The 2020 virtual Masters: A dozen potential surprises
By Bill Felber
Nick Faldo, 1989, 1990, 1996 (1987-1996), -0.79
Given Faldo’s status as a three-time Masters champion, it may be surprising not to see him ranked higher among the contenders.
During his 1987-96 peak window, Faldo’s performances had an all-or-nothing quality to them. Aside from his three victories, he never during that decade finished higher than a tie for 12th, and four times he was outside the top 20.
The wins, of course, were memorable, beginning with his 1989 playoff victory over Scott Hoch. Faldo made up a five-shot deficit on Sunday, then survived a bogey on the first playoff hole when Hoch missed a three-footer for the win.
One year later, Faldo trailed by three strokes entering the final round but shot 69 to catch Ray Floyd. This playoff also went two holes, Faldo winning with a par.
In 1996, Faldo famously trailed Greg Norman by six strokes through three rounds. By the ninth tee, he had reduced the gap to three strokes, and it disappeared entirely when Norman played the next four holes in bogey-bogey-bogey-quadruple bogey.
Stringing pars, Faldo left the 12th green in possession of a two-stroke lead, which – aided by another Norman quadruple bogey at the 16th — he extended to five strokes by the finish.
Faldo walked off the course as the winner by five strokes.
Virtual Masters projection: T-19.