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Over the years, golf has delivered some of the most thrilling moments in sports, from miraculous hole-in-one shots to tournament-winning putts that defied all odds. While many players have staged impressive rallies, only a select few have pulled off comebacks so historic that they belong among the greatest of all time.
In this article, we’ll break down five of the most significant comebacks in major golf tournaments. We’ll detail when they happened, what tournament they took place in, and how many strokes the player had to overcome to secure victory.
Mickey Wright’s legendary comeback at the 1964 Tall City Open remains one of the most iconic moments in women’s golf history. Already one of the most dominant players of her era, Wright found herself trailing by 10 strokes heading into the final round. The deficit seemed insurmountable, but Wright had other plans.
With a remarkable display of precision and composure, she shot a blistering 62—setting the record at the time for the lowest 18-hole score in LPGA history. Her performance not only secured the victory but also solidified her reputation as one of the greatest female golfers ever. This was the first of her two Tall City Open titles, but it was her stunning comeback in 1964 that remains the most memorable.
Paul Lawrie’s triumph at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie is one of the most dramatic comebacks in golf’s storied history. Starting the final round a daunting 10 strokes behind leader Jean Van de Velde, few expected Lawrie to make a serious push for the title.
However, as Lawrie steadily climbed the leaderboard, Van de Velde endured a shocking collapse. Needing only a double bogey on the final hole to secure victory, Van de Velde instead suffered one of the most infamous meltdowns in golf, recording a triple-bogey seven. This allowed Lawrie to force a playoff, where he ultimately prevailed after four extra holes. His remarkable comeback remains the largest final-round deficit overcome in major championship history.
Annika Sorenstam, one of the most dominant figures in women’s golf, added to her legacy with a historic rally at the 2001 Office Depot Championship. Trailing Pat Hurst by 10 strokes heading into the final round, Sorenstam needed a near-flawless performance to stand a chance at victory.
While Hurst struggled to a disappointing 77, Sorenstam played brilliantly, carding a 66 to erase the deficit. Incredibly, Mi Hyun Kim also mounted a comeback, overcoming an 11-stroke deficit with a 65 to force a tie with Sorenstam. However, Sorenstam’s poise under pressure allowed her to emerge victorious, further cementing her status as one of the greatest players in LPGA history.
Louise Friberg’s stunning victory at the 2008 MasterCard Classic was the ultimate underdog story. Trailing Ji Young Oh by 10 strokes heading into the final round, Friberg needed a near-perfect round to have any shot at victory.
On the final day, Friberg delivered an incredible performance, firing a 65 while Oh struggled with a 79. The 14-stroke swing catapulted Friberg into first place, securing her first and only LPGA Tour victory. The comeback was even more remarkable considering this was Friberg’s rookie season on the LPGA Tour, making it one of the most unforgettable triumphs in tournament history.
The most recent addition to golf’s greatest comebacks came at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Championship, where Gary Stal pulled off an improbable victory over three-time major winner Martin Kaymer.
With just 13 holes remaining in the final round, Kaymer appeared to have the tournament in hand. However, a shocking stretch saw him drop six strokes over a span of seven holes, allowing Stal to close the gap. Seizing the opportunity, Stal carded an impressive 65, while Kaymer struggled to a 75, ultimately falling to third place. Stal’s remarkable comeback remains one of the most unexpected turnarounds in modern golf history.
These historic rallies prove that no lead is ever truly safe in golf. Whether it’s a legend like Mickey Wright or an unexpected champion like Gary Stal, the sport has a way of delivering unforgettable moments when the pressure is at its highest.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.