Scott’s breakthrough victory an outcome fans can embrace

AUGUSTA, Ga. » A half a world and 14 hours removed from his homeland, a man from Down Under chased history on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Augusta National.

Some 17 years ago, fellow Australian Greg Norman collapsed under the pressure the Masters can bear on a professional golfer, leaving that country with the distinction of never having anyone fitted for the famed green jacket in 77 years of the most prestigious event in golf.

Until now.

Adam Scott sank a birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Angel Cabrera in another dramatic Masters finish to end a long drought on a rain-soaked course. Scott made a huge 20-foot putt at the 18th in regulation with Cabrera standing in the fairway and thought he had secured his first major championship.

Not so fast.

Cabrera answered by stuffing an iron within 4 feet and then sank the putt as Scott signed his scorecard, an Australian flag by his side. Both parred the first playoff hole on the 18th, and both were on the 10th green in two, Cabrera below the hole and Scott hole high.

Cabrera went first and just missed from 18 feet. Scott knocked his in dead-center from 12 to seal the deal as darkness descended upon the land. On a Monday morning in Australia, golf fans went wild.

WITH TIGER WOODS’ back-nine finish coming up short and former Masters winner Cabrera leaking oil like the Tin Man, Scott was not alone in his country’s run for greatness. Fellow Aussies Jason Day and Marc Leishman were on fire as well in weather better suited for duck hunting.

Day got off to a birdie-eagle start that included a blast-in from a green-side bunker for a 3 on the par-5 second. Scott, best known for his stumbling, bumbling finish at last year’s British Open, didn’t card a bogey after the opening hole, and Leishman had been at or near the top of the leaderboard for the entire tournament.

Nestled in there with them was Cabrera, who made the turn for home at 9 under and with a two-shot lead, only to bogey twice on the back nine to let everyone back in it.

Day got to 9 under himself with a birdie at the par-5 15th, only to hand it right back with an untimely 4 at the par-3 16th. Playing a group in front of mates Scott and Leishman, Day had a chance to post a number, only to bogey two of the last three. He had a similar finish on Saturday, going bogey-bogey to trail co-third-round leader Cabrera by two entering the final day. He finished alone in third.

As the fourth round began, Leishman was tied with Day, and Scott was alone in third, just one stroke back. None of them could have imagined what would transpire five and a half hours later.

This is particularly sweet for Scott, who gave away the British Open last summer to Ernie Els, who predicted a bright future for his friend at the trophy ceremony. Always considered a huge talent, but maybe a little soft around the greens, Scott hired former Woods caddie Steve Williams, who now has as many green jacket assists — four — as Woods has wins here.

It proved a perfect marriage, as the 32-year-old Scott emerges as one of the bright stars of the game. Carrying the burden of not having lived up to expectations, as well as the heartbreak of an entire continent, Scott stood tall at all the big moments, even paying tribute to Norman in the end.

"Australia is a proud sporting nation," Scott said. "It’s amazing that it came down to me."

AMAZING INDEED, particularly when considering how the controversy surrounding Woods and his ill-fated drop on Friday almost stole the show. This was a happy ending golf fans can embrace. Even Cabrera, who had more near-misses over the closing holes than a bad airport control tower, gave Scott credit for the win.

As for Scott, well, this may be the start of something big, as the next generation of golfers takes the stage. There is one small controversy in the victory. Four of the past six majors have been won with long putters — and this was the last major a long putter had not won.

But save that for another day. For now, a continent a half a world away celebrates a championship that has escaped it for three-quarters of a century. Somewhere Norman is smiling.

Reach Paul Arnett at parnett@staradvertiser.com or 529-4786.