On Halloween 2025, let’s take a look back at some of the scariest moments in the history of the sport we all love so dearly.
With Halloween upon us once again, what better time to look back at some of the most nightmarish situations that have unfolded in professional golf throughout the years
Numerous PGA Tour players have endured nightmares on the golf course throughout their careers.
However, some players have experienced more scary moments than others.
On Halloween 2025, it’s the perfect time to take a trip down memory lane to relive some of the most petrifying moments in the history of the game, specifically the major championships…
The five scariest moments in golfing history on Halloween 2025
Greg Norman’s Masters meltdown
Norman went into the final round of The Masters in 1996 with a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo. However, Norman crumbled, shooting a round of 78 while Faldo carded a majestic 67 to beat the Australian by five shots. The Shark never won at Augusta National and ended his career with three runner-up finishes at The Masters.
Jean van de Velde’s Carnoustie nightmare
Van de Velde was the architect of his own downfall at Carnoustie back in 1999 when he blew a three-shot lead on the final hole of The Open Championship. The Frenchman’s second shot ricocheted off the grandstands before he found the Barry Burn with his third. He then took a drop and hit his fifth into the bunker short of the green. Van de Velde got up and down for his seven but eventually lost out in a three-way playoff, with Paul Lawrie lifting the claret jug.
Adam Scott’s major heartbreak at Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Scott was in prime position to win the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes with just four holes remaining in his final round. However, Scott proceeded to play his final four holes in 20 strokes, after making four consecutive bogeys. He ended up losing the tournament by just one stroke to Ernie Els, with the South African picking up his fourth major trophy. The good news for Scott was that he broke his major duck just nine months later at Augusta National.
More golfing horror moments on Halloween 2025
We have witnessed many more scary moments on the golf course over the past decade or so, with two in particular standing out above the rest.
Jordan Spieth’s horror finish at Augusta
Spieth looked all set to successfully defend his Masters title in 2016. He led by five shots with only nine holes to play before disaster struck. Spieth bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes before finding the water twice on the 12th hole and carding a quadruple bogey seven. He played his final six holes in one-under par but still finished up three shots behind the eventual champion, Danny Willett.
Rory McIlroy’s spooky Pinehurst malfunction
McIlroy‘s gut-wrenching finish at the US Open in 2024 completed our list. McIlroy bogeyed three of his final four holes, missing putts inside three feet on the 16th and 18th holes at Pinehurst to surrender his lead to Bryson DeChambeau. LIV Golf star DeChambeau got up and down on his final hole of the day to pip the Northern Irishman to the US Open title by a solitary stroke. However, just 10 months later all was forgotten as McIlroy finally climbed his golfing version of Mount Everest by winning The Masters and completing the career Grand Slam in the process.
On Halloween 2025, tell us what you think of our five scariest moments in the history of the game. Are there any standout moments you think should have made the cut?