Masters 2011: Charl Schwartzel Takes Exhilarating, Pressure-Packed Event

Charl Schwartzel brilliantly played the final four holes to win the intensely exciting 2011 Masters.

21-year-old Rory McIlroy led by two entering the final round of the 75th Masters, but seven others either shared or held an advantage over the culminating 18 holes.

Charl Schwartzel, 26, was one of them, and with a brilliant and composed finish, the South African playing in his first Masters, pulled out a two-shot victory, beating out a host of competitors including one Tiger Woods. 

McIlroy’s downfall

The Irishman stepped up to the first hole in control of his own destiny. He bogeyed the opening two holes, and had the look of someone who needed to quickly bounce back or fall fast. He recovered, minimizing damage for the rest of the front-nine to take a one-shot lead to the 10th hole.

The 10th, which has given many of the game’s best fits over the years, did him in. His drive on the par-4 was shanked well right and rested in between two of the cabins, closer to the 7th hole than the 10th.

This trouble resulted in a nightmarish domino effect and an eyesore on the scorecard. A triple-bogey seven was the damage, dropping him from first to seventh on the leaderboard and shattering whatever confidence he had left.

“I don’t think anyone’s ever been near those cabins before,” he managed to joke after his round.

Summing up his day was his drive on the 15th hole and his reaction after that drive. He was five-under, having already dropped seven shots when his driver failed him.

The ball was hit wayward to the left, ending up in a creek bed. After the swing and watching where it landed, McIlroy depressingly rested his head on his club, stared down at the ground and pondered what could have been and what unfortunately was.

“I just unraveled,” he said. “Hit a bad drive on 10 and just really never recovered.”

He finished at four-under, shooting a forgettable 80 to tie for 15th in a tournament he was in control of for the better part of 63 holes.

After his round, CBS reporter Peter Osterhaus tried to put a positive spin on his Masters performance. McIlroy responded by expressing his disappointment while also viewing his play as a learning experience.

“It’s gonna be hard to take for a few days,” he said. And what did him in? “I think it’s a Sunday at a major,” he said.”This is my first experience at it, and hopefully next time I will be able to handle it a little better.”

With the maturity and talent he has, I’m sure he will.

Tiger on the prowl

While McIlroy scuffled, Woods was no longer a shadow of his former self.

Wearing red as is his tradition on Sunday, the once top player in the world trying to restore his image and rebuild his game, put on an electric display.

Fans watched his every move. He was must-see TV again. He began the day at five-under, seven shots behind McIlroy. Over the first eight holes he was an unbelievable six-under par, propelling him into a tie for the lead. El Tigre was back.

The fist pump was also back. The confidence was too. The "how did he do that?" shots were back as well. And one of those specifically stood out.

On the 15th hole, pulling out a mid-iron situated smack-dab in the middle of the fairway, Woods’ powerful swing produced a low-liner he had doubt would result in a close putt.

Upon following through, he watched the ball’s flight, began to walk the 200-plus yards to the green, and twirled his club. An eagle putt awaited, and a birdie was the result.

That put Woods at 10-under, where he would stay. It turned out the mark wasn’t enough. He still hasn’t won a major coming from behind, but his flashes of the old Tiger won’t soon be forgotten and hopefully will continue.

Scott, Day superb, but Schwartzel blows by them all

The Australian pairing of veteran Adam Scott and 23-year-old Jason Day, which entered with no major tournament wins, surpassed Woods and gave Schwartzel all he could handle.

Day particularly opened eyes, continuously composed despite his inexperience. He made his fair share of tricky putts, stayed out of trouble and ultimately tied the similarly efficient Scott at 12-under.

Scott led after a birdie on the 16th, but Schwartzel soon passed him and Day. Schwartzel birdied the final four holes, going on a run rarely seen at the Masters and especially not one made by such an unproven golfer.

Given McIlroy’s advantage entering the final round, Woods’ spurt and the consistency of Scott and Day, Schwartzel certainly was an under-the-radar winner.

Yet, there was such a large pack at 10-under or more throughout in the final round, someone had to come out on top.

Many of those in contention hurt their chances late, missing chances to either trim their deficit, tie or pad a minimal lead. But Schwartzel wasn’t one of them. Still, he couldn’t help but hear footsteps.

“There’s so many roars that go on around Augusta,” he said. “Especially the back nine. It echoes through those trees. There’s always a roar. Every single hole you walk down, someone has done something. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard.”

In the end, upon thrusting his arms in the air after birdying the 18th hole, one of the many talented new kids on the golfing block looked up at no one.