Fellow Argentine and Golfing legend Roberto DeVicenzo must have felt very confident about Angel Cabrera chances in this years Masters tournament in Augusta.
Indeed Cabrera himself was left in no doubt about his fortunes heading into the three way playoff between Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell, to decide who would win the famed green jacket.
“DeVicenzo gave me a frame prior to today’s play, and he told me that I should use it when I win the Masters,” Cabrera said.
As DeVicenzo predicted, the mystic green jacket that appeared so far away at the start of this years Masters in Augusta has made its way into the hands of Angel Cabrera.
The Argentine maintained a firm pulse in the last holes to approach the nerves of US players Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry, to claim his second grand slam title and become the first South American in history to win the prestigious event.
Just like his first major victory at the US Open in 2007, Cabrera had to rally from behind. But when he managed to claw his way in to contention, the chubby Argentine showed no mercy.
Indeed any hopes of a second Grand Slam title nearly came unstuck for Cabrera.
In his first play off hole, Cabrera managed to scrap in a par, after earlier hitting a disastrous tee shot which landed behind a tree.
Cabrera in the end only needed four shots in the first play off to eliminate Chad Campbell, who only managed a bogey after hitting his tee shot into the bunker.
Only Kenny Perry, a player who has been on tour since 1987, could stop Cabrera from claiming his second major crown.
The second round of the sudden death playoff however went Cabrera’s way.
The second shot from the Argentine proved to be the difference in destabilising Perry’s game.
Cabrera’s second shot landed well on the green, just four metres away from his potential championship hole.
Perry however swung himself out of contention with his shot landing near the trees. He failed to recover and his fairytale ride in this years Masters had reached a disappointing end.
Cabrera only needed a par in the end to secure his maiden Masters title in Augusta. A victory that was built on several days of terrific golf from the 39 year old.
His birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th holes allowed Cabrera to take advantage of Perry’s bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes, to force a three way play off.
Indeed Cabrera had to fight tooth and nail with Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods in 2007, to register his maiden Grand Slam title.
That experience no doubt served him well yesterday morning when he became the first Argentine in history to win the Augusta Masters.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
What about Cabrera's second shot on the first playoff hole? He slammed it into the side of the tree, could have gone absolutely anywhere, but ended up in the middle of the fairway. That was the turning point. Kenny Perry was very sporting when Cabrera made the putt to force it to another hole. Hopefully the Augusta organisers don't take 12-under par as an insult to the course (i.e decide to lengthen it again). I thought it was fair conditions the whole four days. The fact that Mickleson and Woods looked like they could pull off the impossible on the last day is testament to the golf course.
Golf Clubs Consultant
Guest
It was fun watching the playoff, though a bit painful to watch Kenny Perry give it away. Feel free to check out my post about Angel Cabrera's Ping golf clubs. Thanks, Bill
Alan Nicolea
Guest
Spiro I am no expert in the golfing world but i feel as if Tiger woods still has the class necessary to win more Grand Slams. He played well on the last day to put himself within one shot of the three leaders but it then went all downhill. He can not win them all ,but he has won enough to suggest that he still is a major threat to take out multiple titles. On the winner though, it seems that if Cabrera's on form, he can really produce quality, just like he did in 2007. He was nowhere near top form heading into the masters but he still managed to pull it out of the fire and win. If he remains consistent Cabrera will be a major threat this year.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
It was intriquing to see Tiger Woods lose it, metaphorically and literally, on the 17th hole when instead of hitting a safe 3 wood off the tee, as he'd been doing for most of the round, took out his driver and belted the ball into the trees. He then smacked a tree trying to escape and ended up with a bogey that effectively killed any remote hope he had of being a contender. The one aspect of Woods' game, rather like Jack Nicklaus, was his intelligence in knowing when to go for it and when not to. To see him virtually panicking like most of the other golfers under intense pressure was to see a new side of him that suggests his days of dominance might be over. As someone who always wants him to win, for many reasons, I'm hoping that these thoughts are wrong.