Winning a golf major is the ultimate validation of greatness. It’s the career-defining moment every professional golfer chases — sometimes for decades. But for every champion lifting a trophy, there are others who came agonizingly close, only to see history slip away by a single hole, a single putt, or a single decision.
Some of the most unforgettable stories in golf aren’t about dominance — they’re about legendary golf major championship runs that fell one short. These near misses, collapses, and heartbreaking finishes didn’t just shape tournaments; they shaped careers, legacies, and the emotional history of the game itself.
From infamous 72nd-hole meltdowns to missed putts measured in inches, these moments remind us how cruel — and captivating — major championship golf can be.
What Defines a Legendary Major Championship Near Miss?
A legendary major championship near miss isn’t just about losing. It’s about being right there — leading late, tied on the final hole, or needing one routine shot to change history — and coming up painfully short.
These moments usually share a few defining traits:
Contending deep into the final round
Holding a lead or realistic winning chance late Sunday
A visible moment where momentum shifts
Long-lasting impact on the player’s legacy
Unlike early-round failures, these heartbreaks unfold under maximum pressure, in front of massive global audiences, at golf’s biggest events. That’s why golf fans still talk about these runs decades later — sometimes more than the victories themselves.
The Most Heartbreaking Major Championship Near Misses in Golf History
Jean van de Velde — 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie
No list of golf major near misses can begin anywhere else.
Jean van de Velde arrived at the 72nd hole of the 1999 Open Championship with a three-shot lead. All he needed was a double bogey — a rarity for a tour professional — to claim the Claret Jug.
Instead, he produced one of the most infamous collapses in golf history.
A wayward drive, a risky second shot, a visit to the Barry Burn, and multiple poor decisions later, van de Velde triple-bogeyed the hole and lost in a playoff. What should have been a coronation became a cautionary tale — one that still defines discussions around final-hole pressure and course management.
This remains one of the most dramatic examples of a major championship run falling one short.
Colin Montgomerie — The Best Golfer Never to Win a Major
Colin Montgomerie’s career is a masterclass in sustained excellence — and sustained heartbreak.
Across the 1990s and early 2000s, Montgomerie finished runner-up in majors five times, repeatedly placing himself in contention only to watch opportunities vanish late. His closest call came at the 2006 U.S. Open, where a par on the final hole would have forced a playoff.
He missed the fairway, failed to recover, and watched another chance disappear.
Montgomerie’s story proves that legendary major championship runs don’t always involve collapse — sometimes they involve consistency without reward, which can be just as painful.
Scott Hoch — 1989 Masters Missed Putt
The Masters is known for drama, but few moments are as haunting as Scott Hoch’s missed putt in 1989.
Facing a two-foot putt on the first playoff hole against Nick Faldo, Hoch had the Masters practically won. Instead, he pushed the putt right — an error so shocking that even Hoch himself looked stunned.
Faldo went on to win, while Hoch became part of Masters lore for the wrong reason. It’s a reminder that in major championships, the smallest mistakes carry the biggest consequences.
Arnold Palmer — 1966 U.S. Open Collapse
Even legends aren’t immune to heartbreak.
Arnold Palmer entered the final stretch of the 1966 U.S. Open with a seven-shot lead. For most golfers, that margin would be insurmountable. For Palmer, it became a nightmare.
A series of bogeys and mounting pressure allowed Billy Casper to claw back, forcing a playoff that Palmer ultimately lost. While Palmer’s legacy remains untouchable, this collapse is still cited as one of the greatest blown leads in major championship history.
It proves that no reputation, no matter how dominant, guarantees safety under Sunday pressure.
Phil Mickelson — 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot
Phil Mickelson’s career is filled with brilliance — and near misses — but none hurt more than the 2006 U.S. Open.
Standing on the 18th tee, Mickelson needed only a bogey to win his first U.S. Open and complete the career Grand Slam in Golf . Instead, an aggressive tee shot found trouble, leading to a double bogey and a runner-up finish.
Mickelson later called it “the dumbest shot” of his career.
This moment perfectly captures how major championship runs that fall one short often hinge on decision-making as much as execution.
Rory McIlroy — U.S. Open 2024 Late Collapse
Rory McIlroy’s modern era heartbreak added another chapter at the 2024 U.S. Open.
Leading late on Sunday, McIlroy missed multiple short putts — the kind elite professionals convert routinely — opening the door for a late charge from behind. The margin was slim, the pressure immense, and the outcome devastating.
For McIlroy, already familiar with major near misses since his last win in 2014, this loss reinforced how difficult it is to close majors even when everything seems aligned.
Jon Rahm — PGA Championship “Green Mile” Meltdown
Jon Rahm’s power and confidence make him one of golf’s most intimidating closers — which made his late collapse on Quail Hollow’s brutal “Green Mile” even more shocking.
Tied for the lead heading into the final stretch, Rahm unraveled with a sequence of costly mistakes that ended his PGA Championship hopes. In majors, even elite form can disappear over just three holes.
It was another reminder that major championships punish even momentary lapses.
Other Notable Golf Major Near Misses (Quick Hits)
Some heartbreaks don’t need full chapters to remain unforgettable:
Doug Sanders (1970 Open Championship): Missed a short putt on the final hole that would have beaten Jack Nicklaus.
Sam Snead (1939 U.S. Open): A triple bogey on the final hole cost him a major title.
Lee Westwood: Multiple runner-up finishes across Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championships without a win.
Roberto De Vicenzo (1968 Masters): Signed an incorrect scorecard, missing a playoff despite finishing tied.
Each of these moments reinforces how thin the line between glory and heartbreak truly is in major championship golf.
What We Learn From Golf’s Most Painful Near Misses
Golf’s greatest near misses reveal several enduring truths:
First, pressure is undefeated. No matter how talented or experienced a golfer may be, major championships demand flawless execution when it matters most.
Second, decision-making defines legacies. Conservative choices sometimes win majors; aggressive ones sometimes ruin careers.
Finally, near misses shape history. Players like Montgomerie, Mickelson, and McIlroy are remembered not just for what they won — but for what slipped away.
These legendary golf major championship runs that fell one short are reminders that greatness isn’t always measured in trophies alone.
Conclusion
Major championships don’t just crown winners — they expose nerves, test resolve, and create moments that echo for generations. Some of golf’s most powerful stories aren’t about dominance or perfection, but about heartbreak that unfolded under the brightest spotlight.
From missed putts to final-hole collapses, these legendary runs that fell one short continue to define golf history. They remind us why we watch, why we care, and why the game remains so brutally beautiful.
Sometimes, the difference between immortality and regret is just one shot.
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