2011 Masters: Charl Schwartzel Wins Green Jacket as Rory McIlroy Crumbles

Perhaps, Rory McIlroy was just too young. Perhaps, he just doesn't have the experience to win at major just yet. After all, only one 21-year-old has ever won the prestigious green jacket, and that was the one and only Tiger Woods. 

Rory fired a 37 on the front and held a one-stroke lead heading in to the final nine. But on the 10th hole, everything fell apart. Seven strokes later, Rory had made triple bogey and had lost his share of the lead. McIlroy was unable to recover, as he four-putted the 12th hole for double bogey on his away to a seven-over 43. 

Kentucky.com reports McIlroy stating “I’m very disappointed, and I’m sure I will be for the next few days. But I’ll get over it.” 

Rory’s collapse was hard to watch, as he buried his head into his towel. McIlroy has come incredibly close to victory in the last three majors: T3 at British Open and PGA Championship, and T15 at Augusta this year. At least Rory has proved to be a good sport, as after his round he tweeted: 

“Well, that wasn’t the plan! Found it tough going today, but you have to lose before you can win. This day will make me stronger in the end.” 

With Rory out of the picture, the lead was up for grabs. Tiger had his shot but was unable to take control. He missed a short eagle putt on 15, that would have given him the lead. He tapped in for birdie to become tied with four other players at 10-under (there were five other players within two strokes of lead). 

The tournament was up for grabs, but three players separated themselves from the rest of the field, and Tiger was not one of them. The three-way race was between Charl Schwartzel, and Australia’s Adam Scott and Jason Day. 

Schwartzel’s round started off with a bang, as he began with birdie-par-eagle. At 10 consecutive pars, Charl was at 10-under within two of the lead. 

Despite not being able to capitalize on either of the back nine’s pars (-5), Scott appeared to be in control of the tournament. After he birdied 14 to take the lead at 11-under, he made a clutch two-putt to save par at 15. Scott followed up the par-save with a birdie at 16 to take a two-shot lead. 

Augusta is known as the grounds for where the best players in the world crumble down the stretch. But as soon as Adam Scott looked to be running away with it, Charl Schwartzel took his game to a whole other level. Schwartzel stayed aggressive, pulling out his driver and firing at pins. With birdies on 15 and 16, Schwartzel tied himself with Scott for the lead. But Charl didn’t stop there, as he sank a 15-foot putt on 17, to give himself a one-stroke lead. 

In the meantime, Jason Day birdied 17 and 18, to tie himself with Scott for the clubhouse lead. They could do nothing but watch and hope Schwartzel would bogey to force a three-way playoff.

But a bogey wasn’t in Schwartzel’s plan.

After a perfect drive on 18, Charl hit his iron on the green. He had two-putts for the win, but one was all he needed. Schwartzel rolled in the 20-footer to give the South African his fourth birdie in a row and his first green jacket. 

There were plenty of big name players in the top 10 (Woods, Scott, Donald, Ogilvy, Cabrera, Choi), but Schwartzel clearly was the superior player on Sunday, as he outplayed all of them down the stretch. This is certainly a well-deserved green jacket. 

Schwartzel’s victory sounds awfully similar to Louis Oosthuizen’s British Open victory in 2010. As a matter of fact, Charl and Louis stayed together at Augusta this year, and according to Golf Week, Charl said: 

“[Oosthuizen’s British Open Victory] was a huge inspiration. We know where our level of golf is. To see him win, in my mind, it made me realize it was possible.” 

Not many players can say they have closed out tournaments the way Schwartzel did. He proved to have ice in his veins as he made four birdies on the last four holes.

Charl’s ability to stay aggressive and execute on golf’s biggest stage with the whole world watching gives us reason to believe this isn’t the last time we’ll hear the name Charl Schwartzel.