1999 British Open - Jean Van de Velde and the 18th Hole - BBC

Was doing a test video for PAL to NTSC
On the actual coverage the tape was running out so the entire hole was never recorded, when Van de Velde is in the burn it is a mix of the BBC coverage and BBC Highlight coverage which was shown after the event.
This project was actually abandoned and never completed
Recorded the PAL VHS to PAL DVD (about 5 hours of material), than re-coloured and cleaned the picture, next issued to DVD. Played the DVD thru a Digital Tuner and an external Comb Filter with a TBC and recorded it to SVHS NTSC, the idea was to help out with converting the 25 frames per second to 29.97 frames per second with normal looking motion. Next took the SVHS tape and played it back thru the Digital Tuner using a Pro Line high end VCR and recorded it to digital.
The recording was incomplete so had to match up the BBC Highlight and actual coverage to fill the gaps. However the colour of the picture and audio on the two recordings were different, this had to be blended together.
The results ended up being pretty good, it just seemed the best way to get the best quality out of the recording was to just leave it in PAL format. Than go in an remastered the recording and fix the errors that are common with VHS.
Even though this video had been edited it all the BBC coverage that I had. Since this was only a test video the audio levels were never matched up 100%.
On a side note the 99 British tape for the 3rd round NTSC ESPN coverage had some major damage this was a project that took a long time to complete, and turned out really well, however lost the files due to a computer virus, cryptowall which basically held the files at ransom. Also lost in this attack was raw coverage of the 1st and 2nd rounds, 2000 PGA, 2014 Tour Championship (which I still have the raw files) 2012 Bay Hill and maybe 1 or 2 others. Have to look may have the 3rd round coverage somewhere on a random hard drive, but rounds 1 & 2 are gone no back ups, just the source VHS tape is left.

[@HynoDesignsvIII]

1999 British Open - Jean Van de Velde - 18th Hole Carnoustie -- ABC Sports kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp-4koB5gLWBrq8

[@robgent4125]

This is not the British Open. No such tournament. It is the Open or the Open Championship

[@mattyjay8896]

All these years later, and I can still remember watching this live.

[@butthole_glory6939]

for as long as i live this will be cemented in my mind. also watched it live at 13 years old. Horrifying

[@nateajv12]

@@butthole_glory6939 I’m a fairly new golfer and have been watching since about 2020. I couldn’t imagine witnessing this

[@RaferJeffersonIII]

Was that a lie?

[@willybla1]

I remember watching it live as well, my third golf memory of watching golf on tv with my dad when I was 3.

[@briansymmes7917]

I was 23, watched it live with a friend who had a big bet on before Round One and stood to win about £1000 pounds if he got double bogey or less, it was like watching a kindergarten full of orphans burn down.

[@derekthompson5731]

This is some of the best golf commentary you will ever hear... "oh, what are you doing? What on earth are you doing? No, Jean, please... would somebody please kindly go and stop him? Give him a large brandy and mop him down" THAT is laugh-out-loud classic!

[@SethMacLeod95]

Sooo good 😂

[@erikingmundson]

“Oh you lucky little rascal.”

[@munkymoo3006]

The great Peter Aliss.

[@mickmac3360]

I usually loved the Alliss commentary but on this occasion he was downright disrespectful as he made no comment on the man's utter misfortune.

[@derekthompson5731]

@@mickmac3360 Not sure how else he's supposed to do that in this case... cry? He's moaning and groaning the entire time, talking about what an utter shame it is... not shameful, but unfortunate. But the fact is, it was a series of incredibly stupid decisions... an announcer HAS to capture that also... imagine how brutal Johnny Miller would've been with this, or Nick Faldo... Aliss was a master of his art

[@johnfury6481]

The single most entertaining single hole of golf I’ve ever seen.

[@georgebrennan2576]

Wife is laughing wt him lol

[@vanmarko6654]

Well that explains how boring golf is

[@georgebrennan2576]

@@vanmarko6654 then you don't understand golf, typical just watch it huh

[@garyjohn153]

Absolutely incredible commentary from the late great Peter Alliss (and Alex Hay). As soon as the driver comes out, he almost senses a meltdown. "His golfing brain stopped working 20 minutes ago" - perfect.

[@michaelshaffer3393]

Peter Alliss was fabulous. I always looked forward to the Open championship every year just to listen to him.

[@alerey4363]

10' not 20' (6:27)

[@nathandillion6966]

@@alerey4363 exactly and it's as Van de Velde is getting ready to hit his third shot not on the tee as Gary claimed.

[@mickmac3360]

I think that on this occasion Peter Allis was very disrespectful to van de Velde. He failed to see that the shot that came way back off the stand was the most unlucky shot ever played in golf. This never happens. Van de Veldes strategy was fine until that happened.

