Compared to what happened to Roberto de Vicenzo and Jean van de Velde, Padraig Harrington's embarrassing mistake was trifling in terms of gold and glory.
Yet the Dubliner admits he is having desperate trouble putting his bizarre disqualification at The Belfry behind him.
Harrington, again poised for victory after two 66s left him sharing the lead yesterday with New Zealand's Michael Campbell in the German Masters at Gut Larchenhof, forgot to sign his first-round card in the Benson and Hedges International in May.
By the time the error came to light the £170,000 sterling jackpot was virtually in the bag, a third-round 64 having swept him five strokes clear of the field.
In 1968 De Vicenzo signed for a score greater than he actually had in the US Masters, allowing Bob Goalby to snatch the green jacket.
And Van de Velde infamously took seven when a double-bogey six at the final hole in last year's British Open at Carnoustie would have given him victory, then lost to Paul Lawrie in a tense play-off.
Harrington says: "They will live with it for the rest of their lives. The legacy for me is getting asked about it every week.
"My playing partner Thomas Bjorn thought it was funny reminding me to check my card for two signatures and make sure one of them was mine.
"It's put a lot of pressure on me trying to live up to how I was playing that week. I may still be thinking I could have won three instead of two. Even a perfect golfer wouldn't be human if he didn't look back on his mistakes.
"I don't know what a win now would do for me. Perhaps it would be better to focus on winning for the sake of winning, instead of trying to get rid of a bad memory."
By a strange quirk of fate Campbell, home in 30 for 64, was the man whose signature, mistakenly appended to Harrington's card at the Belfry, confused Harrington into assuming one of the two names was his.
The New Zealander missed a 10-foot birdie putt at the last yesterday which would have tied the German course record.
Eamon Darcy was eight shots behind the leaders on 140, after adding a fine 67 to his disappointing 73 on Thursday.
Paul McGinley is a single shot further back after adding a 70 to Thursday's 71. Ronan Rafferty's tournament ended early when he shot 75 to add to his 73, leaving him all of six shots beyond the cut, which fell on level par 142.
Two big names to miss out were Jose-Maria Olazabal, whose aggregate was 143 and Ian Woosnam, a shot further back. The Welshamn shot 71 yesterday, but was undone by his 73 on Thursday.
At the other end of the field, at 12 under par Campbell and Harrington are one clear of Jose Coceres of Argentina with Bjorn and Bernhard Langer one further back.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie may have eased his way towards only a third European Tour victory this year by recording a four-under 68 to move into a fourway share of sixth place at nine under par.
Joining Montgomerie, who was disappointed to par his closing 11 holes, was Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Van de Velde and young Australian sensation Adam Scott.
Sergio Garcia was five adrift after shooting 65.
Australian youngster Scott, who will play in next week's World Matchplay championship only three months after turning pro, is also in contention after a 65.
Campbell and Harrington will play together today. "You can be sure Padraig will be triple-checking his card," said Campbell, just proving Harrington's contention that he is never let forget his unfortunate mistake.
"The last time we played together it was not very good news for Padraig, but it's water under the bridge now and I think tomorrow will be fun," Campbell added.
The New Zealander lies sixth on the European rankings with wins in the Johnnie Walker Classic and Heineken Classic, and is determined to finish higher.
"I'm after the order of merit, that's been my motivation for the last six months or so.
"If I can play well here and take my game to the Volvo Masters and World Golf Championship at Valderrama, then I've got a chance of topping off Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
"As I've won my European titles in Asia and Australia it would be nice to get one in Europe this year," Campbell concluded.
Rankings leader Lee Westwood made an ominous move with a 66 to be only four off the lead and threaten to make it successive wins after victory in Belgium last week.
