The 1996 Masters: A Historic Collapse and Reflection

It’s hard to believe that three decades have passed since Greg Norman’s heart-wrenching collapse during the last round of the 1996 Masters. The two main figures of that day, well, they couldn’t be more different now.

Many sports fans still vividly recall Norman’s disastrous final round, which erased his impressive six-stroke lead at Augusta National. Norman had impressive victories, including two British Open titles in 1986 and 1993, but his near miss at Augusta often overshadows his achievements. It’s a common sentiment that Norman might be the greatest golfer to never don a green jacket.

Who can forget moments like Larry Mize’s unbelievable chip-in to defeat Norman at the 1987 Masters, or Bob Tway’s incredible bunker shot during the 1986 PGA Championship? Norman came close to winning the Masters again in both 1986 and 1999, but the title eluded him.

The events of that infamous Masters will be remembered for years to come. Now, 30 years later, Norman and Nick Faldo, another significant player from that day, reflect on that fateful final round.

Faldo’s 2-iron approach on the 13th hole is often lauded as one of the most iconic shots in golf. He pondered for several minutes indecisively about which club to choose to avoid the water hazard.

The embrace between Faldo and Norman on the 18th green encapsulated the moment, with Faldo whispering, “Don’t let the bastards bring you down.” That victory was a significant highlight for Faldo, who, as one of only three golfers to have been knighted, now revisits that memorable win. In the meantime, Norman has had his share of controversy, especially concerning LIV Golf, the league he helped launch before stepping down last year.

“The sport is demanding. The fear of failure is immense, sometimes equal to the drive for victory,” Faldo remarked about LIV’s unique 54-hole format, later adapted to a traditional 72-hole setup.

Faldo’s comments didn’t sit well with Norman. He expressed, “Nick and I never really connected. We were like chalk and cheese. He was always a loner, which isn’t me.” Norman went on to mention past criticisms from Faldo during his time at LIV, saying, “I lost any respect for someone who doesn’t know both sides of the story and yet passes judgment.”

Norman reflected on their history and noted that Faldo could have approached him for a conversation instead of making one-sided comments. “I would have been open to sharing my side,” he said, “But it feels like just casual chatter instead.”

Despite the tension, Faldo has three Masters victories, while Norman has not been extended an invitation to the Masters Champions Dinner. During that pivotal 1996 final round, Norman started strong with a six-stroke lead, only to see it vanish with unfortunate shots that landed in the water or missed greens.

Faldo mentioned, “I told myself that if I could get within three strokes by the ninth hole, anything could happen.” However, he recognized that Norman was struggling after making a critical mistake on the 10th hole.

Norman’s dramatic downfall is captured in a 2022 ESPN documentary. He noted, “I wince when I see that footage. It’s still vivid in my mind, but I’ve played better when I returned to Augusta National.”

Recently, Norman has taken a more philosophical stance on his experience with Augusta. “It won’t ruin your life unless you let it. You’ve got to take responsibility for it,” he said. He believes that the game teaches resilience and that he’s at peace with never having won the green jacket.

Reflecting on that day, he remembers, “Even after all this time, I can still recall the sights and sounds of the Masters—everything about it. I laughed with my friend Peter Daubereiner, who once joked, ‘Even you can’t mess this up.’ It’s those moments that are part of the sport.”

On Augusta National, Norman previously stated, “Do I hate it? Not at all. I love it, but it doesn’t seem to love me back.”