Fat Tuesday: Worst chunks, chips in golf

Jean Van de Velde needed only a double bogey on the 72nd hole at Carnoustie to win the 1999 British Open. Instead, he chunked his third shot from knee-high rough into the Barry Burn en route to a triple bogey. He ultimately lost to Paul Lawrie in a playoff. (Getty Images)

As Constantino Rocca approached the 72nd hole at the 1995 British Open, he was one shot behind John Daly. Rocca’s long drive was mere yards from the green, but he fluffed his chip. The ball trickled a mere five yards into the ‘Valley of Sin.’ Well below the level of the green, Rocca holed his 65-foot birdie putt to tie Daly and force a playoff, but then lost on the fourth extra hole.

Thomas Bjorn led Ben Curtis by three strokes with four holes to play at the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George’s. He dropped a stroke at the 15th, then Bjorn put his tee shot into a deep greenside bunker on the par-3 16th. When he attempted to blast out, the ball caught an upslope on the green and couldn’t quite get over the hump. It rolled right back down into the bunker. Bjorn tried again - and the same thing happened. He finally got the ball out and made double bogey. He then bogeyed the 17th to complete the collapse.

Looking for his first victory on the PGA Tour, Greg Kraft birdied No. 17 in the final round to pull into a tie with Steve Elkington heading to the 18th hole. But after a strong drive, Kraft badly mis-hit a 5-iron from 190 yards that never had a chance to stay dry. The crowd gasped as the ball landed in the water, forcing Kraft to take a penalty stroke and a drop from about 90 yards. He got up-and-down from there for bogey, but ultimately finished runner-up.

On the 72nd hole, with a chance to either win with a birdie or at least get into a playoff, Ochoa hit the ground with her driver a couple inches behind the ball and took a divot. The ball shot left and dove into the water. To make matters worse, Ochoa’s second drive found the rough, then her approach to the green went into the grandstands. She made quadruple bogey and finished four shots back.

Dustin Johnson carried a three-shot lead into the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open, but it was exhausted by the fourth tee. Johnson’s troubles began when he hit his approach shot on No. 2 into an awkward lie in a bunker, then had to chip out left-handed. The ball barely squirted out, then Johnson’s fourth shot from the deep grass popped up and moved about two feet. He missed a 3-foot putt for double bogey and wound up with a 7 en route to a final-round 82. His day included a triple bogey on No. 2, a double at the third and a bogey at four and seven.

Graeme McDowell was 2 up on Hunter Mahan with two holes to play in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. The U.S. needed a half point to retain the cup. On the 17th, Mahan caught his tee shot heavy on the 211-yard par-3, leaving it 10 yards short of the green. He needed to chip in to win the hole and advance the match, but instead he chili-dipped his second shot. Mahan failed to hole his par try from 30 feet, then conceded a 4-foot par putt to McDowell, whose full point helped Europe to regain the cup.

T.C. Chen led the 1985 U.S. Open by four shots heading into the final round. Chen - who would come to be known as ‘Two Chips Chen’ - double-hit his fourth shot from heavy greenside rough at the par-4 fifth hole. After a penalty, a chip and two putts, Chen made an eight and ultimately finished a stroke behind winner Andy North.

Top News

Top Clips

Trending Teams

Top News

Top Clips

Trending Teams

Fat Tuesday: Worst chunks, chips in golf

Allow Sale of My Personal Info and Sharing/Processing for Targeted Ads

Opt-Out Form

Strictly Necessary Cookies