A Green Jacket For Argentina - - At Long Last

For Canadians Stephen Ames (19th) of Calgary and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir (T46th) of Bright's Grove, ON, this year's edition of golf's first major turned out to be a roller coaster ride that earned them a combined $92,850.

This year's Masters was the most exciting tournament in about 23 years when the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, charged from behind to claim his record 18th major at age 46.

Cabrera, an easy-going, long-hitting Argentine, now has a Mastrers Green Jacket to go with the U.S. Open trophy he won in 2007. He also took a giant leap forward from 124th on the Official World Golf Ranking to 18th with a victory worth $1,350,000.

"This moment and in '07 are the happiest moments of my life," said Cabrera, who won the Masters on his 10th attempt.

In 1968, a yar befoed Cabrera was born, DiVicenzo finished second to Bob Goalby after signing for a higher score than he actually made. DiVicenzo wrote a four on his scorecard at No. 17 instead of a three, then stood in stunned silence as he watched Goalby putting on the Masters Green Jacket.

The focus didn't revert to Cabrera and Kenny Perry, the 54-hole co-leaders, and Chad Campbell, until after Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had run out of time and holes as both began closing in on the leaders---Woods at one point moving to within a shot of the lead with Mickelson right behind. There was no question of the impact Woods and Mickelson were having on the outcome.

"When Tiger and Phil were making birdies, making a move, I felt I had to make a move myself," Cabrera said.

"It's the Masters. A lot of birdies, a lot of bogeys, a lot of magical things. Simply the Masters."

Cabrera, beneficiary of a fortunate bounce off a tree on the first extra hole which led to a par, won with another par on the second extra hole, the 10th at Augusta National. Campbell was eliminated with a bogey at the first extra hole and Perry went out when he made bogey at the second extra hole. No extra-hole playoff at the Masters has ever gone beyond the second hole.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, like the two heavyweight champions they are in the game of golf, exchanged knockout blows . . . but only to each other.

Mickelson went out in 30, matching the best front nine score ever posted at the Masters, but could only manage 67 for a 279 total, nine-under-par. His round and his total were one stroke better than Woods. Mickelson finished fifth and Woods tied for sixth.

Everybody wanted a Woods-Mickelson final round at the Masters. But when they arrived at Augusta National for Sunday's 1:35 p.m. tee time, a full hour before the last group of Perry and Cabrera, everybody figured the duel in the Augusta sun between the world's two top-ranked golfers - Woods is No. 1, Mickelson is No. 2 - would be a cameo appearance.

It turned out to be something far more. It was captivating, thanks to Mickelson's brilliant first nine. Woods had a bit part until then but that all changed when he made a 45-foot bomb for eagle at the par-5 eighth hole.

At the start of the final round, nine golfers were ahead of Mickelson and Woods, and seven others were even. When Mickelson got to the 10th tee, only two golfers - Perry and Cabrera - were ahead of him. One hole later, only Perry was ahead of Mickelson.

THE MASTERS - - Augusta National GC

1 - *Angel Cabrera, 68-68-69-71---276 - - $1,350,000
T2 - Chad Campbell, 65-70-72-69---276
T2 - Kenny Perry, 68-67-70-71---276
*Cabrera won a playoff with a par on the second extra hole.
Perry bogeyed the second extra hole
Campbelll was eliminated after the first extra hole

4 - Shingo Katayama, 67-73-70-68---278
5 - Phil Mickelson, 73-68-71-67---279
T6 - John Merrick, 68-74-72-66---280
T6 - Steve Flesch, 71-74-68-67---280
T6 - Tiger Woods, 70-72-70-68---280
T6 - Steve Stricker, 72-69-68-71---280
T10 - Hunter Mahan, 66-75-71-69---281
T10 - Sean O"Hair, 68-76-68-69---281
T10 - Jim Furyk, 66-74-68-73---281

T19 - Stephan Ames, 73-68-71-74---286 - $71,000
T46 - Mike Weir, 68-75-79-72---294 - $21,850