[@nathandillion6966]

@@mickmac3360 with a three shot lead he should have hit an 8 iron down the fairway. He would have made a 6 at worst and won.

[@Gyle41386]

Peter Allis with some of the greatest play-by-play in golf history calling this meltdown

[@kingelvis1977d]

Totally agree and he should be Sir Peter Alliss !

[@asdf14051]

RIP

[@dane21dc]

Then you listen to the American coverage of this and it’s all OTT, cliche BS

[@soxfan]

wasn't there a delay for the playoff, due to Jean's changing of his shirt? sad.

[@JoeKnows44]

Truly brilliant. The dignity he allowed Van de Velde as a golfer and man without sacrificing any honesty in describing what was happening. He will always be the voice of golf to me.

[@ysgol3]

Peter Alliss - 'This is so so so sad...and so unnecessary....'. Brilliant, sensitive and spot on comment.

[@flyer1658]

Your spot on best commentator ever in golf and sadly missed. A true man of the game

[@gdholcombe01]

“Sensitive”? Dude said his golfing brain stopped working ten minutes ago.

[@ysgol3]

@@gdholcombe01 Yes, and he said so in horror, sympathy and empathy, because, you see, as a professional himself, it had happened to him too, but not on the last hole of the Open. Please listen (carefully) again.

[@jimmysuardzliners8773]

'Please, giving one good putt, please'. Another best one.

[@ysgol3]

@@jimmysuardzliners8773 Definitely, yes! (BTW it was 'give him' not 'giving'.)

[@danielholt1984]

Just got straight back hear after hearing about Peter Alliss's sad passing. One of the best commentators of any sport ever. Rest easy.

[@donarthiazi2443]

_"here"_ (Peter was a perfectionist!)

[@jacksmith5692]

Peter Allis with masterful commentary. No second guessing and 100% accurate.

[@2332Stephen]

The legend of the Velda.. I was 15 when this happened. Didn't know who this guy was, and I am 34 now, and still remember shot by shot this blow up. lol. That's how bad and epic it was in golf history.

[@nickmurray9151]

One of the most gut-wrenching moments in sport beautifully observed by Mr Peter Alliss, a true master of his craft. RIP, and thank-you for bringing to life so many great moments..

[@eddiebrown687]

I can't remember a lot of British Open Champions who only won it once. But I'll never forget who this guy is. He cemented his place in Golf history, even if it was in the worst way.

[@rushrush1209]

He certainly cemented his place in history. Definitely not how he wanted it to be. To his credit, he played well enough to him to have a chance to blow it. A lot of pro golfers don't get a chance to blow it.

[@Dodger0103]

They are no British Open Champions, but plenty of The Open Championship, please please do call the championship by its correct title. Thank you

[@chipmillard5043]

Van de Velde is definitely easier to remember than the actual champion in 1999, Paul Lawrie!

[@justbreakingballs]

​@@Dodger0103it's called the British open, get over it. I'm from England, I know it's called the open but to an international audience it's branded the British Open so people know where it is and which open is being referred to. So pull your thumb out of your arse and stop being a pedantic little baby.

[@franko2005dublin]

A really beautiful piece of commentary. "Please give him one good putt....please". Peter Alliss's essential humanity was part of what made him such a pleasure to listen to. Himself and Alex Hay were an incomparable team. Sleep well old boy.

[@Compy90]

18 years later and it still doesn't seem possible. Watching this video I still expect him to win.

[@christopjerfoote5747]

He tied. A playoff doesn't settle anything he tied with Laurie and another guy for the championship.

[@tigerftw3408]

@@christopjerfoote5747 what😂😂😂

[@elephantyarn7378]

@@tigerftw3408 I think this is Van de Velde's burner account 😂

[@63Baggies]

The would have been when an experienced caddy would have given Jean a wedge and walked away with the bag leaving him no other shot.

[@whats1981]

@@63Baggies Agreed. He got away with a poor drive, but his second shot was the killer. A wedge layup to the fairway instead, knock it on and he would have had 3 putts to win.

[@SlXkxmx]

And the other guy nails it from the bunker... the only way this could have gone any worse is if he actually hit it in the water, it bounces off the wall knocks him out and he then drowns in front of the entire world.

[@camkraw893]

Idk I think barely holing a 7 only to go to a playoff only to think every minute while playing all possible scenarios he could've done to avoid this three way playoff...... Only to lose playoff as the 🍒 on top

[@davidowens5898]

Omigawd...I nearly peed myself laffing at that...!!! Now THAT'S funneeee.........

[@Mitjitsu]

Had he got there faster, he could have played it out of the water. Under the circumstances such a shot should be strongly considered.

[@SirHaroldMaguire]

To be fair to him he did this at the last hole of a major championship. I do this on the first tee of my local par 3 GC

[@christopherfoote4643]

Craig Parry.

