If you could change the history of past Major Tournaments which ones would you rewrite?

[18th Legion]

With the first Major around the corner some friends and I were talking about our most disappointing Majors outcomes. So I thought this would make for an interesting discussion.

 

If you could change the outcome of past Major Tournaments which ones were your biggest heartbreaks that you would rewrite? Maybe your favorite lost, maybe you wanted to see history made, maybe you wanted to see someone finally come through, or you just didn’t care for the winner.

 

In most of mine it was about my favorite two golfers Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson, both or at least Greg can be described as a Hard Luck Loser in Majors, although he is still one of history’s top golfers. Greg needed a Masters more than a PGA or U.S.Open and Phil at least one U.S.Open out of six runner-ups. I'm not saying all ten below should be written, but am listing in order of importance to me.

 

Here’s my Top Ten in order (Hedged on 10):

 

1. 1996 Masters – Nick Faldo over Greg Norman

Greg’s epic collapse and seemingly last chance to win at Augusta. Fan of Faldo, but he had won plenty.

 

2. 2006 US Open (Winged Foot) – Geoff Ogilvy over Phil Mickelson

All Phil had to do was par, but instead missed fairway horribly. Likable Ogilvy but might have been Phil’s best chance.

 

3. 1987 Masters – Larry Mize over Greg Norman

Chip In to win? Are you kidding me? Second year in a row! Not to mention to lose to Larry Mize?!

 

4. 2009 Open Championship (Turnberry) Stewart Cink over Tom Watson

C’mon who didn’t want Tom to win? Maybe Cink . . . not even sure about that.

 

5. 2007 Open Championship (Carnoustie) – Padraig Harrington over Sergio Garcia

Sergio’s best chance to win a Major. If you don’t like Sergio you might have enjoyed this.

 

6. 1986 PGA Championship (Inverness) – Bob Tway over Greg Norman

Hole-out from greenside bunker. Not to mention to lose to Bob Tway?!.

 

7. 2009 US Open (Bethpage Black) – Lucas Glover over Phil Mickelson

Phil announced this as his last tournament for a while due to wife’s illness. Not as much of a collapse as Winged Foot but possibly Phil’s best last chance to win US Open.

 

8. 1993 PGA Championship (Inverness) Paul Azinger over Greg Norman

Playoff loss hurts more as this was the year Greg solidified runner-up status in all four majors. Plus not a fan of Azinger.

 

9. 2004 US Open (Shinnecock Hills) – Retief Goosen over Phil Mickelson

More that Retief won than Phil lost, Goosen birdied the 16th hole and Mickelson double-bogeyed the par-3 17th.

 

T10. 1983 US Open (Winged Foot) – Fuzzy Zoeller over Greg Norman

At least this was a Playoff, not a miracle shot or collapse.

 

T10. 1989 Open Championship (Royal Troon) - Mark Calcavecchia over Greg Norman

Norman shot course record to get into playoff, but couldn’t quite beat one of Golf’s biggest jerks.

 

Now before you think it's only all about my favorites no matter the circumstance, sometimes that's not the case. As an example; in the 1986 Masters, I could accept Greg losing to Jack Nicklaus because, well its Nicklaus and a greater story.

 

Hope this topic creates discussion.

[bosoxfan]

2009 Tom makes the putt

[Titleist 670]

2009 - Watson over Cink - Open Championship

2009 - Woods over Yang - PGA

2006 - Mickelson over Ogilvy - US Open

2015 - Spieth over Johnson - Open Championship (would have loved to see Spieth go for the Grand Slam)

[PZero]

I think everyone would change the 2009 Open Championship.

 

Phil winning at Bethpage in 09.

 

Sergio...take your pick.

 

Adam Scott over Ernie at the 2012 Open Championship.

 

Spieth 2014 Masters and 2015 Open Championship

[Titleist 670]

 

Adam Scott over Ernie at the 2012 Open Championship.

 

I was just about to post this. Glad Adam got the Masters in 2013, but I just remember him hitting it so pure in 2012 and being so shocked that he lost it.

