Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory: Famous sporting collapses

Masters misery: Rory McIlroy hangs his head after his dramatic collapse

13 April 2012

After Rory McIlroy surrendered a four-stroke lead in the final round of the Masters, we look back at some of the worst examples of sports stars choking at the last hurdle...

At only 21, McIlroy was living up to his billing as the most prestigious talent in the game after three rounds of near-faultless golf gave him a four-stroke lead going into Sunday. Unfortunately, the occasion got the better of him and a succession of wild drives and missed putts led to an eight over-par 80, leaving Charl Schwartzel to win the Green Jacket.

Greg Norman - 1996 Masters
"The Great White Shark" held a six-stroke overnight lead going into the final round after a course-record 63 on the Thursday, but shot 80 on the last day to succumb to a five-shot defeat at the hands of Nick Faldo, leaving himself Green Jacketless.

Arsenal 4 - 4 Newcastle United - 2011
Title challengers Arsenal put in a scintillating first-half performance to lead 4-0 at half time. But after Abou Diaby's sending off early in the second half, they collapsed allowing Newcastle to pull off one of the greatest ever comebacks, with Cheik Tiote scoring the long range equaliser three minutes from time.

Jean Van De Velde - 1999 British Open
Bidding to become the first French winner of the Open Championship since 1907, Van de Velde needed only a double bogey six at the final hole for victory. But following a triple bogey seven, he went on to lose in a play-off to Paul Lawrie who started the day 10 shots behind. The image of Van De Velde wading in the water will stick in the minds of golfing aficionados for years to come.

Jimmy White - 1994 Snooker World Championship
Dubbed the people's champion, "Whirlwind" White was only a few pots away from victory in the deciding frame of the final before he missed a straight-forward black off the spot to gift Stephen Hendry the match. White lost all six of his World Championship finals.

Jana Novotna - 1993 Wimbledon Final
Leading 4-1 in the final set, Novotna was only two games away from the title but instead she handed Steffi Graf her fifth Wimbledon Championship and ended up crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent.

Newcastle United - 1995/96 Premier League
Kevin Keegan's side found themselves 10 points clear of Manchester United at the turn of the year, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men gradually overturned the deficit to clinch the title on the final day of the season having crucially beaten Newcastle in March. King Kev was forced to eat his words after the infamous "I'd love it if we beat them!" rant directed at United.

Roberto Baggio - 1994 Football World Cup Final
USA '94 saw the first World Cup final to be settled by penalties and it was left to star of the tournament Roberto Baggio to take Italy's last spot kick. "The Divine Ponytail" put his penalty high over the bar to give Brazil their fourth World Cup triumph.

South Africa vs. Australia - 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final
Chasing only 214 to reach the World Cup final, South Africa were left with a target of nine from the final over to win. And after their star of the tournament Lance Klusener dispatched the opening two balls to the boundary, they looked home and dry needing only one of the remaining four deliveries. However, a terrible running mix-up saw Alan Donald run out and Australia advance. In fairness, England would have choked long before then.

Gavin Hastings - 1991 Rugby Union World Cup semi-final
With the scores level at 6-6 and only a few minutes remaining, one of Scotland's greatest ever players Gavin Hastings missed a straightforward penalty attempt right in front of the England posts which could have taken Scotland to the final. Rob Andrew scored a late drop-goal to send the auld enemy through.

Devon Loch - 1956 Grand National
The Queen Mother's horse was only forty yards from the finishing line at Aintree with a five-length lead when he inexplicably jumped into the air and landed on his stomach. Jockey Dick Francis was unable to make him continue which allowed ESB to claim victory. The reason behind Devon Loch's jump is still uncertain to this day.

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