Charl Schwartzel Birdies Final Four Holes, Wins 2011 Masters Tournament

When Charl Schwartzel chipped in for birdie on the first hole, I thought it was a great start to his day.

When he holed out from the fairway for eagle on the third, I thought it just might be his day.

Turns out, it was.

Schwartzel birdied the final four holes and shot a six-under-par 66 on his way to a two-shot victory at the 2011 Masters Tournament.

What made this Masters Tournament one of the best I've ever seen was the intense competition throughout the afternoon, with no clear-cut favorite emerging until the final two holes when Schwartzel took command.

As 54-hole leader Rory McIlroy slowly began a free fall into oblivion, as many as nine players had a chance to walk off the 18th green and into a green jacket.

McIlroy finished 10 shots back and tied for 15th place. But Jason Day, Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald, Angel Cabrera, Bo Van Pelt and K.J. Choi all held a share of or were within one shot of the lead Sunday.

Woods made most of his noise on the front nine, carding a brilliant 31 and creating a buzz throughout Augusta National Golf Club that brought back memories of past Masters tournaments. But a three-putt bogey at No. 12 and a mere par at the vulnerable par-five 13th stopped his momentum.

Australian players Adam Scott and Jason Day certainly proved their mettle, finishing two shots back at 12-under-par with rounds of 67 and 68, respectively.

"I played well today and that’s all I could ask for,” Scott said during his post-round presser. “Obviously I can’t control Charl. And when you birdie the last four holes at the Masters and you’re around the lead, that usually wins.”

True, it was South African native Schwartzel, the world's 29th ranked player, who saved his most clutch shots for when it mattered most. And at just 26 years old, it bodes well for not only his future at the Masters, but at all the other major championships as well.

As he was presented the coveted green jacket inside Augusta's Butler Cabin following the win, Schwartzel said it was a "phenomenal day."

Of course it was. It was his day.