[@tjc89]

"He's out with a driver..... NOW I'M NOT SURE THIS IS RIGHT" - Peter Allis at his most prophetic best

[@siheath3648]

I don't think you needed to be any kind of prophet to suggest taking a driver on that tee at that time was a bad move...

[@A-FrameWedge]

Maybe a bad move, but he got lucky and stayed dry, so it was not the tee shot that hurt him, it was the second which was unlucky and his 3rd shot was his doom.

[@knpstrr]

I don't know that the second was "unlucky". Hitting into the stands isn't bad luck.

[@A-FrameWedge]

knpstrr It was unlucky because the ball had crossed the burn but then it hit the stands and bounced backwards across the burn, which brought the water (burn) into play on his third which was his doom.

[@knpstrr]

Nah, it was a choke. Plain and simple. No bad luck. He was afraid to hit it in the tall stuff for fear of going O.B. on the other side. No bad luck. Just a choke.

[@TheLocalLt]

“Surely now was the time to wedge the ball back to the sanctuary of the fairway - but that has never been the French way. Safety first is always sacrilege to those of Gallic temperament.” One of my favorite lines from the R&A’s highlights video of this tournament

[@boarhog1979]

The Irony is no one would remember him even if he did win this tournament, but now he is a Hall of Famer for this finish and will never be forgotten in the golf world

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

Morris right?

[@martinmahern7268]

He's hardly a HOFer, but you're right about him being remembered. I think it would have been a huge deal in France if he had won though. It may have sparked a golf boom there. Jean did make next the Ryder Cup team, but, as I remember only played 1or 2 matches. I don't believe he won on the European tour after this.

[@jayritchie851]

True...but winning might have led to more success and many more victories. Instead, his career just kind of sputtered and he never really contended in a major again.

[@stevescontriano860]

WHAT AN IDIOT HITTING DRIVER. HE CHOKED BIG TIME AND HIS WIFE WAS LAUGHING

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

That's true. He would have been a one hit wonder. Still, it had to mean an awful lot to him.

[@dane21dc]

2:54 “The golfing Gods are with him”….10 minutes later he’s standing barefoot in the burn with his hands on his hips like inspector Clouseau.

[@joecahill1994]

Still gotta give him some credit for sinking that putt

[@johnkurtz7705]

Huge putt, got him into a playoff...

[@cdunne1620]

.. credit, nah it’s all debit

[@Azena63]

So glad that you have uploaded this golfing moment in history, thank you. I well remember watching this 'live' enjoying and smiling at Peter Allis' commentary. As soon as I head of Peter's passing I thought of this and if I were to make a programme of his highlights this would be one of them with his line 'someone give him a large brandy and mop him down' - being simply classic Peter Allis ! As Aldo has already posted God bless Peter and thank you for your great and insightful company over the years.

[@jonathanscales8945]

'Now if this goes in....I'm gonna pack it in. I'm gonna retire if he holes this' LOL pure gold. No sports broadcasting comes close to this these days.

[@koreainsincere]

Peter Alliss knew what was coming when he saw that driver. The sense of foreboding in his voice was palpable. What a meltdown. Every time I watch it I feel like shouting "Just keep it in play you knobhead!"

[@peteallen935]

absolute classic commentary

[@moelester2203]

Best moment in golf ever...i remembered this 20 years later and had to watch it again

[@TMM6944]

His golfing brain stoped working about 10 minutes ago.. classic.

[@SethMacLeod95]

HMG KRL and he gets a crazy break coming up short of the water. Absolutely mind boggling haha

[@shanebernardfaulkner3574]

his caddie should of drove a club up his arse!

[@zarrow50]

Alliss is brilliant here

[@bobgomavitz1330]

If Mr. Bean played golf

[@johnclark3697]

Fu##i#g Moron.😂😉🍷🍷🍷🍷

[@flyer1658]

Whist van de velde had a nightmare, Peter Aliss probably had his finest hour! This commentary is sublime

[@ysgol3]

Wise old Peter Alliss immediately sensing danger when Jean took out the driver - 'I'm not sure this is right'. Even though his drive was very very lucky, he should have played short of the burn, pitched on and 2 putted (even 3 !!) to be a great Open Champion. Gary Player played for, and got, a 5 when it was what he needed in 1968.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Never give up... Paul Lawrie was ten shots off the lead at the start of the day... shot one of the best rounds ever in dreadful conditions, and ended up winning.

[@parkerbohnn]

Paul warmed up the best in the practice rounds.

[@63Baggies]

...feel in love with Lawrie's at that open. It's worth mentioning the two laser guided 4 iron approaches to the 18th on the very narrow side under pressure that Lawrie hit in his last round and then in the play off. Van der Velde's bunker shot was pretty good too; especially when you consider his brain must've been scrambled at that point.

[@logigmusic6458]

i was there. magnificent stuff

[@martinmahern7268]

I had forgotten that Leonard was in the playoff. They referred to him having taken a gamble on 18 and bogeying. I'd like to see that video.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Best charge in major history

[@whats1981]

This guy is the real life Tin Cup. "They won't remember who won, but they'll always remember your 7!"

[@davidrobins1021]

This is so true; I can't even remember who won the playoff, but I'll always remember Van de Velde's implosion at the 18th.

[@brbob4934]

SO TRUE. This 7 I remember. Who won? Had to look it up!!!

[@hawkerrielly9317]

@@davidrobins1021 being scottish i remember the play-off winner ....still get embarressed watching this

[@AEMoreira81]

Hawker Rielly - Paul Lawrie’s comeback from 10 strokes down always gets forgotten.

[@WilliamRobinson-bb6mr]

@@AEMoreira81 The most strokes made up in the final round to win a major ever.

[@averagegolferswithuglyswin3453]

After just finishing playing this course for my first time last week. I can't believe that this happened. First of all this is all you think about when walking down 18. Was just trying to figure how Jean put himself in that position. It was truly magical playing this course. Poor Jean

[@porkyparry1]

Did you go driver on 18 or did someone mop you down and pour you a large brandy😂

[@L555HEP]

Thank you Peter Alliss. I grew up listening to your amazing commentary.

[@deuce4off]

"He might not finish in the top 20" lmfao

[@stuartcoleman4443]

This is some of the best sports commentary ever .peter alliss just magnificent .

[@chuckycheese84]

To this day, this remains the most heartbroken i've ever felt for any golfer in a major

[@Mister8224]

Greg Norman Masters implosion was longer lasting & more humiliating. He was up 5 or 6 strokes & lost by 4 of 5. Epic.

[@chuckycheese84]

@@Mister8224 Yes, that was heartbreaking too. That one is 3rd in my eyes. Jordan Spieth's meltdown in the 2016 Masters is 2nd. Norman over a entire round & Spieth in the second 9 final round. Van de Velde was one hole (the 72nd hole) which is why I rank it as the most painful loss in a major

[@chuckycheese84]

I do have to say that Tom Watson's loss in 2009 is right up there too

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Mike Reid's at the PGA is very painful as well.

[@TheBatugan77]

😅😊😂

[@TheCymbalProject]

Parry showed a lot of class by keeping his departure subdued after a masterful escape from the bunker.

[@seanscott7070]

An up and in, as he holed out.

[@grantrolland9693]

RIP to the Voice Of Golf Peter Alliss.

[@monday5264897]

A year later Van de Valde filmed a commercial on this same fateful hole while using only his putter. He made a 6.

[@TheLocalLt]

John White no he didn’t Tom Rinaldi said he made 6 in that feature on ABC from 2007. But if you watch the movie he actually makes 10.

[@micky-yz7kz]

He did actually make a 6 but it was at his 3rd attempt

[@christopjerfoote5747]

@@TheLocalLt yeah I kind of figured. The reality is he played to win. I think that's commendable.

[@jeremyc9593]

@@christopjerfoote5747 He didn't play to win, otherwise he would have taken the smart shots and won. That's why the top players win and this guy didn't. The top players don't make these mistakes.

[@christophergargaro959]

Christopjer Foote Doesn’t matter if you win by one stroke or 20. He had the ability to hit safe irons up the fairway and three putt and still be ahead. Playing to win on the 72nd hole of a major is playing strategically. He was playing with gusto and stubbornness and it cost him big time.

[@christophergargaro959]

The commentary is gold. So polished and dignified. Right from the start “He’s got his driver...ohh I’m not sure that’s right”.

[@anthonyemerson2965]

This is some of the best commentary of any sport I’ve ever heard. I’m hanging on every word and I know the outcome!

[@8rickey]

This is heartbreaking to watch still all these years later but Peter Aliss's commentary makes it all worth it!!

[@rantdmc]

what i've always found most extraordinary is that van de velde never changed expression through the entire 18th hole! he still looked just as determined and focussed when putting as on the tee. my questions would have been: were you actually aware that you made 2/3 of the worst decisions in the history of golf? what score did you think you needed to make on the last to win the open? it looks as though his brain just couldn't process what was happening

[@tcos332]

I remember van de Velde made a video a couple years after this where he plays it with only a Putter and makes a bogey or double, I can’t remember, it was on VHS lol. Good for him for not going insane after this.

[@smooveXXX]

I tell you what man, I still to this day can’t believe he holed the putt after all of that. A lot of credit for that up and down out of the dust after what happened in the minutes before

[@JaydenLawson]

There's nothing like the English commentary. It's such a refreshing change to what we hear at the other three majors.

[@gk10002000]

5 iron, 5 iron, wedge, three putt. Game over, tournament won.

[@robertshields6981]

gk10002000 this has gotta be worse than Spieth’s meltdown at the Masters...anyone watching this round now on Golf’s Greatest Rounds?

[@blakelewison9872]

The guy should have played it as if it was a par 5. Really sad to watch.

[@JayRiemenschneider]

Poor decisions aside the 3rd and 5th shots were the worst, especially the 3rd. Complete amateur decels. 3rd shot hit it over the green, even if it runs through to the stands. Just unreal.

[@alexsamain812]

@petra agree this is the worst collapse ive seen 3 shot lead on 18th hole its a whole wave of emotions esp when he jumps in the water getting trolled but the commentary is spot on.

[@kennymcmorran1414]

still remember watching this live, worst meltdown in golf ever

[@DanielSong39]

Nice up and down from the bunker.

[@johnrotten3268]

I remember watching this as a kid at the jersey shore at my grandparents beach house and my grandfather cracking up hysterically yelling over to my grandmother "THIS GUY IS NUTS." Good times...

[@davidsanders5861]

I've never seen a group where one guy looks embarrassed to hole a bunker shot for a birdie, and the other guy is fist pumping his triple.

[@jonburrows8602]

lol, keen observation.

[@CruceEntertainment]

I think he was just a little bummed that birdie still wasn’t enough, and he came so close.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

It's just as sad that Paul Lawrie never got credit for the greatest charge in major history. He started 10 shots back on Sunday. 10!!!!

[@dougwalsh9610]

If you would have mentioned what tournament I would have cared but since you didn't I don't.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@dougwalsh9610 Well, you made my point. It was this one--the one in the video--The 1999 Open. All people remember is the Van de Velde collapse. Understandably, but Lawrie never got the proper credit for his accomplishment.

[@dougwalsh9610]

4 hole playoff or did that bunker drain on 18 get him the win outright?

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

@@dougwalsh9610 Playoff. Got something against Lawrie?🙄

[@dougwalsh9610]

Don't know the guy

[@bobt5778]

I remember watching it on TV when it happened. You could feel it slipping through your own fingers sitting at home. I also recall how much I liked Van de Velde's swing at the time, tall address and very smooth and elegant. Of course pretty doesn't always win...

[@frankwhite1895]

He reminded me back then of a poor mans fred couples

[@bobsmith1034]

RIP Peter Alliss. Truly one of the greats.

[@brettpreston1976]

Peter Alliss was just spot on with every word he spoke through this tragedy

[@paulyflyer8154]

So sad to hear that Peter has passed away today😪. He really IS a massive loss. I remember watching this and feeling so sorry for VDV with the only comfort being that he was French.

[@SaltyChip]

Best commentary of a breakdown ever. Perfect amount of anger, to sadness, to sad relief. He knew there was no way in god's green earth he was going to rally back and win the playoffs. He was done and checked out.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Same feeling when Watson bogied the 18th at Turnberry. Everyone, including Watson, knew it was over.

[@raymondtaylor3833]

I still can’t believe this actually happened all these years later.

[@caderatliff3712]

Love your designs mate. Coursedownloads ftw!

[@HynoDesignsvIII]

Thanks...

[@DanielSong39]

Lost in all of this is the fact that Paul Lawrie shot one of the best rounds in major championship history - a sterling 67 to come from 10 behind to make the playoff, which he would eventually win.

[@gmaccruyff55]

tripleheshy Whats Justin Leonard,David Duval,Todd Hamilton,Ben Curtis etc done since winning a major?

[@gmaccruyff55]

tripleheshy Monty hardly played in America(except majors-3 times a runner up).As for Defaults:- Nicklaus v Saunders,Faldo v Norman,Ogilvie v Mickelson,Els v Scott. Ok,you don't like Lawrie.Big deal. p.s. Duval has 13 wins,Lawrie has 12. "Far and away". Yeah,very good.

[@dlamiss]

+gmaccruyff55 Lawrie was like Stewart Cink 10 years later.. first time they led their respective opens was in the subsequent playoffs. Fair play to them for winning the event but lets be honest they had NONE of the pressure the likes of Van de Velde or Watson and Westwood had while battling it out at the top of the leaderboard....How many subsequent times have either Lawrie or Cink finished in the top 5 or a major. I will guess at Zero.......

[@DanielSong39]

+dlamiss Lawrie won 5 tournaments after winning the Open Championship, finished in the top 10 in the European Order of Merit twice, and was a two-time member of the Ryder Cup team. Also had a top-10 finish in the 1993 Open Championship. He got lucky but you need a little luck when you're coming back from 10 behind. And let's face it; Van de Velde, Leonard, and Parry hasn't done much since that tournament either. Cabrera did win two majors, though.

[@dlamiss]

+DanielSong39 exactly my point both he and Cink were a tad fortunate. and he hasn't finished in the top 5 of a Major since...which was my point....

[@mhc121]

I can't believe this was 20 yrs ago. I remember watching this & still can't believe what I saw. This was beyond just choking. He had a mental breakdown. He basically threw away the biggest moment of his life because... I'm still not sure why!?!? 😱

[@julianhodgson1202]

Pressure.

[@weebolddavy]

I can remember watching this as though it was yesterday, can't remember any sportsman losing the plot like that, although I remember Bernhard Langer climbing a tree to play a shot which he did beautifully. Brilliant entertainment. RIP Peter Alliss, the game's not the same without you.

[@lesbianseagul621]

Always will remember Jean, iconic golf moment - love him.

[@diogeneslantern18]

"I’d grown friendly with Jean and wanted him to win - he was a mad rugby fan and we often shared some banter when the All Blacks played France. He came to the 18th tee with a three-shot lead - a double bogey would be good enough for a win. I reckon if you’d taken any half-decent golfer out of the gallery that day and told them they could win the Claret Jug if they could make a double-bogey six on the last hole, most of them would have been able to do it. A professional golfer and his caddy, between them, should have been able to make the right decisions and correct plays required to make a five without any trouble. I don’t blame Jean for the mistakes he made on that hole - it was the caddy’s fault. Every time I measure a golf course I ask myself, ‘What if we are coming down the last with a one- or two-shot lead - how are we going to play it?’ The caddy should have had a plan for that circumstance - though perhaps Jean was such an outside chance the caddy hadn’t considered the possibility of winning. Jean had made par at the brutal 17th - if he was going to lose the tournament it would have been there. As he walked to the 18th tee, he knew the win was his - or should have been. He was leading by three. It was all but over. He was probably thinking, ‘I’ve just won the British Open. What’s my wife thinking? What are my friends thinking? What about the people who have helped me through my career - what are they thinking? What are the people of France thinking? I’m going to be the first French major champion.’ That’s the stuff that goes through a player’s mind. His emotions would have been all over the place. He stepped up to the tee and took out his driver. That’s when I believe his caddy, Christophe Angiolini, should have brought him back to reality and told him the best way to ensure a win was to play conservatively. He should have said, ‘Let’s play for a bogey five here. Take a five-iron and keep the tee shot short of those bunkers on the right. Keep it short of the Barry Burn with the second, wedge it on, two-putt and win the championship.’ A driver was the worst possible club he could take - it brought all the possible dangers into play but, even then, he hit it so far right he avoided the worst of the trouble. At that point there was still time for a calm head to prevail. They’d made one mistake, there was no need to compound it. But no, from 200 yards out, he decided to go for the green - his whole thought process was in disarray. The caddy should have said: ‘No, let’s take a seven-iron and leave it short of the water, wedge it on and make five.’ Christophe either wasn’t experienced enough or not confident enough - and it was no surprise he got fired within a month of this debacle. No one who saw what happened next will ever forget it. The second shot bounced off the grandstand and into the rough. Jean then slashed through the long grass and dunked the ball in the shallow water of the Barry Burn, a creek that snakes all the way down the 18th hole. When he took off his shoes and socks and seriously thought about playing it out of the water, it was horrendous to see how muddled his thinking had become. Eventually common sense prevailed and he took a penalty drop, chipped on and made a fine putt for a seven to settle for a playoff, which Paul Lawrie won. It was so sad to watch - for Jean to have played the best golf of his life on the most difficult course set-up imaginable would have been a hell of a story had he won. Instead, he’s relegated to a comic act in golf history all because his caddy didn’t slow him down and point him in the right direction." - Steve Williams, Out of the Rough

[@SethMacLeod95]

Thought this was your commentary haha thanks for posting. Stevie’s right 100%

[@mrtoad1408]

Of course the caddy should take some blame but let's not pretend that a pro golfer couldn't have taken a better course of action.

[@rayoconnor8353]

Great piece . Thanks for posting

[@oldschool3126]

His wife's reactions were priceless.

[@tailhookmd2546]

I’m an avid golfer, more like addict. I remember watching this live in college. The thing I’ll never forget is the fist pump after the up and down for...... 7. You knew at that point he had no chance. He should have just walked straight to the parking lot.

[@drdestructo5741]

I remember watching this like it was yesterday....great memories....

[@JackJones-tg8sv]

just hit a 3 iron off the tee dude ,lay up the next , chip on , then 3 putt if u have to and its yours ... tragic

[@jamesgray7064]

I watched this live... it was an absolute meltdown. It was sad to watch.

