the ball from the water against all advice and ended up losing everything
Mike Reid's loss to Payne Stewart at the PGA is super painful to watch. And yes, it has all the qualities of a choke. I don't think one bad shot qualifies: it has to be a series of bad judgments/swings where clearly the player's anxiety has compromised him. Sometimes you get lucky. At the 82 Masters, Craig Stadler just escaped an epic choke. It would have dogged him forever, like it has Hoch, an about equally accomplished player.
I’m expecting at least 2 rory stories here
This happens to me about five holes every time I play. Nothing new here.
Fuzzy ZOLOR lol
I wouldn't call a 3 putt from 12 feet or a bad drive on the last hole a choke - could happen to anyone. Certainly Norman's capitulation at the '96 Masters was a collapse but Faldo did play superbly to put the pressure on. What Faldo supposedly said when embracing Norman was "Don't let the bastards [i.e. the press] grind you down". McIlroy's is a big collapse. Van de Velde should definitely be here because he had three shot lead on the 18th. He hit a wildish drive but got away with it so he just needed to punt it down the fairway, chip on and hole/two putt for an easy win. What he actually did was ridiculous. The irony is he is probably more famous because of his collapse and richer from adverts - but that doesn't compensate for not having a Major against his name.
That's true. Had he won, he would have been resented by many as a mediocre one-hit-wonder cluttering up the Claret Jug. The guy who did win, Paul Lawrie, made up an 11 shot deficit--still a major tournament record, but he's relegated to a foot note. Sometimes I wonder if these things mean way more to the fans than a lot of the players. More in it for the business than the glory? Look how quickly players rejected tradition for big buck exhibition golf. 🤷♂️
VanDeVelde's was the most epic mind boggling bizarre collapse. How does that not make the top 10? For that matter the top 3?
How dare I mention Arnold Palmer at the 66 US OPEN losing a 7 shot lead to Billy Casper, on the back side Sunday. Vandeveld and Greg Norman at Augusta in 1996 also
your thumbnail with Tiger on his knees was when he injured his back. No choke
3:02 the ball started on line? Are you high? That was a Bradmanesque cover drive!
# 2 Speith # 1 Jean
One that you didn't include was Arnold Palmer playing the 18th hole in Los Angeles (I think this was the LA Open) where he was leading the tournament. When he got to the 18th hole, he choked, got an 8 and lost the tournament. To this day, there is a plaque at the tee box on 18 that says, "this the hole where Arnold Palmer got an 8 and lost the tournament." When I played this golf course years ago, I saw the plaque. I think it showed where each of his balls went. This might be a good one to include next time. I wish I could remember more details.
That was one of the worst chokes bro
if you're talking about the LA Open of 1961 at Rancho Park it was the FIRST round and he took 12 shots. Not really a choke. Just a few bad swings with a 3 wood that went out of bounds. He did lose the US Open in 1966 with a 6 shot lead and 9 to play. That was a choke.
What about van de velde ?
thumb s up if u vote vandevelde
John Daly’s failed put to win the 2005 WGC against Tiger Woods.
You didn't cite Arnie's collapse @ US Open @ Olympic in '66 or '67. Palmér led by 6 strokes going to the 10th tee.
Someone mentioned (or he knew) he could set the Open scoring record with a good back nine. He played aggressively and made bogeys and Casper made some birdies and ended up tied after 72 holes. Casper soundly beat Arnie in a playoff the following day.
Caddy is there to help and know the local rules and any other things that the player doesant. NOT knowing the sandy lie rule for 72 holes?? didnt any one else get caught??
Where is Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy's 12 on the 72nd hole of the US Open?
Why the F is your title picture of Tiger when he hurt his back? The man was an anti-choke machine.
Van de Velde is first, no question. How is that not on this list at all?
Never heard of jean van de velde?
Montgomery got a 6 at 2006 us open 18th hole like Mickelson.
Was going to say this. From the middle of the fairway too, an ever bigger blow up!
Nowhere near 2 feet! 10 inches to 12 inches. I feel so bad for her.
Me too 😢
@@TomRichards-s9r Hoch's was a slippery downhill left to right breaker. Thompson's putt was on the flat! No idea how she missed it.
Got it totally wrong on what happened to DJ at 2010 PGA. It wasn’t the par 3 17th hole that was the big controversy, it was after he hit his drive on 18.
You haven't seen me 5 putt on a par 3
😂😂
After hitting the green in 4?😉
Jean van de Velde?
Oh, and I've never seen Fuzzy Zoller at Lietham!
Me neither
“lietham” ?? 🤔
Where’s that??
Don't ever go see a tournament at Chambers Bay. The spectator experience was awful.
Jean van de Velde has to be Top 3.
How are you not including kaymer in abu dhabi
List fails without Van de Velde
Where’s Jean Vande Velde?
Greg norman forced a playoff in the 84 us open not 86…
We lost Jordan that day !!!!
It's amazing how shady these all really seem.
Van De Velde was the biggest . The 2nd DJ one was no choke he parred the hole
Phil was such a knucklehead
Phil IS IS IS a knucklehead.............. forever.
Can't believe you did not include Van Der Velde! Worst of the lot!
Where’s Jean Van de Velde??
Norman is number one and two and three and.........
Royal Liethem??
No Jean van de Velde? Ludicrous. Obsession with US events I guess.
Clearly an American creating this list since Jean Van De Velde isn’t a clear No1. As Dane Thomas Bjørn in British Open 2003 should be somewhere in The list 😮
Where’s Jean Van de Velde?!
Ikr 😢
What kind of list is this? No Jean Van De Velde
What about John VDV in The Open?
Leaving that out shows how poorly researched this video was🙄
Jean Van de Velde has to be in there??
Where is van de velde!?