Greg Norman is best known today as the mastermind behind LIV Golf, (even though Scott O’Neil is running the show)—but don’t forget: he once ruled the roost on the course. And when it comes to career-defining moments, the 1999 Masters is right up there.
Not only that, but Norman’s overall history at Augusta reads like a Shakespearean tragedy—brilliant, heartbreaking, and filled with moments where fate had other plans. By 1999, the Australian had endured one heartbreak after another at Augusta National. From Larry Mize’s miracle chip in 1987 to his historic collapse in 1996, Norman had seen victory slip away too many times. And if you ask some fans, his Augusta woes weren’t just bad luck.
As No Laying Up podcast members put it: “If you don’t like Greg Norman, it’s a great, like, evidence that karma exists, because no dude was more snake-bitten in these freaking majors.” But in ’99, he found himself in contention yet again. And for a brief moment, it looked like redemption was finally in his grasp.
Heading into the final round of the 1999 Masters, Greg Norman was just one shot behind José María Olazábal. When he made a birdie on the 11th hole, the crowd erupted, sensing something big was about to come. As the No Laying Up podcast described it: “I can’t play Masters audio, but I will encourage everyone to go find this minute mark from the YouTube video, the final round of the 1999 Masters on YouTube,” said a podcast member. You can probably imagine how thrilling that moment was.
ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 13: Greg Norman hits to the 18th green during the Pro-Am of the 2018 PNC Father Son Challenge on December 13, 2018 at the The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire GOLF: DEC 13 Champions Tour – PNC Father Son Challenge PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon121318112
For fans, then came the moment that made it feel real. On the par-5 13th, Norman reached the green in two, giving himself a long eagle putt. Olazábal was on as well, but his birdie attempt was from 20 feet. He sized up his putt, took his stroke, and—boom—drained it. The crowd obviously lost it. “It sends the crowd into another complete frenzy. I feel like the roar on 11 was louder, but I mean it is like Norman, Greg Norman is leading the Masters now on the back nine with five holes to play,” the host added. For all the suffering, this was a defining moment. Five holes to go!
But if you’d watched Norman long enough, you knew what was coming. Olazábal didn’t crumble. He answered with a birdie at 13, keeping the pressure on. Then came Norman’s mistakes—bogeys on 14 and 15. A dreamland to a nightmare. Fading further, his final-round 73 left him in third place at 5-under, while Olazábal claimed his second green jacket at 8-under.
This wasn’t the horror show of 1996, where Norman completely unraveled, but it was still another “almost,” another “what if?” As No Laying Up put it, this was just Norman being Augusta’s unluckiest star one more time. “He said it felt like 80% success and 20% disappointment in this one, whereas ’96, ’95, ’98, maybe 99% disappointment.” While his ’99 performance didn’t go off the rails like ’96, it still left a bitter mark on a career poised for more major glory. Still, not every highlight in Norman’s career was a dud—let’s look closer.
Times when Greg Norman didn’t let the win slip through his fingers
Maybe by this point, Norman had simply become numb to the pain. His ball-striking was elite, his resume was worthy, and yet, time and again, Augusta chewed him up and spit him out. By the early 2000s, Norman faded from serious contention at the Masters. His last, best shot at redemption slipped away on the back nine in ’99. It was a well-played tournament. But in the end, it was just another Greg Norman choke.
Norman might be best known for his near-misses, but when he won, he did it in style. His two major championship victories, the 1986 and 1993 Open Championships, were proof of just how good he really was. In 1986, he stormed to victory at Turnberry, shooting a final-round 69 to win by five strokes. That same year, he also won 11 tournaments worldwide, claiming the PGA Tour’s money title and Player of the Year honors.
His second Open win in 1993 at Royal St. George’s was even more impressive. Going head-to-head with Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, Norman delivered a final-round 64, one of the greatest Sunday performances in major history. Beyond the majors, he spent 331 weeks as World No. 1, won 91 professional events, and proved time and again why he was nicknamed “The Great White Shark.”
Sure, Augusta never went his way, but Norman’s career wasn’t just about heartbreak. When he won, he made sure everyone remembered it.
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