Largest final-round blown leads at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters has produced many elated victors, but sometimes that comes with enduring heartbreak for others.

Large blown leads and inconceivable collapses have occurred at Augusta National, especially on the second nine on Sunday.

Here’s a look at several of the most memorable ones that live in infamy.

Greg Norman, 1996

Norman led after each of the first three rounds, but his second-nine collapse was one for the ages.

He led by six shots over Nick Faldo entering the final round, but by the turn he held a two-stroke lead after a 2-over first nine.

Bogeys at Nos. 9, 10 and 11 followed by a double bogey at 12 dropped him from a three-stroke lead to two shots down as they reached No. 13. He remained two under par until another double par on No. 16 put him out of contention. After rounds of 63-69-71, Norman fired a 6-over par 78 and placed five strokes behind Faldo, who won his third green jacket.

Ed Sneed, 1979

Sneed led eventual champion Fuzzy Zoeller by four strokes with four to play, but bogeys on Sneed’s final three holes forced the pair and Tom Watson into a playoff. Zoeller won with a birdie to Watson’s par on the second playoff hole.

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Sneed entered the final round with a five-stroke lead over Watson with Zoeller, the last player to win the Masters in his inaugural, six shots back. They benefited on Sunday from Sneed’s 4-over 76, including three bogeys in his first 10 holes.

Ken Venturi, 1956

Venturi never recorded a birdie in his final round as he finished with an 8-over par 80. Jack Burke Jr. won his only green jacket and only led the final two holes of the tournament.

Venturi led by four shots after the second round following scores of 6-under par 66 and 3-under par 69, but a 75 on Saturday was a preview for Sunday’s collapse.

Then an amateur, Venturi finished second to Burke and remains one of three amateurs (Frank Stranahan, Charles Coe) to finish second. No amateur has won the Masters.

Of note in that final round was the collapse of 1955 champion Cary Middlecoff, who shot a 5-over 77, including three double bogeys, on the final day.

Rory McIlroy, 2011

McIlroy led or shared the lead following each of the first three rounds, but his play on Sunday after making the turn to the second nine will be remembered as one of the worst collapses in Masters history.

McIlroy pulled his tee shot on No. 10 out of bounds…