Quick 9: Golf’s greatest comebacks
It’s BMW PGA Championship week, and who can forget Alex Noren’s sensational final round 62 to win from behind last year?
Can any comeback compare? James Broadhurst delves into the history books…
Tiger Woods’ greatest ever victory?
Tiger Woods has 106 professional wins to his name, including 14 major crowns, but you would be forgiven for not remembering how he secured his only Pebble Beach Pro-Am title in 2000. Woods, chasing his sixth straight PGA Tour win, trailed Matt Gogel by seven at the turn. The rookie stumbled, and Woods finished eagle, birdie, birdie, par for a 64 and the most clinical of victories.
A Mastercard miracle
An LPGA Tour rookie and suffering from illness, nobody expected Sweden’s Louise Friberg to challenge for the 2008 Mastercard Classic title in Mexico, especially after opening rounds of 72 and 73. She was 10 shots behind leader Ji-Young Oh heading into the final round. But an almost flawless round saw Friberg finish with a 65 and a one-stroke victory. She still jointly holds the record for the largest final round comeback in LPGA Tour history. Mickey Wright at the 1964 Tall City Open and Annika Sorenstam at the 2001 The Office Depot also came from 10 shots behind to win.
Super Stal and Kaymer’s meltdown
Gary Stal? That was the question on everyone’s lips at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Championship as the young Frenchman, ranked 357th in the world at the time, secured his maiden European Tour victory. Stal was eight shots behind leader Martin Kaymer heading into the final round. Kaymer, the reigning US Open champion, then extended his lead to 10 shots thanks to three birdies in the first four holes. However, Kaymer picked up a double and triple bogey, while the little-known Stal finished with a seven-under 65 to finish one shot ahead of Rory McIlory and two in front of Kaymer.
