ADAM SCOTT MADE history as the first Australian to win the Masters as he held off Angel Cabrera in a thrilling play-off finish at Augusta National.
At the end of a pulsating final day which ebbed and flowed, Scott and Cabrera were locked at the top of the leaderboard on nine-under-par.
After the first sudden-death hole failed to separate them, Scott drained a birdie putt in the fading light to claim his first Major title.
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Cabrera, the Masters winner in 2009, embraced Scott as the win sank in.
“That’s how golf is,” the Argentinian said. “I came back. I had my chance to win it. Adam is truly a good winner. He’s a great person and a great player and I’m happy for him.”
With another of the Australian challengers Jason Day in the clubhouse on seven-under-par, both Scott and Cabrera headed down the 72nd and final hole knowing that a birdie would leave them on the brink of outright victory.
Playing first, Scott sank a 20-foot birdie putt for a final round of three-under-par 69.
“There was a split second I thought I had won,” he admitted afterwards. “You never count your chickens. It was time to step up and see how much I wanted it.”
It left Cabrera needing a birdie of his own to force a two-man playoff and keep his Masters dream alive. The Argentinian stitched his approach to the final hole, leaving himself with a short putt which he held his nerve to make.
After a pair of pars on the first hole of the sudden-death shootout, it was Scott who eventually prevailed in a dramatic finish.
Day, second here two years ago, finished third after bogeys on 16 and 17 cost him his chance. He had earlier thrust himself into contention with three straight birdies from the 13th to the 15th as the final act played out.
Four-time winner Tiger Woods and another Australian, Marc Leishman, finished in a tie for fourth on five-under-par. Thorbjorn Oleson and Brandt Snedeker were tied sixth on four-under.
Adam Scott holds off Cabrera in play-off to win the Masters
Updated 1.20am
ADAM SCOTT MADE history as the first Australian to win the Masters as he held off Angel Cabrera in a thrilling play-off finish at Augusta National.
At the end of a pulsating final day which ebbed and flowed, Scott and Cabrera were locked at the top of the leaderboard on nine-under-par.
After the first sudden-death hole failed to separate them, Scott drained a birdie putt in the fading light to claim his first Major title.
Cabrera, the Masters winner in 2009, embraced Scott as the win sank in.
“That’s how golf is,” the Argentinian said. “I came back. I had my chance to win it. Adam is truly a good winner. He’s a great person and a great player and I’m happy for him.”
With another of the Australian challengers Jason Day in the clubhouse on seven-under-par, both Scott and Cabrera headed down the 72nd and final hole knowing that a birdie would leave them on the brink of outright victory.
Playing first, Scott sank a 20-foot birdie putt for a final round of three-under-par 69.
“There was a split second I thought I had won,” he admitted afterwards. “You never count your chickens. It was time to step up and see how much I wanted it.”
It left Cabrera needing a birdie of his own to force a two-man playoff and keep his Masters dream alive. The Argentinian stitched his approach to the final hole, leaving himself with a short putt which he held his nerve to make.
After a pair of pars on the first hole of the sudden-death shootout, it was Scott who eventually prevailed in a dramatic finish.
Day, second here two years ago, finished third after bogeys on 16 and 17 cost him his chance. He had earlier thrust himself into contention with three straight birdies from the 13th to the 15th as the final act played out.
Four-time winner Tiger Woods and another Australian, Marc Leishman, finished in a tie for fourth on five-under-par. Thorbjorn Oleson and Brandt Snedeker were tied sixth on four-under.
– Additional reporting by AFP
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Adam Scott Angel Cabrera Augusta National Brandt Snedeker Golf Jason Day. The Masters Tiger Woods US Masters 2013