[@mpreiss7780]

I remember vividly with my clubs around my shoulder going out the door to play as he was driving his ball on the 18th hole, and I kept saying well let's just wait till his 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th and finally 7th shot! I couldn't believe it and still think its the greatest collapse in major championship history. Although listening Jean explain the thought process on each of the shots I began to understand how massively unlucky a few of his shots were (2nd and 3rd) and put him in very difficult circumstances that led to the triple bogie, But I must say he handled it as well as anyone could of and as a true gentleman and a great golfer that he is

[@LORAC22]

I watched this live and have never rewatched and still can’t.

[@SpartyFan13]

7:27 Peter giving a commentary of my own golf game

[@brainscott8198]

"His golfing brain stopped about 10 minutes ago..." instant classic line.🤣🤣🤣

[@user-mw8um6mc3v]

Peter Allis' commentary is just brilliant. Unforgettable.

[@kennethterry8196]

Came here just as soon as I heard The sad news of Peter Allis’s Passing. Such A Great Institutional Voice for The Game Of Golf 🏌️. Van De Velde’s meltdown in that 1999 Open Truly defined him RIP

[@sir_nicks_allot_8902]

He was in over his head to begin with, and that's the saddest part of it all.

[@mikebraithwaite6537]

Its kind of amazing how the announcers sensed the meltdown so early. its like everyone knew what was going to happen

[@SethMacLeod95]

It was in the air for sure. Something was being sensed after the drive. Heck, Peter gets concerned second he sees driver is pulled lol “Ooh you lucky little rascal” 👀

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Yeah, it was like Sanders in 70. You could smell the choke.

[@andythompson3777]

It was interesting to see this footage again so long after the event. At the time I couldn't understand why Alliss got so much criticism for being harsh on Van der Velde. And seeing it again now I feel just the same. His commentary is spot on, restrained even. He expresses sadness for what's going on and deftly explains the madness of the situation. He doesn't go anywhere near as far as many of us watching did at the time - when I saw Van der Velde pull his driver out on the tee at one of the toughest driving holes in all of golf wanting a double bogey to win, I couldn't stop shouting "take a bloody 5 iron"!!

[@TheLocalLt]

Curtis Strange got the same criticism at the time in America for his commentary during this. Curtis may be a know it all at times but he didn’t say anything that was out of line or not true. The line that got most people upset was “this is the most stupid thing I’ve ever seen in my life, I have to be honest”, which wasn’t at all wrong. Curtis said in an interview in 2018 that the Van de Velde collapse “still the most stupid thing I’ve ever seen in golf”

[@andythompson3777]

@@TheLocalLt That's interesting. Didn't pick on that, or else my memory is failing. I think part of the media outburst in the UK was liking the human angle of Van der Velde's meltdown - something we mere mortals do all the time - and an equivalent dislike of Alliss calling that meltdown for what it was. And of course Van der Velde was, for most of the UK media other than expert golf reporters, a plucky underdog they'd never hear of. The other part was the early stages of the wider media starting to think of Alliss as a reactionary old buffer; something that has worsened in the last 10 years and something that Alliss has occasionally played up to, I fear. In any case, it's still 15 minutes of TV that I can't take my eyes off (even if I have to watch some of it through my fingers).

[@Weshopwizard]

Incredibly painful still. Remember watching this live and just shaking my head.

[@DAKtheKING]

This is one of the greatest fails of all time. Its why the 2 golf Opens are the best sports drama of the year. The courses are set-up hard and there is always a potential for a complete and total melt down.

[@danielhardy7406]

He seemed the only player that was able to play the so called impossible course. Then right on the last hole it went terribly wrong. Remember watching it, it was painful and felt so sorry

[@ianaldridge4778]

Has long has I live I will never believe what I saw that day it was unbelievable.

[@Merlin-lc4zu]

Fantastic commentary from the masterful Peter Alliss.Only sport produces moments like these and if someone had handed this in as a script to a drama series it would have been thrown out by the TV producers as a work of pure unbelievable fantasy.

[@Blues101100]

I watch this once every couple of years thinking that one of these times I’ll find myself in an alternate reality where he had actually won it. Amazing the sense of foreboding in Peter Aliss’ commentary even on the tee box. As a former caddy myself, if I was on his bag that day I would have snapped all of his metals clubs over my knee on the tee box to leave him no option and risked being fired on the spot but going down as the caddt who saved him from himself! A bit more realistically, I would have pushed very hard for him to just pitch out sideways from the high grass with his 3rd shot; I feel like that was really the crucial mistake trying to go at the green from a terrible lie and equally terrible angle. After that, on the green with the next one anywhere within 45 feet and then 2 putt for a 6. 😬

[@martinmahern7268]

It doesn't look like he & his caddy communicated much, if at all.