 

On the other hand, I like Ernie so him getting another major was okay.

[golfandfishing]

2009 British by a runaway freight train.

 

Two others would be the '86 and '03 British opens. I don't care who else wins, but if somehow GN had both majors wiped off his record I would be a tiny bit happier.

[JustTheTips]

2005 US OPen Woods over Campell

2007 Masters Tiger over Zach

2007 US Open Tiger over Cabera

2008 Masters Tiger over Trevor

2009 PGA Woods over Yang

 

Think about how much fun it would to write 19>18 and the other side trying to pretend that it was tougher to win majors in the 69s:)

 

 

2009 US Open Duvall over Glover. Just wondering if that would have been enough to revive a great golfer.

[9thGreenAt9]

2013 Masters, Tiger doesn't hit the pin on 15, makes birdie and goes on to close on the weekend. Probably goes on to pick up another major later that summer and we would be sitting here talking about 18 majors and the record, when he comes back from his latest injury.

[jngolf]

1996 Greg Norman doesn't choke in Masters

2007 Sergio Garcia wins Open Championship

2009 Tom Watson makes the putt

2011 Rory McIlroy wouldn't fall apart on back 9 at Augusta

[nichho]

Mine would be 2006 at Winged Foot but unlike the OP it wouldn't be Mickelson over Ogilvy but Montgomery. He hit what was probably the worst 7 iron of his life after what my fading memory tells me was a protracted wait for the green to clear.

He states it doesn't bother him. I think it haunts him.

[Dave230]

I would say Rory in Augusta in 2011 but it ended up being a great character builder for him and he's been a good closer since. I'm not sure the 2011 US Open masterclass would have happened without the meltdown either. Plus it turned into a fantastic tournament.

 

1999 PGA - If Sergio wins then maybe he goes on to win 6+ majors with the monkey off his back at 19 and Tiger has a rival.

2004 Open - Els is in control and playing brilliant all year then loses to Todd Hamilton of all people.

2006 US Open - Some saying Mickelson but I would have liked to see Monty do it. Couldn't put a 7 iron on the green though...

2009 US Open - That one could have been Phil's US Open.

2015 US Open - Dustin Johnson should have won it, best player all week but choked it.

[Mountaineer]

I may get some hate for this... but 2012 Masters. Louis makes the putt to extend the play off and wins it on the next hole

[hdr_ric]

2015 us open. DJ.

[Thug Hunter]

ThugHunter wins them all!

[tannyhoban]

None. I'd get confused. But if Watson could somehow go back and reload on 18 in 2009, I could handle it.

[williamsnrb]

Both 2009 Opens (US and British).

 

Give me Watson and Phil and it would have been one of the best seasons of my lifetime.

 

Also, give me any four of Tiger's second place finishes so we could have co-GOAT's and end the argument of Tiger vs. Jack.

[playa]

No question Larry Mize missing that chip and running off into the water. Norman wins there and he has what he wants more than anything else in golf, a green jacket. He gets the monkey off his back in 87 and he maybe goes on to win 10 majors and a career slam, instead of the monkey growing to king kong proportions and never winning a US major and being the biggest choker of all time in majors

[MtlJeff]

For the sake of modern golf (i'm 34 so Norman and before him was a little before my time) i'm reversing Sergio vs Tiger at medinah in 1999.

 

Sergio kind of became a woe is me type of guy. And Carnoustie provided another great chance. But if he wins in 1999....i wonder what changes. With all his talent, i always felt like he had as little confidence as anyone

[DavePelz4]

IK Kim missing this putt to lose a major...

 

[VOX]

Watson wins Open over Cink

Monty wins USO over Ogilvy

[knock it close]

2005 US OPen Woods over Campell

2007 Masters Tiger over Zach

2007 US Open Tiger over Cabera

2008 Masters Tiger over Trevor

2009 PGA Woods over Yang

 

Think about how much fun it would to write 19>18 and the other side trying to pretend that it was tougher to win majors in the 69s:)

 

 

2009 US Open Duvall over Glover. Just wondering if that would have been enough to revive a great golfer.

As much as I like Tiger you can't take away Angel ripping reds down the fairways of Oakmont to victory.

