Masters 1996

Less than a week to the Masters. This is such an exciting time of the year for sports fans. Thinking back to the most memorable Sundays of the Masters, one that stands out may not have had so much to do with who won, but rather, who didn't win. In 1996, the special Sunday we all look forward to, became increasingly difficult to watch.

Greg Norman started out leading after each of the three first rounds. With scores of 63-69-71, he was miles ahead of the rest of the field. This could be his first Masters win, after finishing runner-up in 1986 and 1987. Nick Faldo, already a two-time winner at the Masters, was in second place, six shots behind Norman. Sunday was looking like it would be a relaxing journey to first place for the Aussie. After starting off with a bogey, Norman settled down and birdied the second hole. One more bogey at the fourth wasn't causing any alarm, but it was towards the turn that things started happening. Faldo crept closer, and after Norman's bogey-bogey-bogey-double on holes 9 through 12, the spectators who had been wishing for an exciting Sunday started cringing in their seats. This was a tough Masters to watch. After the +5 over four holes, Faldo was now ahead by two shots. Norman had no chance of coming back. He ended up with a 78 on the final day, 15 shots higher than his Thursday opening round.

Nick Faldo's signature in the Masters Champions picture, located in the
Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum at Cinnabar Hills.