1996 Masters: Norman's Collapse Turns Into Faldo's Green Jacket

It's remembered as one of the epic collapses in major championship history, but Greg Norman's final-round foibles obscured how good champion Nick Faldo played to win the 1996 Masters Tournament.

Quick Bits

• Winner: Nick Faldo, 276
• Dates: April 11-14, 1996
• Location: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
• Masters Tournament number: This was the 60th time the Masters was played.

How Faldo Capitalized on Norman's Collapse to Win 1996 Masters

Nick Faldo won his third Masters championship, but the story of the 1996 Masters will always be Greg Norman's collapse. Norman had lost multiple majors in dramatic fashion leading up to this tournament - sometimes through his own error, sometimes by virtue of another player's great play or spectacular shot - but his collapse at the 1996 Masters is something that will long be remembered.

Norman opened the tournament in the first round by tying the course record (and major championship 18-hole record) with a 63. He continued playing well throughout the middle rounds, carding 69-71 in the second and third rounds. Norman's lead after the first round was two strokes; following the second round, four strokes.

And after the third round, Norman led second-place Faldo by six shots, 13-under to 7-under. But by the end of Round 4, Norman trailed Faldo by five strokes. An 11-shot swing resulting from Faldo's 67 and Norman's 78.

Faldo earned the win - his 67 was the best score of the final round. But Norman handed Faldo the opportunity.

Faldo chipped a couple shots off Norman's lead early in the final round, but Norman appeared to be OK - he still led by four strokes following seven holes of the final round. Norman - who had made only four bogeys combined in the first three rounds - then started falling apart. There was a six-shot swing over the next five holes, as Norman dropped five strokes while Faldo recorded one birdie. Faldo led by two strokes after the 12 hole, which Norman double-bogeyed.

Faldo's lead was still two strokes after 15 holes. But Norman double-bogeyed again on No. 16 after putting his tee ball into the water. Norman shot 40 on the back nine.

Norman finished second for the third time at The Masters. But it probably felt like finishing last after blowing a 6-stroke lead (the largest 54-hole lead ever lost in a major championship to this point). Norman handled the aftermath with grit and grace, but he rarely challenged for wins again after his collapse here.

The 1996 Masters was the sixth and final major championship victory of Faldo's career.

1996 Masters Scores

Results from the 1996 Masters golf tournament played at the par-72 Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.: