Adam Scott ended Australia’s long wait for a Masters win on Sunday.
Scott, 32, beat Angel Cabrera of Argentina at the second playoff hole of the 77th Masters to become the first Australian to win the tournament. He recorded a total of 9-under 279 for four rounds.
It was also his first major title. He took home $1.44 million in prize money.
Adams won by using a long putter for the first time in the event. He made successful birdie putts with it on the 18th hole in the fourth round and the 10th hole in the playoff.
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Adam Scott |
The Masters has been the only one of four majors which did not allow a triumph for Australian players. So far, Australian golfers have won the British Open nine times, PGA Championships four times, and the U.S. Open twice.
The tournament at Augusta National in the U.S. state of Georgia has been a source of frustration Down Under after decades of near misses starting with Jim Ferrier, the 1947 PGA Championship winner who blew a lead at Augusta National in 1950.
Aussies almost grabbed the Masters title in 2011 when Scott settled for second, tied with compatriot Jason Day. The 2011 green jacket was taken by Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
The high-profile Greg Norman made close calls at the Masters, finishing as runner-up three times in 1986, 1987 and 1996.
Scott, who was inspired by Norman and later became close friends with “The Shark,” was deemed the leader of the new generation. Scott turned pro in 2000.
He dated former tennis world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in 2010. They separated in September that year and reunited in 2011, before splitting up again one year later.
Among the biggest wins of his career before the 2013 Masters are the 2004 Players Championship and the 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
He has chalked up nine wins on the U.S. PGA tour so far, including the 2013 Masters. Currently, he is ranked seventh.
In 2011, after Tiger Woods fired his caddy Steve Williams, the New Zealander caddied for Scott. The two enjoyed their first win together in 2011 when Scott triumphed at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
By Chun Sung-woo (
swchun@heraldcorp.com)
