20 Golf Curses, Chokes, and Superstitions That Still Haunt the PGA Tour
These unforgettable moments and bizarre beliefs have followed golfers for decades, and they are not going away any time soon.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
The PGA Tour has seen its share of legends but also some seriously odd streaks of bad luck, baffling chokes, and quirky superstitions. Some careers were derailed by a single meltdown, while others were shadowed by tales of cursed courses and rituals too strange to ignore. You might laugh, cringe, or nod in agreement, but you will definitely remember them.
1. Greg Norman’s 1996 Masters Collapse
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Norman led by six strokes going into Sunday, then unraveled spectacularly. It was a tough watch, like witnessing a magic trick go horribly wrong. That final round still gets brought up whenever someone talks about choking under pressure.
2. The Curses of Oakmont’s 8th Hole
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The 8th hole at Oakmont has destroyed more scorecards than bad weather. Pros call it “The Monster” for good reason since it has ruined tournament dreams with a single swing. It feels like the hole has a personal vendetta.
3. Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open Heartbreaks
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Six runner-up finishes and still no U.S. Open trophy. Mickelson’s bad luck at this major has become its own legend. Some fans whisper he is cursed when June rolls around.
4. Tiger’s Red Shirt Ritual
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Every Sunday, it is the red shirt. Tiger says it is about power and tradition, but fans swear it gives him an edge. At this point, it feels more like golf armor than fashion.
5. The 17th at TPC Sawgrass Eats Dreams
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One bad swing and your ball is swimming. The island green has humbled the best, sometimes turning leaders into punchlines. It almost feels like the water knows who is nervous.
6. Sergio Garcia’s Waggling Woes
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Fans used to count Sergio Garcia’s waggles before a swing, sometimes hitting 20 or more. It was his thing, but also a crutch. When the nerves took over, so did the waggles.
7. The Curse of the Career Grand Slam
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Many greats have won three of the four majors, but that last one slips away. Is it the nerves or something spookier? Just ask Rory, Phil, or Lee Trevino.
8. Bernhard Langer’s Yips Battle
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His putting yips became so infamous that fans held their breath whenever he lined up a shot. He fought back with an odd-looking claw grip and somehow made it work. It is one of golf’s strangest mental battles.
9. The Locker Room Coin Toss Ritual
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Some players flip a coin in the locker room before every round for luck. No one knows who started it, but everyone has a story of it “working.” Golfers will try anything when a title is on the line.
10. Justin Rose’s Lucky Tee
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Rose reportedly carries a specific wooden tee for every final round. He does not let caddies touch it, and if it breaks, he calls it a bad omen.
11. The Ghost of Winged Foot
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Some pros say they feel something strange walking the grounds at Winged Foot. The course has a long history of brutal finishes and blown leads. A few even say it feels like the course wants to mess with your head.
12. Jordan Spieth’s 12th Hole Meltdown
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Spieth cruised toward a second green jacket until he dumped two balls into the water on the 12th. That one hole turned a dominant win into heartbreak. Fans still bring it up every Masters Sunday.
13. Ernie Els and the Six-Putt
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At the 2016 Masters, Els needed just a few feet. Instead, he six-putted. The internet had a field day, but golfers everywhere winced in sympathy.
14. The Black Pants Tradition
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Some players swear by wearing black pants on Sundays. It started as a tribute to past champions, but now it is more of a superstition. They say it helps with focus, but maybe it just looks good.
15. Dustin Johnson’s 2010 Bunker Ruling
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Johnson grounded his club in a patch of sand at Whistling Straits. It turned out to be a bunker, and the penalty cost him the PGA Championship. That course has not seen forgiveness since.
16. The “TV Curse” of Featured Groups
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Some golfers feel jinxed when placed in the broadcast spotlight. They say cameras bring out the worst swings. It sounds silly until a top-ranked player shoots five over with every shot televised.
17. Ben Hogan’s 1-Iron Myth
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Hogan’s 1-iron shot at Merion became legend, but golfers say no one else could hit that club the way he did. Now some say it was the club, not just the man. That specific 1-iron still gets talked about as if it has powers.
18. The Locker That No One Uses
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At one club, a specific locker is always left empty. Players say bad luck follows anyone who stores their gear there. No one really knows the story, but they all avoid it.
19. The Whisper Rule at Augusta
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Some say talking too loudly at Augusta can curse your round. It is more about respect, but the belief sticks. Even the most talkative players get unusually quiet there.
20. The Hat Flip Jinx
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Some golfers flip their hats when they think they have sealed a win. It started as a playful celebration, but now fans notice it never ends well. The hat flip has quietly become a move to avoid.