Salute Greg Norman for his lead role in so many magical dramas at golf's Disneyland that is Augusta National.
This week marks the 30th anniversary of Norman's colossal final-round collapse that will remain in sporting folklore forever more.
After arriving in the midst of a record 96 straight weeks as world No.1, Norman lived up to his title favouritism with a record-equalling first-round nine-under-par 63.
With ensuing rounds of 69-71, Norman built a such a commanding six-shot third-round lead that one British journalist proclaimed to the perennially cursed Australian: "Well, Greg, not even you can f*** this up now".
But f*** it up he did.
And how.
In a meltdown that even shook up notoriously cold eventual champion Nick Faldo, Norman turned his six-stroke advantage into a shattering five-shot defeat.
Making the ordeal even more torturous, Norman's demise was a death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts.
While playing partner Faldo was supreme in posting a final-round 67, Norman's 78 was like watching a car crash in slow motion.Even after a scrambling start, Norman was still five up after Faldo bogeyed the fifth hole and seemingly heading for the first wire-to-wire victory at Augusta National since Ray Floyd 20 years earlier.
Four up after six, no one could have predicted how Norman would leak six shots over the closing 12 holes, which he had devoured in 16 under in the first three rounds.
There was the three-putt from 10 foot for bogey on nine that left Norman clinging to a two-stroke buffer entering the back nine.
Further bogeys on 10 and 11, then a dreaded double after finding the water on 12.
Amen Corner had truly struck and suddenly Faldo was in front.
Believing he could still win, after making birdie on 13 from the pine straw, Norman fell to the grass and rolled around in anguish after his eagle chip shaved the cup on 15.
But it was all over when he found a watery grave at 16 en route to another double bogey, Norman's quest to become the oldest first-time Masters champ, at age 41, in tatters.
Gracious in defeat, Norman's brave acceptance of his fate may have stemmed from previous heartbreaking setbacks that left the Great White Shark feeling destined never to win the Masters.
This week is also the 40th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus hunting down Norman with a storming seven-under run over his closing 10 holes to win a sixth green jacket in 1986.
In what proved the start of his so-called "Saturday Slam", Norman entered the final round as solo leader, trailed by four shots at one point before reeling off four straight birdies to draw level with Nicklaus on the penultimate hole.
In one of the most compelling finishes in major championship history, legends Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, defending champ Bernard Langer and Tom Kite all jostled for the last-day lead with Nicklaus and Norman.
But no one could deny Nicklaus after he iced his round with his iconic "Maybe ... yes Sir!" birdie on the 17th as Norman bogeyed the last to enable the Golden Bear to become golf's oldest major winner at 46.
"I came here in 1954, my first Masters, and I can't remember a golf tournament to top this one," two-time runner-up Ken Venturi said in commentary.
But of all Norman's eight major runner-up showings, only Larry Mize's chip-in on the second extra play-off hole in 1987 - 40 years next year - comes close to challenging his 1996 capitulation for theatre.
After Ballesteros was eliminated on the first extra hole, Norman looked set to exorcise his 1986 demons before underdog Mize, an Augusta native, ripped the Shark's heart out once more.
"Hate it? I don't hate it," Norman said years later when asked about his relationship with Augusta.
"I love it. The problem is, it doesn't love me back."
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