Meltdown: Top Six Major Chokes in Golf History (Video)

Adam Scott suffered a long, slow collapse at the 2012 Open Championship, dropping four shots over the final four holes.

The 2012 Open Championship was held at Royal Lytham & St Annes, and it looked finally to be Australian Adam Scott’s time to bag one of the big four. After an opening 64, Scott continued to forge ahead and fashioned a four-stroke lead through three rounds, putting himself in an outstanding position to close the deal. He was on his game for much of the final round, too; after birdieing 14, he held a four-stroke lead over veteran Ernie Els.

Scott bogeyed each of the next three holes to fall into a tie with Els, who birdied the last to post a clubhouse score of seven-under. On 18, Scott hit his tee shot into a bunker and was forced to lay up. After finding the green in three, he faced an eight-footer for par to force a playoff, but it missed to the left, capping one of the most agonizing collapses in recent memory.

Soon after, Scott won his first major at the 2013 Masters, and he rose to No. 1 in the world in 2014. However, he has never hoisted the Claret Jug, making his collapse all the more stinging.

Next: The Ultimate Major Meltdown