On a rainy day in Augusta, Georgia, Adam Scott beat Argentine Angel Cabrera in a sudden-death playoff at the 77th Masters golf tournament, becoming the first Australian to win the contest and its green jacket. This is the second year in a row that the Masters has gone into a sudden-death round.
After sinking his final putt, Scott lifted his arms and looked towards the gray sky and with one stroke laid to rest any doubts about his ability to emerge victorious in the Masters. A video of this moment can be seen here.
“I found my way today,” he said in Butler Cabin, while awaiting the green jacket from defending champion Bubba Watson. “There was some luck out there. It’s incredible to be in this position. I am honored.”
The additional sudden-death round came about after both Scott and Cabrera managed to snag birdies on the 72nd hole, finishing the regulation period of the tournament at nine-under the par of 279. Scott pulled ahead by successfully putting on the final hole of the fourth round and finally won when Cabrera, who won the Masters in 2009, missed his put last put. Fellow Australian Jason Day came in third, after bogeying the 16th and 17th holes, finished two strokes behind Scott. Meanwhile, the highly favored and world’s number-one ranked Tiger Woods finished fourth, at five under par.
"I had a hard time getting accustomed to the speed," Woods said. "Every putt I left short for probably the first eight holes." Woods has not won a Masters since 2005 or another major since the U.S. Open in 2008.
Prior to yesterday, Scott was considered one of the greatest golfers to have never won any of golf’s major events. He is one of many Australians, including Norman (who failed by narrow margins in 1986, 1987 and 1996), to come close. Other Aussies who just missed their chance to don the green jacket include Jason Day (who tied for second with Scott in 2011), Bruce Crampton (1972; beaten by American golf legend Jack Nicklaus) and Jim Ferrier (1950).
His previous wins included The Players Championship, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and the Tour Championship. Just last year he lost by one shot to Ernie Els at the British Open.
Ultimately, this was a win for Australia as much as it was for Scott, who added, “This is the notch in the belt (Australia) never had before. There was one guy who inspired an entire nation and that’s Greg Norman. Part of this is for him.”