An awesome run of four birdies over the final four holes landed Charl Schwartzel his first Major title after he swept through the Masters field on an astonishing day at the Augusta National.
Maybe it was always going to be the 26-year-old's championship after he chipped in from off the green for a birdie at the first and then holed his second shot for an eagle at the 350-yards par-4, third.
Great shots tinged with luck they might have been, but it took more than good fortune to close the tournament out as the slender-framed South African held his nerve in a display of power and precision over the closing stretch for a final round of 66 - the best score of the day.
Yet it was such a roller coaster afternoon, Schwartzel, playing alongside K J Choi in the penultimate pairing, was only confirmed champion after holing out at the 18th and extending his lead by two shots over Adam Scott and Jason Day on -12.
For a while it looked like either of the two Australians might become their nation's first Masters champion, but it wasn't to be. In fact, on a day when the lead was passed around like a gift in a child's party game, any one of nine players could have walked away from Augusta wearing the coveted Green Jacket.
At the start of the afternoon all eyes were on Rory McIlroy, the prodigious young Northern Irishman who had played so beautifully over the first three rounds, and who held an overnight four-shot lead.
McIlroy hung on gamely through the front nine as the pack, led by a classic Tiger Woods charge, closed in. But the wheels came off the 21-year-old's challenge during a horrific 45-minute spell which saw him leak six shots in three holes after the turn, and he ended up carding a painful 80.
A shell-shocked McIlroy, who admitted losing confidence over his putting stroke, failed to recover and it will be interesting to see how he uses this experience in the future.
Woods, meanwhile, was back to his imperious best over the front nine, carding 31 shots for a -5 total. Was this to be the first time the former World Number One would come through the field on the final day to win his 15th Major title? Not today.
A level par back nine left Woods frustrated as his touch deserted him when faced with eagle and birdie putts on the 15th and 16th, and his charge lost momentum.
Elsewhere, others who will leave Augusta believing they missed a golden chance to claim a Major include Choi, past champion Angel Cabrera, Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald and Bo Van Pelt. Each had opportunities to stake a claim but, ultimately, it was Schwartzel who remained composed with the finish of a true champion.
Monday, 11 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Masters Moments - 2005 - Tiger's extraordinary chip
Some golf shots are destined to remain forever in the memory. The 2005 Masters probably won't be remembered for Tiger Woods and Chris Di Marco going head to head in a play-off
Instead, the final day will be remembered for Woods' second at the par-3 16th. Playing out of the rough just off the green, Woods chipped his shot at a right angle away from the pin, using gravity to bring the ball back down the slope towards the hole.
In a moment Hollywood script writers would have been proud of, the ball gradually rolled to the hole until it came to a rest on the edge of the cup.
As everyone around the green held their breath, another quarter roll saw the ball drop from sight - the sponsor's name in view (a huge bonus for the Nike marketing team).
I believe the resulting roar from the gallery was heard around the whole of Georgia!
Instead, the final day will be remembered for Woods' second at the par-3 16th. Playing out of the rough just off the green, Woods chipped his shot at a right angle away from the pin, using gravity to bring the ball back down the slope towards the hole.
In a moment Hollywood script writers would have been proud of, the ball gradually rolled to the hole until it came to a rest on the edge of the cup.
As everyone around the green held their breath, another quarter roll saw the ball drop from sight - the sponsor's name in view (a huge bonus for the Nike marketing team).
I believe the resulting roar from the gallery was heard around the whole of Georgia!
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Masters Moments - 1996 - Faldo capitalises on Norman's collapse
Nick Faldo's third Masters victory in 1996 will not be remembered so much for his amazing final round of 67, but more for Greg Norman's collapse from a winning position.
Going in to the fourth day in pole position, Norman carded an unbearably disappointing round of 78 as the Englishman completed a victory from six strokes behind.
It was tough to watch as an opponent, as well as a spectator, and the players' reaction to the result after they holed out at the 18th was a classic example of brilliant sportsmanship between two tough competitors.
