There have been many memorable moments in the history of sports that fans or players would like to forget. Steve Bartman's "Fan Interference", Chris Webber's "Time-Out", and Scott Norwood's "Wide Right." However, golfer Jean Van De Velde was the only one who was assured of his victory only to buffoon it away and have the name Jean Van De Velde be associated with choking on the grandest scale.
Although it has been a full ten years since Jean Van De Velde's British Open collapse in 1999, it has left indelible images for the entire sports world of a man who had assuredly won it all, only to come up painfully short.
The 1999 British Open appeared on the outset to be one of the more forgettable golf tournaments played at Carnoustie, Scotland and leader Jean Van de Velde had all but sewn up his name on the claret jug. They even had his name engraved on the trophy, they had to scratch it out later.
Most sportswriters remember this event as how am I going to pitch this story to my editor? A relatively unknown Frenchman wins the British Open in Scotland, it really does not stir up major headlines.
Van De Velde then stepped up to the 18th hole only needing a six to claim the championship. Van De Velde's first shot landed painfully close to one of the Burns and it appeared that he would just lay it on the green to get an easier two-shot win.
Van De Velde then decided to use a two-iron to try and go for the fantastic victory. The shot ended up hitting a grand-stand and bouncy painfully near the Barry Burn. Van De Velde then decided against all odds to lay the shot up over the rough and try to get it back on the green.
It landed in the Burn and presented one of the most memorable images of Jean Van De Velde going into the Burn to get his ball. He eventually took a stroke penalty to try and get it back onto the green.
He then took his next shot to save face and give himself a possible double-bogey attempt to still win the tournament. That ball landed in the sand-trap in front of the hole. Onlookers were stunned included current tour player Craig Parry and ABC Sports host Mike Tirico.
Van De Velde eventually triple-bogeyed the hole to start a three-way playoff between him, Justin Leonard, and Paul Lawrie. Lawrie who was Scottish became the story as he went onto win by three shots in the four hole playoff format.
Jean Van De Velde's choke at the British Open might have possibly had everything you could ask for in a classic screw-up. An individual who has the tournament won, only has to a get six on the final hole to the win the tournament and shoots a seven.
Jean Van De Velde has never fully recovered from this mistake and his legacy will always be followed as the man who had the 1999 British Open won, only to throw it away.
Remembering Jean Van De Velde's collapse at the 1999 British Open
