Masters countdown – three days left: 25 years since Nick Faldo overcame six-stroke deficit to beat Greg Norman | Golf news

A Masters title hat-trick seemed unlikely as Nick Faldo started the final six-stroke behind Greg Norman in 1996, but the Australian collapsed under enormous pressure from the English maestro; watch the Masters 2021 live on Sky Sports The Masters from Thursday

With three days before this year’s Masters, we reflect on Nick Faldo’s incredible third win, coming from six shots behind to beat Greg Norman in 1996.

Norman was so often the ‘almost man’ in major leagues throughout his career, with his two Open wins a bad comeback for a man who spent 331 weeks as world No.1 – second only at Tiger Woods.

But, 25 years ago, he looked set to become the first Australian to don a Green Jacket after three excellent days at Augusta National, starting with a record 63 in which he completed five of the last seven holes.

Norman added a 69 to lead Faldo by four at the halfway point, an advantage he extended to six shots after a 71 in difficult conditions on day three as the Englishman struggled to post an honorable 73.

Many predicted a final day procession for Norman, but he bugged the opening hole and saw his lead reduced to four as he couldn’t match Faldo’s birdie in the sixth.

A birdie from Faldo at eight followed by Norman’s third bogey from the outer half to the ninth sent the longtime rivals into the final nine separated by just two strokes. Three holes later, Faldo was two strokes ahead.

Norman bogeyed 10 and 11, then found water with his tee shot in the 12th, resulting in a double bogey five, while Faldo’s streak of four was good enough to take him from three behind. in the head pure and simple.

The Australian regrouped, but Faldo was a relentless front-runner and set up a crucial birdie at 13 with a sublime long iron down the middle of the green, and he also tied Norman’s birdie at 15 to stay two in the lead with three to play.

It was over when Norman flushed another ball in the 16th, and Faldo rubbed salt in the wounds with a 20-foot birdie closing putt to the last which topped a 67, with Norman signing for a 78 to finish five. behind.

Click on the video above to take a look back at Faldo’s winning moment and his condolences to Norman on the 18th green!

Watch The Masters exclusively live on the Sky Sports dedicated channel – Sky Sports The Masters. The live broadcast of the opening round begins Thursday from 2 p.m.