[@joavim]

The lie wasn't that bad, he got lucky with that wayward tee shot. I think we all agree his biggest mistakes were: 1) Teeing off with the driver instead of an iron. 2) Going for the green on his second shot instead of wedging it safely on the fairway. 3) Getting soaked to his knees for no reason whatsoever. 4) Not giving it a whack on his third shot. I mean what sort of weak shot was that from that lie, with the burn in front of him, and four shots to give?? Go hard at it and if it goes past the green, you either get a free drop from the stands and/or you still have three shots to hole it.

[@RichHoy]

That's me crouching on the inside of the ropes on the tee shot. I'm the lad on the right and that's my claim to fame.

[@malcolmbrannen]

Jackets in July...where I live(Georgia U.S.) it never gets below 85 F. in July

[@RichHoy]

+hugh jadonga but you don't have links golf

[@johnclark3697]

+Rich Hoy nice one rich

[@RichHoy]

+John Clark cheers John 😉

[@RichHoy]

jimeez49 not the same though is it

[@adamboyle3331]

Great up and down!

[@adrianjanssens7116]

He was leading and he folded like a cheap umbrella. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@senorchipotle]

"somebody go and stop him..." lmao

[@cfapps7865]

Damn, that is painful to watch 16 years later. I am starting to think after re-watching this that he might actually think he had won. Was that celebration after holing out a celebration of a guy who blew a 3 stroke lead on the last hole to tie or the common reaction after someone wins? He even reacts to something..looks surprised then him and Parry look to the scoreboard. What a weird finish. Thanks for the hard to watch clip. :)

[@kentuckykratom9460]

He did thought he won lol. He was thinking he scored a 6 lmao.... Talking about a huge change of emotions from thinking you just won British Open to now having to play in a 3 way Playoff...

[@radar0412]

Van De Velde's reaction after he holed the putt on 18 was the least fascinating event of everything that happened on the final hole at the 99 Open Championship. Any reaction after a Disaster like that would've been acceptable.

[@sycadelic666]

Haha. Nice to see you here, I’m always a few years late when it comes to the YT vids we watch lol. This video is a lesson on never giving up when things get bad at the course!

[@MrAJR76]

No, he knew exactly where he stood on the leaderboard & what he'd scored. Trust me, if he thought he'd won his reaction would have been much more extravagant!! He knew his putt was to get into the play-off and still have a chance, hence his fist-pump. But it certainly was the most surreal finish to a final round (although the 72nd hole of the 2001 US Open runs it fairly close).

[@jakelindsay6251]

Thanks for uploading. Never saw that in its entirety. His mind was clearly gone. Thinking he could possibly hit a ball submerged by more than a foot?!?! Pretty awesome 6 footer that he nailed, though!

[@AlexandreRochonBelec]

Still remember watching this with my dad and my brother... what a mess!

[@fluffynoses]

this is proof that even the golfing gods don't want a Frenchman to win The Open

[@juliencrombe2491]

what a stupid comment....

[@SaboSays]

@@juliencrombe2491 Found the Frenchman!

[@juliencrombe2491]

@@SaboSays No, Israeli... thanks for playing mate :) still, that comment was dumb

[@hugo9071]

God is not the one making bonehead decisions.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

One of the rare times when playing not to lose as a professional athlete would've suited them better than playing to win.

[@tomrichards17]

The announcer was absolutely brilliant hilarious yet well commentated one-of-a-kind for sure

[@tokyworld]

I remember watching this live. I was stuck on the telly, couldnt move watching this meltdown. I watched every stroke knowing it was a mistake.

[@MegaSmarterthanyou]

Caddy was useless after 2nd shot hes laughing , he was no help !

[@jamiestubbs49]

Rip Peter Alliss, one of the true greats of commentary

[@jamesvozar1]

This was recently mentioned at the open this year when speith blew out and had to fight his way back. cool to see it now

[@seanjenkins331]

I've watched this a hundred times

[@tjocus43]

Just saw this again on Golf Channel, it's hard to watch actually, lol.. there can't be a day that goes by where he doesn't think about that 18th hole at some point during the day.

[@deuce4off]

The moment your wife is laughing at you during the most important of your professional career...

[@michaelwiley5889]

MichaelMick lol she was already planning who she was gonna give the pussy to next

[@alanchong7513]

Why was his wife laughing? This was the most important moment of his career! Is she stupid?

[@alanchong7513]

+Daniel Germano Jean must be a very forgivable man. He seems to have lived with his place in golfing folklore but I would have liked him to win the playoff. Then it's a feel-good ending.

[@lonestar6709]

She's laughing because he's taking his shoes off and about to walk into the drink. I honestly think poor Jean had lost his mind at this point. And she was laughing at the absurdity of watching her husband turn into a loon.

[@eettuu_]

I would break up on that case

[@countalucard4226]

I was in a Las Vegas casino when this was happening and I could tell by the noise coming from the sportsbook drawing me it to the TV. Picked it up when he was standing in the water.