Cabrera becomes first Argentine to win Masters
Posted
|
Angel Cabrera is the first South American to slip on a green jacket.
Forty-one years after fellow Argentinian Roberto De Vicenzo lost out on a shot to win the Masters Tournament because of a scorecard gaffe, Cabrera won Sunday in a three-way playoff over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.
It was the fifth three-way playoff at the Masters since 1987, when Augusta native Larry Mize defeated Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. It was the 14th overall playoff in tournament history, and the fourth involving three players.
Campbell was eliminated on the first playoff hole, the 18th, with a bogey.
Cabrera and Perry headed for the 10th hole, and both drove in the fairway. But Perry pulled his second shot well left of the green, then pitched back past the cup. He missed his putt for par.
Cabrera hit his approach safely on the green, and two-putted for the victory and punched the air with his right fist.
Despite early fireworks from several players, the tournament came down to a three-way battle over the last few holes.
Perry shot 36 on the front nine and held a one-shot lead over playing partner Cabrera and Campbell going into the final nine.
Perry made pars on 10 and 11, then ran in a long birdie putt from the back fringe to open up a two-shot lead. Perry made birdies at the 15th and 16th, the latter after nearly holing his tee shot, to increase his margin. He gave a shot back at the 17th with a bogey.
Needing only a par at the 18th, Perry drove into the fairway bunker and then hit to the left of the green. He could not get up and down for par to avert the playoff.
Campbell made a bogey on the 11th, but responded with birdies at 12, 13 and 15 to tie Perry at one point.
Cabrera, meanwhile, sputtered through the first 11 holes at 2-over. Birdies at Nos. 13, 15 and 16 put him back in contention.
Under ideal weather conditions, and a favorable course setup, the players took advantage and went low Sunday.
Shingo Katayama shot 68 and finished fourth. John Merrick had 66 and Steve Flesch shot 67 to finish in the top 10.
But early in the day, it was the Phil and Tiger show as the world's top two players were paired together.
Mickelson closed with 67 and finished at 9-under-par. Woods shot 68 and finished at 8-under.
Mickelson equaled the front-nine scoring record of 30 in charging up the leaderboard, while Woods made an eagle at the par-5 8th to get into contention.
"It was a fun front nine," Mickelson said. "I thought there were some pins that you could get to, and if you could get a little bit of momentum, you could make some birdies and I was able to do that on the front nine."
Problems off the tee doomed Woods on the final two holes. He hit a tree on the 17th and could not play toward the green. He chipped long and then missed the par putt.
At the 18th, Woods drove in the trees on the right and tried to manufacture a shot through the limbs. He hit another tree but wound up with a clear shot to the green. He missed the par putt, and it was his third bogey on the closing hole this week.
"I was right there and hit a good tee shot down 17," Woods said. "(But) the wind just held it enough, wouldn't let it cut back, and consequently I was dead from there."
Mickelson missed a short birdie putt at the 17th, then drove into the fairway bunker at the 18th. His approach came up short, and he could not save par.
