That Sunday red finally meant something again.
Charl Schwartzel won the 75th Masters tournament, but the week was about the man who was tied with him atop the leaderboard through nine holes yesterday. Tiger Woods charged in the final round at Augusta like we haven’t seen since before his life imploded after a car wreck in November 2009.
“I hit it good all day,”?said Woods, who finish tied for fourth after posting a final-round 67. “This entire weekend I hit it good. So that was a nice feeling.”
It was a familiar feeling for the field when Woods erased a seven-shot deficit by the time he made the turn. He was both fluid and consistent with his new swing, as he led the field hitting 16 of 18 greens yesterday. He took advantage of par-fives like old times, draining an 8-foot eagle on the daunted eighth hole. And he even gave a patented fist pump that stirred up the gallery and startled his opponents.
“Oh, yeah. … You can just tell what’s going on out there. It’s quite unique,”?said Adam Scott. “[It was] a hell of a run from him.”
All Woods needs now is a faithful flat stick. Despite striping his irons, he played the back nine even, missing a 3-foot par putt on 12 and pulling a 6-footer for eagle on 15.
“I should have shot an easy 3- or 4-under on the back nine,” Woods said. “Just didn’t putt well.”
Schwartzel rises to the top
South African Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to clinch his first major title with a two-stroke victory. Schwartzel, who began the final round at Augusta National four strokes off the pace, rolled in a 20-footer on the 18th green to complete a 6-under, 66, the day’s lowest score.
The leaderboard fluctuated repeatedly and eight different players held at least a share of the lead.
