South African Schwartzel wins Masters

By Peter Auf der Heyde Apr 10, 2011, 22:51 GMT

Augusta, Georgia - Charl Schwartzel on Sunday became the third South African to capture the Masters, coming from behind to win by two shots over Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott.

Schwarzel carded a six-under 66 on Sunday to finish 14-under to win the 75th Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Schwartzel opened the day chipping in for a birdie on the first and then hit a magnificent eagle with a 114-yard wedge shot that rolled into the hole on the third to go to the front, but played his only bogie of the day on the fourth hole to fall behind.

With five holes to play, Schwartzel was a shot behind Scott, but a birdie on the 15th saw him draw level. The Australian, who was playing in the flight before him, birdied the 16th, but Schwartzel followed suit.

While Scott then played the two remaining holes to par, just missing a birdie putt on the last hole, Schwartzel managed another two birdies to finish with four birdies in a row.

After being presented with the green jacket for the winner and the winner's cheque of 1.44 million dollars, the South African said that he had never prayed as much on a golf course as he had on Sunday.

'It was only my second appearance, but it is the best golf course to play on,' Schwarzel said.

He dedicated the victory to his father: 'He has played such a big part in my life. Another person I want to thank is Louis Oosthuizen, who won the British Open last year. That inspired me, and it showed me that anything is possible.'

Schwarzel's victory came 50 years after Gary Player had become the first South African to win the Masters. Player went on to win three times, and Trevor Immelman won in 2008.

Day, who partnered Scott on the final round, said that he was feeling the heat out there.

'I could not do any more than we did today. We played very good golf, but Charl played even better,' Day said. 'It was great playing with Adam, and it was really good to be in the hunt for the Masters.'

Scott said that he tried his best: 'I played good, and I can't ask for any more. I had an outside chance with my putt on the last. It was not my best putt, but I came close.'

Earlier, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who held at least a share of the lead throughout the opening three rounds, looked strong for the first nine before collapsing coming in.

A triple bogey on the par-four 10th saw him fall behind, and there was no coming back as he bogeyed the 11th and then hit a double-bogey on the par-three 12th.

The 21-year-old ended his round on eight-over for a total of four- under to finish well down the leader board, tied for 15th.

'I thought I hung on pretty well on the front nine but just lost it on the back nine,' he said. 'It is one of those things, and I am very disappointed, but I will get over it. Hopefully it will build a little bit of character in me.'

His collapse allowed a host of players to pull past, with Tiger Woods, who started the day seven behind, finishing his round with a five-under 67 to go 10-under for the tournament.

Woods, who has never won a major without holding at least a share of the lead going into the final round, missed a number of putts that would have given him an even better score.

He played a wonderful opening nine holes to be five-under for the day at the turn, with four birdies and an eagle, but struggled on the back nine as he managed just one birdie - giving away a 6-foot eagle putt - and bogeyed the 12th.

Woods was joined on 10-under by Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who also started the day seven behind McIlroy and England's Luke Donald. The three were tied for fourth.

Angel Cabrera was seventh after finishing on nine-under after carding a one-under 71.

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