Are Aussies Cursed At The Masters?
We have all heard about the curse of Tutankhamun’s tomb. How Howard Carter and others involved died horrible deaths after entering the pharaoh’s burial chamber. Well, are Aussies cursed at the Masters? I don’t know how Cameron Smith is feeling post Masters 2022 but I have had the stuffing knocked out of my expectations on the highest golfing stage and I was only watching the bloody thing.
There have been a succession of unfortunate failures by Australian golfers at the Masters for decades. Greg Norman in 1996 can still upset my stomach just thinking about that train wreck on the back nine at Augusta National.
The Aussie Curse at Augusta National
Adam Scott stands alone as the exception to the rule and that was a near run thing, with the Argentine’s chip almost going in. Norman sits atop the highest tower of Master’s failures like a ziggurat built on the bones of dead Aussie hopes at Augusta. In 1986 Greg Norman was in the middle of the fairway on 18 with a 4 iron into the green required to tie with par or win with birdie. The resultant block into the bleachers right of the green put paid to his chances. The very next year Larry Mize chips in to beat Norman in a playoff for the Masters. The shark was confounded by the Aussie curse at the Masters but he wasn’t alone on that score.
Australian Golfer’s Runner-up’s at the Masters
In 2011, Jason Day and Adam Scott tied for second at the Master and both played well enough to win. However, Charl Schwartzel completed the greatest finish on the back nine at the Masters in the history of the event. Birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie what an incredible finish by the South African. Norman’s three in 1986, 1987, and 1996. Jack Newton in 1980. Bruce Crampton in 1972. Jim Ferrier in 1950.
Third Places By Aussies at the Masters
Cameron Smith in 2020 and 2022. Jason Day in 2013. Greg Norman in 1989, 1995, and 1999. Steve Elkington in 1993. Jim Ferrier in 1952.
Craig Parry in 1992 was another deep thorn in the Aussie side, as unruly members of the Augusta crowd on the final day made his life hard with threatening behaviour unchecked by security.
Freddie Couples would go on to win with the help of the parochial on-course fans. It was a bad day for the Aussies and for golf at the Masters more generally.
I hope that young Cam Smith can regroup and get back on that golfing horse to mount another charge next year. Older and wiser, perhaps, after the lessons learned at 12 this year.
