By Geoff Long Apr 12, 2009, 23:52 GMT
Augusta, Georgia - Argentina's Angel Cabrera won the Masters on Sunday after a three-man sudden death play-off with Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.
The 39-year-old fired a 1-under-par 71 to force his way into a play-off and after Campbell was eliminated at the first extra hole, the Argentine parred the second extra hole - the 10th - to edge out Perry for his second Major win.
'It is one of the happiest moments in my life,' Cabrera said after adding the Masters to his 2007 US Open title.
In one of the most dramatic final days at Augusta for years, Phil Mickelson (9-under-par) and Tiger Woods (8-under-par) both made early charges with some brilliant shot-making.
But Perry looked an almost certain winner when he birdied the 16th hole to go 14-under-par, two shots clear of Cabrera and Campbell.
The 48-year-old, bidding to become the oldest Major winner in history, bogeyed the final two holes to fall into a play-off with Cabrera and Campbell, who missed a birdie putt on the last hole of his round that would have won him his first Major.
The trio went back to the 18th tee and all three made a hash of things, but while Cabrera and Perry rescued their pars, Campbell missed his par putt and dropped out of contention.
Both Cabrera and Perry found the middle of the fairway on the second extra hole, but Perry pulled his second shot to the left while Cabrera found the green about 15 feet from the flag.
Perry hit his chip to about 25 feet and then missed his par putt, giving Cabrera two putts to win it and the Argentine made no mistake, leaving the first one stone dead and then tapping in for a victory he celebrated with a punch of joy.
'I am not going to hang my head over this,' Perry said. 'I fought hard out there, I was nervous, I didn't get it done at the end but I had a lot of fun and I am very proud of myself.
'I had the tournament to win, I lost the tournament, but Angel hung in there. I want to congratulate him.'
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