THE MASTERS 2008 RESULT
Last updated:
Trevor Immelman is the new Masters champion.
The South African, who only recently recovered from a major operation to remove a tumour from his diaphragm, held off the challenge of Tiger Woods and Brandt Snedeker to take a three-shot victory.
His final day 75 was enough to give him a three shot lead over Tiger Woods, who could only post an even par 72 to stay at five under.
Immelman, a former European Tour player, said: “I’m so proud of myself. I actually still can’t believe that I got that done.”
Immelman became the fifth player to win the Masters wire-to-wire and first since Raymond Floyd in 1976. He became the second South African to don the green jacket after his idol, Gary Player, who called him Saturday night to wish Immelman encouragement.
“He left me a voicemail last night,” Immelman said of Player. “It gave me goose bumps. He told me that he believed in me and to believe in myself. I took it all to heart and I’m obviously thankful.”
Snedeker had a tough day playing with Immelman and instead of putting pressure on the 27-year-old he fell further back to four-under par. Such was the emotion of the day, his press conference had to be abandoned after be broke down in tears.
Woods’ bid to for a run at the single-season Grand Slam was derailed by a cool putter on Sunday. He missed makable putts at 13 and 14, but posted an even-par 72 in the final round.
“I just didn’t make any putts all week,” acknowledged Woods. “I hit the ball well enough to contend, I hit the ball definitely well enough to put pressure on Trevor back there, but I just didn’t make any putts today.”
Before the season started, Woods made it known that he believed a single- season Grand Slam was attainable. It won’t happen in 2008, and Woods was clearly disappointed despite feeling he played well enough tee to green to get his fifth green jacket.
“I didn’t come here to be second,” he said.
Britain’s top contender Paul casey had a terrible day after starting at seven under. He went eight under early on, but then a string of bogeys saw him crash to a seven over total for the day and even par for the tournament.