Adam Scott wins a thrilling play-off for the Masters title
Adam Scott of Australia celebrates while wearing his green jacket after winning the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
Australia woke up to its first ever champion at the Augusta National Golf Club. A sensationally gripping final round featured an exciting climax as Adam Scott responded with nerves of steel against a composed Angel Cabrera to clinch his first ever major championship at the second playoff hole.
Scott sank a 25-foot birdie at the 18th hole of the final round to take the outright lead, but Cabrera responded with a brilliant approach shot and a birdie of his own to force a play-off for the second year running.
The day did not begin well for the affable 32-year-old from Adelaide. Scott worked his way out of the trees to card a bogey on the first, before saving par at the second. A monstrous birdie at the third hole that followed the twisting lines of the difficult pin at Flowering Peach was the start of things to come from the Aussie. On the final stretch, it was another Aussie who seemed to be walking away with his sight set on the Butler Cabin, where the gentleman is awarded his green jacket at Augusta.
Jason Day roared into the lead with a hat-trick of birdies through the 15th to own the tournament at 9 under. But then Day imploded straight under the gaze of Scott, who was watching intently from an adjacent hole as his compatriot fell back to -7 with bogeys at the 16th and 17th to squander his chances. Day had to be content with sole possession of third place.
Jason Day of Australia reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
Unperturbed, Scott went about his business much as he did on Saturday when he finished his round with a flourish of birdies (13th, 15th & 17th) to bring himself into contention. At the 18th, Scott lay about 25 feet from the pin tied at eight under with Cabrera. The Aussie, who finished in the top half of the leader board in each of the past five majors, sank the birdie with remarkable poise to leap into the outright lead. The immediate release for Scott, who high fived his caddie Steve Williams with ferocity felt like a victory celebration.
But El Pato, as Cabrera is referred to fondly, wasn’t done. The 43-year-old was the champion in Augusta in 2009 and after stumbling to bogeys at the 10th and 13th, the Duck came back to life with a birdie at the 16th. At the 18th, with Scott already in the clubhouse, Cabrera needed something special to force a play-off. The Argentine responded to the moment, with a perfect approach shot that left him barely a few feet away from the cup. Cabrera sank the putt to reach nine under and draw Scott out of the clubhouse for a sudden death play-off.
Both players got up and down the green in two to make par at the 18th even as dusk was setting in rapidly at the legendary course. The players were left almost evenly placed on the 10th green after brilliant approaches on the most difficult hole this week. Cabrera, who won a three way play-off in 2009, went first only to miss his putt even as ball caressed the lip ever so gently. Scott, who was in the putting form of his life, sank his to lift arms and scream in delight at his first career major title.
Tianlang Guan of China poses after winning the amateur honors of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
The at the Masters this year was the amazing story of Tianlang Guan. The youngster gave a good account of himself even if the scores proved otherwise, with the Chinese being the only amateur to have made the cut this week. Guan took home the Silver Cup to join in the illustrious company of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia who also have the silver on their shelves for their adventures at the Masters as amateurs.
The 14-year-old from Guangzhou had five bogeys in the final round, but after compensating a little with birdies at the 13th and 16th, the youngster was rewarded with a rousing reception by the normally staid patrons who are afforded a seat by the 18th green. It was a fitting end to his wonderful week at Augusta that Guan signed off with a par on the final hole.
Tiger Woods, the subject of much discussion this week – first as the hot favourite and then about the ill-designed drop at the 15th during the third round – finished in the top four for the seventh time in eight years since winning his fourth Masters in 2005. The 14-time major winner had to settle for a 70 that was only good enough to leave him in a tie with the man that started the Aussie charge this week. Marc Leishman, the Aussie on the top of the leader board at the end of the first round had an even par 72 to remain at five under for the week.
Tiger Woods of the United States and caddie Joe LaCava walk up the first fairway during the final round of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy redeemed himself after that disappointing 79 in the third round. The Irishman went ten better on Sunday with a 69 that contained four birdies, including back to back efforts at the 15th and 16th and a lone bogey at the par-3 fourth hole. But overall, McIlroy would have been disappointed with the two over 290 that left him in a group of ten players tied for 25th. The group included Michael Thompson, who along with David Toms carded an impressive 67 for the low round of the day. Toms finished in a tie for 13th at one under 287.
Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen leapt twelve spots to finish in a tie for sixth with Brandt Snedeker, who at one point in time enjoyed a share of the lead in the final round. Olesen scored a brilliant 68 that helped him to his best finish at a major at four under 284. The Dane finished in a tie for ninth at the British Open last year. Snedeker was left rueing missed chances as four bogeys on the home stretch cost him dearly. Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Matt Kuchar brought up the rear end of the top ten, finishing at three under for the week.
Angel Cabrera, congratulates Adam Scott on winning The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, Sunday, April 14, 2013. (Getty Images)
The 77th Masters though will be remembered for the celebrated triumph of Adam Scott who finally put the bandages on that gut wrenching loss at the Open last year when he squandered a four-shot lead on the final stretch to finish second. On Sunday, Scott was a winner of a major title, the first of his career that helped break the Masters jinx for Australia. It will also be remembered for the fearless effort of Guan and the uplifting graciousness of Cabrera, who took defeat in his stride with a gentle smile and warm hug to the victor.