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Immelman Wins Masters
Topic Started: Sunday Apr 13 2008, 06:56 PM (124 Views)
Cougar
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Tiger finished 2nd...but from what he was down by...thats still a great rally.

http://www.tsn.ca/golf/story/?id=234248&li...s=topStory_main

Quote:
 
IMMELMAN CAPTURES MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP, TIGER SECOND

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Trevor Immelman has walked in the footsteps of his boyhood hero.

He showed the mettle of a major champion under difficult conditions Sunday and won the Masters 30 years after Gary Player accomplished the feat for the third and final time.

Immelman has known Player since he was five years old and has often turned to his South African countryman for advice during his career. The 28-year-old now joins Player in one of the most exclusive clubs in golf.

He closed with a 3-over 75 to beat Tiger Woods (72) by three shots and Stewart Cink (72) and Brandt Snedeker (77) by four. Woods now has five second-place finishes in majors to go with his 13 victories.

Neither of the Canadian players was a factor over the weekend. Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., closed with a 74 and finished 17th while Calgary's Stephen Ames came in with a 75 and was 25th.

This Masters was a marathon.

Immelman led a group of four players looking for a breakthrough in the final round and kept his nerve as the wind whipped through the pines around Augusta National and had the signature yellow flags swaying to and fro.

He laid up with his second shot at the par-5 13th before hitting his approach stiff for a birdie that gave him a five-shot lead. Snedeker, his playing partner, found Rae's Creek at the hole for the second straight day and made a bogey that effectively ended his chances.

When Snedeker dropped another shot at the next hole, Immelman was up by six with four holes to play. He found the pond at the par-3 16th but even a double bogey there couldn't keep him from receiving the green jacket from defending championZach Johnson.

Immelman won this event with solid ball-striking, which Player compared to that of Ben Hogan earlier this week. He led the field in driving accuracy and was sixth in greens in regulation.

"He just has a very solid game," said Weir. "He hits the ball really nice.

"He's done a lot of work on his game, won some big tournaments before. Maybe it's time."

Indeed, it was.

Almost all of the focus heading into the week was on Woods and his pursuit of winning all four major championships in a calendar year. Immelman flew completely below the radar and it's easy to understand why - his best finish in a stroke play event this year had been a tie for 40th and he had already missed four cuts, including last week in Houston.

His health had become more important than golf over the past 12 months.

The slender South African lost 22 pounds in a matter of weeks after being diagnosed with a stomach parasite during last year's Masters and had a cancer scare in December. A benign tumour was removed from his diaphragm then, leaving behind a long scar that other tour players have often asked to see.

Immelman showed tremendous mental strength this week. He held at least a share of the lead after all four rounds, becoming the first champion to do that since Seve Ballesteros in 1980.

Woods was never able to mount a serious challenge. He parred each of the par 5's on Sunday - the holes he's owned while winning four green jackets - and again struggled with his putter.

The world's best player showed plenty of frustration throughout the day and waved his hand in disgust after rolling in a birdie at the 72nd hole.

"I didn't make any putts all week," said Woods. "I hit the ball well enough to contend."

Immelman is the second South African to win here after Player, who became the first international champion at the Masters in 1961. The prodigy and mentor will each attend the champions dinner next year.

Player made a record 51st Masters appearance this week and left Augusta National after missing the cut. He phoned Immelman before the final round and left a voice message, instructing him to take his time before saying: "I know you can do it."
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