AUSSIE NEAR MISSES AT AUGUSTA

Adam Scott’s Masters victory in 2013 ended a Masters ‘hoodoo’ that hung over Australian performances at Augusta for more than 60 years.

JIM FERRIER (1950)

Ferrier had five top-five finishes at Augusta in his career. His best shot at the title came in 1950 when he led the field by five shots as he walked to the 13th tee. The New South Welshman then proceeded to bogey five of the next six holes to lose by two shots to American Jimmy Demaret.

BRUCE CRAMPTON & BRUCE DEVLIN (1972)

The Aussie ‘Bruce’s’ both finished in the top-five behind winner Jack Nicklaus. Crampton had the best shot at bringing down the Golden Bear after coming from eight shots back to get within a few strokes of Nicklaus on the final day. It was the first of four major runner-up finishes to Nicklaus that Crampton would suffer over the next three years.

JACK NEWTON (1980)

The New South Welshman charged home in the final round, cutting Seve Ballesteros’ eight-shot advantage to just three. But the Spanish sensation rallied and made birdie at the par-5 15th to eventually win by four shots over Newton and American Gibby Gilbert.

GREG NORMAN (1981, 1986, ’87, ’89, ’96 & ‘99)

The Queenslander’s heartache at Augusta began in 1981 and he had six close calls over the next 18 years.

The two most heartbreaking losses came in 1987 and 1996.

Having missed a play-off with Jack Nicklaus in 1986 by one shot, Norman found himself in extra time a year later with Seve Ballesteros and Larry Mize. He was in good shape too, but then Mize pulled off a miracle – chipping in from 140 feet right of the flag on the 11th green. Norman couldn’t get his putt to fall and came up one shot short yet again.

In 1996, it looked like Norman was finally going to breakthrough as he held a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo heading into the final round. Nobody, despite Norman’s shaky history at the tournament, could have predicted the worst collapse of the Shark’s career – a six-over 78 to Faldo’s five-under 67.

STUART APPLEBY (2007)

The Victorian led by one shot over Justin Rose and Tiger Woods heading into the final round. But his opening-hole triple bogey quickly set the tone for a disappointing three-over 75, which saw him slip to a share of seventh place, four shots behind the winning Zach Johnson.

ADAM SCOTT, JASON DAY & GEOFF OGILVY (2011)

Adam Scott, Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy each held a share of the lead during the final round, as overnight leader Rory McIlroy collapsed with a disastrous eight-over 80. Day birdied the final two holes to join Scott as the clubhouse leader, before South African Charl Schwartzel rocketed home – becoming the first player to birdie the final four holes – to best the Aussie duo by two shots.