AUGUSTA, Ga. — In one moment, Adam Scott’s fists clenched and his neck tendons went taut and out came forever’s worth of frustrations. One ball rolled a long way into a cup across a soggy patch of grass, and he shouted down Australia’s enduring failures at the Masters: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, joy, joy, joy.
Through the downpour, Scott carried his country’s flag into the scoring area to sign off on it all. But down the fairway lurked an Argentine who is at ease here.
Angel Cabrera roused everyone once more, rolling in a birdie putt, putting his son in a headlock on his way off the course while the day grabbed hold of everyone: Scott and Cabrera, tied at 9 under, and the Masters in a sudden-death playoff.
Scott drained a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday to become the first Australian to win the Masters, unleashing his second primal scream in the gloaming.
“We’re a proud sporting country and like to think we’re the best at everything, like any proud sporting country,” Scott said. “Golf is a big sport at home, and this was one thing in golf we hadn’t been able to achieve. It’s amazing it’s my destiny to be the first Aussie to win.”
Fellow Australians dominated the weekend: Jason Day finished third at 7 under and Marc Leishman tied Tiger Woods for fourth at 5 under. But after back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Masters, the 32-year-old Scott authored an ending no one would forget.
“He’s been looking for it, searching for it, this major title,” said Cabrera, a two-time major winner.
Neither Scott nor Cabrera led as late as the 15th hole; that belonged to Day, who then posted back-to-back bogeys to open the door. Once Scott and Cabrera charged through, disaster threatened them on the first playoff hole.
Both approaches rolled off the 18th green, but two brilliant chips led to two pars. On the second hole, No. 10, both again reached the green. Scott couldn’t read the putt in the darkness and called over practiced eyes: Steve Williams, who caddied for 13 of Woods’ 14 major wins.
“I don’t get him to read too many putts,” Scott said. “He said it’s at least two cups, it’s going to break more than you think. I said, ‘I’m good with that.’ He was my eyes on that putt.”
It rolled true and elation began anew. He met his father at the 10th green, the two embraced, and the elder Scott said simply to his son: “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Once the jacket slipped over his shoulders, Scott threw his arms up and his head back, smiling as the rain fell and everything seemed bright as day.
“I’m a proud Australian and I hope this sits really well back at home,” Scott said, “and even in New Zealand.”
