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Top Five Final Rounds in Majors, excluding Tiger Woods in 2019 at Augusta

By Richie Randolph

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods (L) of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods (L) of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Ernie Els of South Africa reacts with his caddie Ricci Roberts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club on July 22, 2012 in Lytham St Annes, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Ernie Els of South Africa reacts with his caddie Ricci Roberts to a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the 141st Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club on July 22, 2012 in Lytham St Annes, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

#5: 2012 British Open

The theme of this final round was heartbreak. Adam Scott, the smooth-swinging Australian, was looking to break through for his first major championship win. He had a four shot lead at Royal Lytham St. Annes over Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker after three rounds. Scott shot 2-over on the front nine but his closest chasers all faltered, and a birdie on the 14th left him 1-over on his round and with a sizeable lead over Ernie Els.

Els birdied the 18th to finish at 7-under, leaving Scott with a three shot lead with four to play. The Australian brutally collapsed from there. He bogeyed his final four holes, missing a 8-foot par putt on the last to force a playoff.

The South African nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’ won the Claret Jug at 42, his first major in 10 years that secured his status as one of the game’s greatest players.

Els was just a footnote in this British Open, though, as fans endured Scott’s brutal choke job down the stretch and watched his first major title slipped through his grasp. Similar to a NASCAR wreck, fans love carnage and collapses on the golf course, and the Aussie’s soul-crushing finish captivated the golfing world.

Many had wondered why the 2004 Players Champion had not won a major given his incredible swing, and his collapse on the back nine at Royal Lytham St. Annes led to speculation he did not have the mental fortitude to win.

Of course, those pundits were proven silly when Scott won the 2013 Masters, providing redemption for his 2012 heartache.

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