It’s never over until it’s over. Golfers know this better than most people because tables can turn within moments in a round of golf, especially in the final round. Over the years, we have witnessed dramatic scenarios where a player had a comfortable lead going into the final day, and then all hell broke loose, and another golfer crept from far behind to claim the title. We cover heroic golfers who went against the tide to stage phenomenal comebacks and claim near-impossible titles.
Golf’s Biggest Comebacks
Paul Lawrie – 10 shots – 1999 Open Championship
Paul Lawrie boasts only one major in his trophy cabinet, the 1999 Open, but he won it so spectacularly that his performance went down in history books. Van de Velde seemed the favorite to lift the Claret Jug, starting Sunday 10 shots clear of Lawrie. Nonetheless, the Scot persevered through torrential conditions to card a magnificent 67, with Velde collapsing under pressure on the 18th hole to fall into a playoff. As fate had it, Lawrie won the four-hole aggregate playoff by three shots.
Annika Sorenstam – 10 shots – 2001 Office Depot
Annika Sorenstam tends to appear on almost every other golf history page. During the LPGA Tour’s 2001 Office Depot, the Swedish icon was ten shots behind leader Pat Hurst after 54 holes. In a twist of events, Sorenstam shot a 66 to edge out Hurst’s poor 77 and beat Mi Hyun Kim in a playoff to lift the trophy.
Stewart Cink – 9 shots – 2004 MCI Heritage Classic
During the 2004 MCI Heritage Classic at Harbour Town, Ted Purdy had a four-shot lead after 54 holes. Stewart Cink was trailing by nine shots entering the final round, but he shot a 64, which neutralized Purdy’s 73 to force a playoff. A birdie on the fifth extra hole was all it took for Cink to record one of the best comebacks in PGA TOUR history.
Jack Burke Junior – 8 shots – 1956 Masters
During the 1956 Masters, amateur Ken Venturi was having the time of his life at Augusta, leading for each of the first three days and heading into Sunday with a four-shot lead. Jack Burke Jr started the final round eight shots back but couldn’t believe his luck when Venturi carded six bogeys in seven holes. With only two holes left, Burke pulled level and drained a birdie putt on the final hole to seal the epic comeback.
Justin Rose – 8 shots – 2017 WGC HSBC Champions
Dustin Johnson is a talented golfer but has tended to throw away big leads. During the 2017 WGC HSBC Champions, Johnson had a strong six-shot lead after 54 holes, but a failed birdie on Sunday led to a round of 77. Justin Rose started the final round eight shots back but posted a 67 to defeat Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Henrik Stenson by two shots.