 

Oh, I want Spieth to make the birdie putt from the valley of sin on Sunday, I don't even need him to win I just want to see him in a playoff to go 3 for 3.

[2bGood]

Watson wins 2009 Open over Cink is the by a long shot the one major that nearly every golf fan would re-write.

 

My other one would be Dustin Johnson in the 2010 PGA Championship. I am not a DJ fan, but that was a very 'weak' way to not win.

[Chomper]

Van de Velde in the 1999 Open Championship. Just hit 5 iron off the tee for the last 3 holes and he waltzes in w a championship.

 

1996 Masters - Norman collapse was absolutely PAINFUL to watch.

[KYMAR]

2013 Masters, Tiger doesn't hit the pin on 15, makes birdie and goes on to close on the weekend. Probably goes on to pick up another major later that summer and we would be sitting here talking about 18 majors and the record, when he comes back from his latest injury.

 

Lol what? You guys are dedicated. A shot in April determines what happens in June July or August? That's psychic hotline stuff right there.

 

Watson over Cink

 

Phil over any of the 6 guys that Beat him in the US Open. But I'll Say the most recent 2nd place finish when he lost to Justin rose. 2012 maybe? (My Memory is Garbage sometimes) When he had all the momentum and Misclubbed on the Par 3. Obviously Winged foot.

 

And since we're Doing this I'll also say I wish I could go back and Change nearly Every Decision that's Been Made by the front office/s of the Cleveland Browns for the last 18 years. I mean even carpet and Paint Choices.

 

That is all

 

[tannyhoban]

2013 Masters, Tiger doesn't hit the pin on 15, makes birdie and goes on to close on the weekend. Probably goes on to pick up another major later that summer and we would be sitting here talking about 18 majors and the record, when he comes back from his latest injury.

 

Lol what? You guys are dedicated. A shot in April determines what happens in June July or August? That's psychic hotline stuff right there.

 

Watson over Cink

 

Phil over any of the 6 guys that Beat him in the US Open. But I'll Say the most recent 2nd place finish when he lost to Justin rose. 2012 maybe? (My Memory is Garbage sometimes) When he had all the momentum and Misclubbed on the Par 3. Obviously Winged foot.

 

And since we're Doing this I'll also say I wish I could go back and Change nearly Every Decision that's Been Made by the front office/s of the Cleveland Browns for the last 18 years. I mean even carpet and Paint Choices.

 

That is all

 

If I could, I would like this for every stupid thing the Browns have put NE Ohioans through.

[golfgirlrobin]

Jack wins the '98 Masters at 58 years old. They had dedicated a plaque to him at the start of the week and then he tied for 6th.

[KrazyTrain18]

If I could only alter the outcome of one major, it would definitely be the 2009 Open.

[Scotty1140]

Mine would be 2006 at Winged Foot but unlike the OP it wouldn't be Mickelson over Ogilvy but Montgomery. He hit what was probably the worst 7 iron of his life after what my fading memory tells me was a protracted wait for the green to clear.

He states it doesn't bother him. I think it haunts him.

+1

 

Honestly, I can't stand Monty. At all. But his resume deserved a major. With Phil's blow up at 18, Monty should have taken this.

[ramzeldamsel]

Easy top 5 for me but no particular order:

 

2009 PGA - I sorely miss the confidence Tiger lost with this day, and besides it felt slightly cheap the way he made mistakes to lose and Yang even had to chip in for eagle

2007/2008 Masters - Tiger should've won both years

2009 Open Championship - Tom would've been a great story and couldn't be a better champion

2007 US Open - All Tiger had to do was avoid one of his doubles that week and he wins by a shot

2013 Masters - The "tail" of Tiger's career would be an entirely different narrative

[Cwing]

How about shots? I'd like to see what would have happened if Tiger's ball hadn't hit the flag at the Masters.