Cabrera reveals 'goosebumps' moment after Masters success

ANGEL Cabrera said only the "magic" of the Masters had helped steer him to glory at Augusta, after his chance appeared to have vanished when he found his tee-shot lurking behind a tree on the first hole of his play-off with Americans Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry.

The 39-year-old Argentine's outrageously ambitious second shot smacked into another tree, but bounced into the fairway, where he managed a par to stay in the play-off and then defeat Perry on the second sudden-death hole, the tenth.

"This is the Masters," Cabrera said. "A lot of magical things happen." One of the most magical moments for Cabrera was when 2008 winner Trevor Immelman of South Africa placed the green jacket upon his shoulders for the first time.

"I had goosebumps," Cabrera said. "I was shaking. I can't even explain it."

Cabrera also resisted the notion to compare his achievement to those of world champion countrymen Maradona in football or Manu Ginobili in basketball and he knows golf will not suddenly become his homeland's obsession because he won.

"The Masters is the Masters. What I do is what I do. What Maradona does or Ginobili does is their game. Football has always been the biggest sport in my country. I won the Masters, but that's not going to change what football means."

Cabrera was one-over on the front nine and began the back nine with a bogey, but birdies at the par-5 13th and 15th and another at the par-3 16th lifted him into the play-off with a final-round 71 to join Perry and Campbell on 12-under 276 for 72 holes.

"After the tenth hole I started to hit the ball good and things started to roll," Cabrera said. "I was happy with my game. I had confidence. I was just enjoying the moments."

Campbell was eliminated by pars from Cabrera and Perry on the first play-off hole, the par-4 18th, and when Perry ensured himself no better than a bogey, Cabrera two-putted from ten feet to win the Masters. "He's a great player, one of the best drivers we have," Campbell said. "He's long and hits it very straight. He's one of the longest guys out here, really under-rated in that category."

Victory for Cabrera also ensured that 41 years after Roberto De Vicenzo made the greatest blunder in Masters history, a golfer from Argentina is finally wearing the green jacket symbolic of Masters supremacy.

It was the South American's first top-level victory in since his breakthrough major win at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont.

"The US Open got me by surprise," Cabrera said. "This win I'm more prepared. I know more how things happened."

The only other South American to win a major was Cabrera's countryman De Vicenzo, who won the 1967 Open at Hoylake but signed an incorrect scorecard at the 1968 Masters to hand Bob Goalby a win without a playoff. "De Vicenzo had bad luck. It's not going to change what happened to him," Cabrera said.

"But this win, to take a major back to Argentina, it's going to help a lot."

De Vicenzo and Goalby appeared set for a play-off in 1968 after each fired final-round 66s. But De Vicenzo signed a card showing a par-4 on the 17th rather than a birdie and as a result handed Goalby victory.

Years later, De Vicenzo handed Cabrera a souvenir for luck at the Masters.

"He gave me a framed picture where he has his hand in a green jacket and he said, 'I hope this gives you luck so someday you can bring back a green jacket for yourself,'" Cabrera added.

Cabrera may have an enjoyed an element of luck at the 18th late on Sunday night, but he went on display all the hallmarks of a true champion to record his second major and make Argentina proud.