Scott wins Masters to end Australian heartache

Reuters: Adam Scott ended decades of Australian agony when he became the first player from his country to win the Masters with a high-quality playoff victory over Angel Cabrera at a rain-soaked Augusta National on Sunday.

Scott sealed the win with a 15-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole, the par-four 10th, before thrusting his arms skywards in triumph, moments after burly Argentine Cabrera had narrowly missed his attempt from 18 feet.

“It’s incredible to be in this position,” Scott said in the Butler Cabin before being helped into the revered green jacket by 2012 champion, Bubba Watson. “It’s an honour.

“I tried not to think about anything today along those lines,” Scott added, referring to the lengthy Australian title drought in the year’s opening major. “The thing I did well out there was to stay right where I was, stayed in that one shot.”

The duo finished the regulation 72 holes on nine-under-par 279, Scott sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the last for a three-under 69 before Cabrera matched him after hitting a brilliant approach shot to just three feet on 18 for a 70.

It was the fifth playoff at Augusta National in the last 11 years, and the second in a row with American Watson having edged out South African Louis Oosthuizen 12 months ago. There had previously been eight runner-up finishes by Australians at the Masters, three of them achieved by Greg Norman.

“Australia is a proud sporting nation and this is one notch in the belt that we never got,” Scott said, who led by one shot with two holes to play at the 2011 Masters before South African Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to win by two.

“It’s amazing that it came down to me today. There was one guy who inspired a nation of golfers and that’s Greg Norman. He’s been incredible to me and all the young golfers in Australia.

“Part of this definitely belongs to him,” the Australian said, the fourth player to win a major title using a long putter anchored to the body since American Keegan Bradley triumphed at the 2011 PGA Championship.

Scott’s victory at Augusta National earned him redemption after he squandered a four-shot lead with four holes to play in last year’s British Open at Royal Lytham for South African veteran Ernie Els to land the title.