Angel Cabrera shows it's a young(er) man's game at Masters
GOLF: THE MASTERS
The 39-year-old Argentine wins on the second playoff hole, denying 48-year-old Kenny Perry's bid to become the oldest man to win one of golf's majors.
Reporting from Augusta, Ga. — The roars returned Sunday. But they eventually gave way to tears.
As Kenny Perry spoke of falling one stroke short of becoming the oldest Masters champion, son Justin sat with his head in his hands. He appeared numb.
Perry's wife, Sandy, consoled Justin by rubbing his back. But she was more concerned about Kenny.
"My heart aches for him," she said.
Perry said he'll be OK. He has a great family and a short memory, he insisted. And he was adamant that the right man won: Angel Cabrera.
"Great players get it done," Perry said. "Angel got it done."
A Masters Sunday worthy of pay-per-view evolved into the ultimate episode of "Survivor," with Cabrera beating Perry and Chad Campbell on the second playoff hole after the three tied at 12-under 276.
After Perry hooked his approach and failed to get up and down for par on the second playoff hole at No. 10, Cabrera tapped in for the victory.
The Argentine became the first South American to don the green jacket but knows that golf will remain second to soccer in his native land.
"I do what I do," said Cabrera, the 2007 U.S. Open champion. "What [Diego] Maradona does, that's his game."
The drama leading up to the sudden-death playoff was so thick, so memorable, it left patrons wondering if this was the best Masters Sunday since 1986, when Jack Nicklaus shot 30 on the back nine to claim his sixth green jacket.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods scared the leaders by reaching 10 under par, one behind Perry.
"I was hoping they'd have a little boxing match out there," Perry said.
Mickelson become only the fourth player to shoot 30 on Augusta's front nine.
But when he dumped his nine-iron tee shot into Rae's Creek on No. 12, he tossed in his momentum with it.
"That was really a terrible swing," he said.
Mickelson missed crucial putts on 15 and 16 and ended at nine under par, three behind the leaders.
Woods' morning was a disaster. He had a terrible practice session, made worse by tripping and nearly falling as he walked off the range. Then his first drive hooked so far left, he nearly drove the eighth green.
"One of the worst tee shots I've ever hit starting out," he said. "I fought my swing all day and almost won with a Band-Aid swing."
Perry swung beautifully almost all day. He nearly aced the 170-yard 16th hole with an eight-iron that settled less than a foot from the cup.
