If you’re someone who spends a lot of time watching and researching golf, then when tournaments come round, you probably think you have a good idea of who’s going to win. When major tournaments are on the horizon, bookies – like Boylesport golf betting, for example, will have clear favourites to win- the players on form, those who look as though they have what it takes to outperform the others.
However, life isn’t always that simple. Golf, like many other sports, is filled with all sorts of unexpected twists and turns, where sometimes those we least expect end up rising to the occasion and overcoming all the odds.
Over the years, there have been plenty of shocking upsets that have left literally everyone stunned… even those who consider themselves golfing experts!
So, with that being said, here are some of those most memorable upsets in golf history.
Francis Ouimet Wins the 1913 U.S. Open
Going way, way back – over 100 years ago, one of the most memorable and iconic upsets in golf history took place. In 1913 the 20-year-old amateur player, Francis Ouimet, managed to defy all odds when he managed to beat two of the world’s best professionals, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray – and went on to win the U.S. Open.
Ouimet was just a caddie who had absolutely zero professional experience – but he won in an 18-hole playoff and became the first even amateur to win the event. Indeed, it was this victory that helped make golf so popular in the United States, and over a century later, it’s still seen as one of the very best Cinderella stories, not just in golf, but in the whole sports world.
Jack Fleck Beat Ben Hogan in the 1955 U.S. Open
Fast forward 50+ years and the U.S. Open created another upset! Ben Hogan went into the tournament as the four-time U.S. Open champion and one of the best players of his era – so when he entered the 1955 tournament, it was hardly surprising that he was the heavy favourite to win.
However, along came the unknown journeyman, Jack Fleck. He shocked the whole of the golfing world when he not only forced a playoff but went on to beat Hogan by three strokes. This win is still considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of major championships.
Larry Mize Wins the 1987 Masters
Next on our list happened in 1987, and this time at the Masters, when Larry Mize, a practically unknown golfer from Augusta, Georgia, took on two of the game’s biggest legends – Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros in a sudden-death playoff.
On the second playoff hole, he managed to pull off what has to be one of the most famous shots in the history of the tournament as people stood aghast watching as he chipped in from 140 feet to beat Norman. It wasn’t far off a miraculous finish – and it secured Mize a place in golf legend.
Y.E. Yang’s Beats Tiger Woods in the 2009 PGA Championship
Tiger Woods had never lost a major championship when leading after 54 holes (unsurprisingly) —until the 2009 PGA Championship came along.
The man in question? Y.E. Yang, who was ranked way down at 110th in the world at the time – and somehow he managed to pull off a comeback that would look far-fetched even in a Hollywood movie – and he overtook Woods in the very last round to win by three strokes. This win was the first time an Asian golfer had won a major championship… and it’s still one of the biggest surprises in golf history.
Phil Mickelson Wins the 2021 PGA Championship
Last on our list was just a few years ago, when Phil Mickelson made history at the 2021 PGA Championship by, at the age of 50, becoming the oldest major champion.
Golfing fans weren’t even expecting Mickelson to even take part in the tournament – let alone win it, given the struggles he’d been facing. However, he defied all the odds – he held off Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen – and went on to claim his sixth major title.
This was an absolutely massive achievement that proved that, in a golfing tournament, age is just a number.
So, there you have it, some of the biggest golfing upsets ever!
