The three most incredible sporting highlights of 2013

As we kick off a new year, ‘best of’ lists for the year past are inevitable. Here are my favourite three sporting moments of the past 12 months.

3. Rafael Nadal’s comeback
Seven months out injured left many unsure whether the great Spaniard could return to anywhere near his best.

Such is Nadal’s unrelenting attitude to his sport, 2013 ended up being one his finest years.

After returning to the ATP tour in February he amassed 10 titles, including the French Open and US Open, and overtook Novak Djokovic as world no.1.

Nadal’s rivalry with Djokovic is now one of the greatest in tennis history. Nadal overcame Djokovic in typically tense matches at both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows.

The consistent quality of their battles, characterised by their physicality, is unrivaled and every encounter between the two is one to look forward to for Sporting Tragics.

2. The Confederations Cup in Brazil
What astonishing scenes at the 2013 Confederations Cup!

The people of Brazil, juxtaposed between their inherent love of football and their ever-increasing awareness of social injustice, provided a uniquely passionate support of their team.

Those in attendance at Brazil’s games sang their national anthem with a gusto and enthusiastic emotion rarely seen before.

Brazil’s form on the field was surely influenced by the passion of their fans and they won the tournament with unexpected ease, defeating the World and European champions, Spain, 3-0 in the final.

Their linchpin was undoubtedly Neymar. The heightened pressure seemed to bring the best out of Neymar and his teammates.

After quite a show, Sporting Tragics worldwide are now eagerly awaiting the full-blown exercise of the 2014 World Cup.

1. Adam Scott lifts the Australian curse at the US Masters
For many years, Australian Sporting Tragics have been waking up in the early hours of the morning to watch the US Masters, only to bear the grim disappointment of yet another near miss.

Of greatest tragedy were Greg Norman’s heartbreaking defeats in 1987, to a miraculous Larry Mize chip-in, and in 1996, to Nick Faldo after holding a six shot lead with 18 holes remaining.

Australia, a proud sporting nation, boasted numerous major champions at golf’s other three majors. However, prior to 2013, no Australian had succeeded at the US Masters.

The Tragics went into the final round at the 2013 US Masters with renewed hope. Three Australian players were in contention as the Tragics awoke, early Monday morning local time, for their final round viewing.

Being a regular workday, the Tragics left for their jobs prior to the finish. This resulted in a successful morning for coffee traders close to office buildings who happened to have a TV showing the US Masters.

A birdie by Adam Scott on the 18th gave him a one-shot lead to rapturous applause from the Tragics. The celebrations in the coffee shop matched Scott’s enthusiastic reaction.

However, the excitement was short lived as Angel Cabrera hit his approach on 18 to three feet. Coffee shop groans rang out.

Cabrera’s birdie leveled the score with Scott. A playoff ensued.

The two matched pars on the first playoff hole. The tension in the coffee shop went up a notch.

Scott hit a beautiful approach to the second playoff hole. The Tragics collectively held their breath as Scott had a putt to win and a chance to lift the Australian curse at the US Masters.

He made no mistake. Australia finally had its day at the Masters.

In Scott, the Tragics had a deserving hero. Scott has consistently been Australia’s number one player. He experienced a hugely disappointing near miss of his own at the 2012 British Open, but showed tremendous resolve and self-belief to win the 2013 US Masters.

The Tragics slapped high-fives and quickly went back to their day jobs with a spring in their step and a smile for their unsuspecting colleagues.

It was a memorable day for all Sporting Tragics in the most dramatic, and incredible, sporting highlight of 2013.