Most Heartbreaking Masters Moments

With a final-round 80, Rory McIlroy joins an unfortunate list of the most anguishing defeats at Augusta National

By Alex Myers

Follow: @AlexMyers3

Part of the Masters' appeal is the thrilling finishes Augusta National is prone to produce. On the flip side of that, someone is often left crushed in defeat as a result. Sometimes it's a collapse, sometimes the title is simply taken away by an opponent playing better. Sometimes it's a combination of the two. No matter how it happens, it's always memorable. Here are the moments through the years, starting with the most recent, that left fans feeling the most for those players coming up just a little short.

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2011: Rory McIlroy

Everything was all set up for a coronation on Sunday after McIlroy opened with rounds of 65, 69 and 70 to take a four-shot lead heading into the final round. Poised to become the second-youngest winner in the history of the event, the 21-year-old survived an early bogey and take the lead to the back nine. But disaster struck on 10. He hooked his tee shot left, made a triple bogey and came completely unraveled. There will be plenty more majors in his future, but he'll never forget letting this one get away.

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