Going in to the fourth day in pole position, Norman carded an unbearably disappointing round of 78 as the Englishman completed a victory from six strokes behind.
It was tough to watch as an opponent, as well as a spectator, and the players' reaction to the result after they holed out at the 18th was a classic example of brilliant sportsmanship between two tough competitors.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Masters Moments - 1995 - Gentle Ben's divine intervention
The Masters often has a way of bringing a tear to the eye. None more so than in 1995 when highly-unfavoured Ben Crenshaw claimed his second Green Jacket.
Crenshaw turned up at Augusta just days after the death of his former coach and mentor Harvey Penick (author of The Little Red Golf Book) with little hope of winning.
It turned out that the veteran's total score of -14 equalled the fourth-lowest score in the history of the Masters, while birdies on the 16th and 17th on Day 4 gave Crenshaw a one-shot victory over Davis Love III.
The pressure was overwhelming and Crenshaw almost collapsed in tears after making his winning putt.
Pass the Kleenex!
Crenshaw turned up at Augusta just days after the death of his former coach and mentor Harvey Penick (author of The Little Red Golf Book) with little hope of winning.
It turned out that the veteran's total score of -14 equalled the fourth-lowest score in the history of the Masters, while birdies on the 16th and 17th on Day 4 gave Crenshaw a one-shot victory over Davis Love III.
The pressure was overwhelming and Crenshaw almost collapsed in tears after making his winning putt.
Pass the Kleenex!
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Masters Moments - 1988 - Sandy lie is no trouble for Lyle
It was not Sandy Lyle's sweaty armpits or jaunty little jig after holing a tricky winning 10ft putt on the 18th in 1988 that sticks most in my memory - although unforgettable.
The magic moment came a few minutes before when Lyle played the fairway bunker shot of all time fairway bunker shots. It was a perfect 7-iron that flew over the pin, sat down and gradually rolled back to the hole as if the cup was drawing the ball towards it with a magnet.
The following birdie putt was enough to secure a one-stroke victory over Mark Calcavecchia. Cue the jaunty jig!
The magic moment came a few minutes before when Lyle played the fairway bunker shot of all time fairway bunker shots. It was a perfect 7-iron that flew over the pin, sat down and gradually rolled back to the hole as if the cup was drawing the ball towards it with a magnet.
The following birdie putt was enough to secure a one-stroke victory over Mark Calcavecchia. Cue the jaunty jig!
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Masters Moments - 1986 - Jack storms through the field
This was my first proper recollection of watching the Masters on TV. As a somewhat naive teenager, I had heard of Jack Nicklaus but never fully knew of his achievements or fantastic history.
So what was so special about watching this blonde-haired hero ploughing through the field on a Sunday evening in the UK? Well, just one word - momentum!
It was Jack's momentum that fired up the watching Augusta galleries; it was momentum that led to him scoring eagle-birdie-birdie on the 15th, 16th and 17th during his final round of 65; and it was momentum that took Jack to his sixth Green Jacket (the first was won in 1963) and 18th professional Major title.
Pure genius!
So what was so special about watching this blonde-haired hero ploughing through the field on a Sunday evening in the UK? Well, just one word - momentum!
It was Jack's momentum that fired up the watching Augusta galleries; it was momentum that led to him scoring eagle-birdie-birdie on the 15th, 16th and 17th during his final round of 65; and it was momentum that took Jack to his sixth Green Jacket (the first was won in 1963) and 18th professional Major title.
Pure genius!
Georgia on my mind
It's Masters week, of course, and what better way to prepare for the excitement in Augusta than by reflecting on past Masters moments that live long in the memory.
Over the next few days I'll recollect some of those unforgettable images that have stuck in my mind from watching this special tournament over the years.
Feel free to have your say on your magic moments.
Over the next few days I'll recollect some of those unforgettable images that have stuck in my mind from watching this special tournament over the years.
Feel free to have your say on your magic moments.
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