Following Adam Scott's unfathomable four-straight bogey finish at the British Open, Grandstand readers came up with six similarly shocking sporting chokes.
Greg Norman - 1996 US Masters (nominated by Adam Scott)
At the same time as Australia was midway through two decades of embarrassing and 'mentally disintegrating' England on the cricket field, Nick Faldo got a measure of revenge for the old country in the 1996 Masters.
Going into the final round six shots clear of playing partner Faldo, Norman's game fell apart hitting 78, while the Englishman hit a faultless 67 to bring around an unheard of 11-shot final day swing.
Neither man won another major, but Faldo's legacy as a one of golf's icemen was secure, while seven-time major runner-up Norman became a reference point for any future choke in the game.
Jean van de Velde - 1999 British Open (nominated by iarforner on Reddit)
No Frenchman had won a major since Arnaud Massy won the 1907 British Open, but this was about to change when Jean van de Velde took a three-shot lead going into the 72nd hole at Carnoustie in 1999.
Needing only a double-bogey six, van de Velde hit his second into the Barry Burn and the looming tragedy turned into farce when the Frenchman, channelling his inner Inspector Clousseau, took his shoes and socks off and looked to hit the ball out from the water.
To compound his misery, he made a ten-foot putt for a seven when finally on the green only to lose the play-off to Paul Lawrie.
Jana Novotna - 1993 Wimbledon (nominated by Kiall Rowberry on Twitter)
All seemed routine as Steffi Graf, seeking her third straight Wimbledon, took the first set against Jana Novotna in the 1993 final.
Then the Czech player produced the best tennis of her career winning eight of the next ten games and was one point away from going 5-1 up in the third when the nerves hit her.
Graf won five straight games to capture her fifth title but all the focus was on Novotna who cried on the Duchess of Kent's shoulder during the presentation.
"Don't worry Jana, I know you can do it," the Duchess said. Five years later Novotna did just that and won her lone grand slam title, at Wimbledon.
Collingwood - 1970 grand final (nominated by Graeme Smith on Twitter)
The Magpies were the best team in the 1970 season winning 18 games and this dominance was reflected in the final when they enjoyed a 44-point lead at half-time.
Legendary player and coach Ron Barassi put on Ted Hopkins for Carlton instructing the team to handball more.
Hopkins went on to score four goals as the Blues pulled off a ten-point win in a match often regarded as the greatest AFL game of all time.
As well as this, the nickname of the 'Colliwobbles' was born and Pies fans would be reminded of this until they finally won a flag again in 1990.
Devon Loch - 1956 Grand National (nominated by Grandstand)
Just to show choking is not confined to humans, Devon Loch had the 1956 Grand National won when five lengths in front with forty yards to go.
His owner the Queen Mother was making her way down to the finish line to celebrate with jockey Dick Francis.
Then inexplicably, the horse sought to jump a phantom fence and fell face down as ESB ran on to take victory.
The Queen Mother, who in fairness didn't have her livelihood on the line, said: "Oh, that's racing", Francis retired a year later to take up horse-related crime writing.
And one where Australia was the beneficiary of South Africa choking...
South Africa - 1999 World Cup semi-final (nominated by many on Facebook/Twitter)
The Aussies were on the brink of elimination when they played South Africa in their Super Six match.
Steve Waugh's 'you've just dropped the World Cup mate' comment to Herschelle Gibbs would have been forgotten were it not for the meltdown of meltdowns from South African batsmen Lance Klusener and Allan Donald.
Klusener brutally hit the first two balls of Damien Fleming's final over for four leaving the Proteas needing one to win from four balls with one wicket remaining.
Easy. Not quite.
Klusener ran after hitting the fourth ball past the bowler. Donald watched the ball.
Both were left at the bowlers end as Fleming lobbed the ball to Gilchrist to dislodge the bails.
Tags: sport, golf, australia First posted July 23, 2012 12:12:44