Watson claims coveted green jacket

American golfer wins Masters after beating Oosthuizen in playoffs.

AUGUSTA: American Bubba Watson parred the second sudden-death playoff hole to defeat South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and capture the 76th Masters for his first major golf championship.

The 33-year-old left-hander became the eighth first-time major winner in a row and only the third southpaw to claim the green jacket symbolic of Masters supremacy after three-time winner Phil Mickelson and Canada’s Mike Weir.

“I never got this far in my dreams,” said Watson. “It’s a blessing for sure. It’s a dream come true. I don’t remember anything that happened on the last nine holes. But I guess I cried all my tears out.

“There’s going to be a new tournament and all of you are going to write about other people. But for me to come out here and win has been awesome and I think I’m done. It can’t get any better than this.”

Three-time champion Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, world number three Lee Westwood of England and 54-hole leader Peter Hanson of Sweden shared third on 280.

Disappointment for Woods

Pre-tournament favourites Tiger Woods, world number two Rory McIlroy and top-ranked Luke Donald struggled to disappointing ends.

Woods fired a 74 to share 40th, his worst Masters finish as a professional. McIlroy, 22, who won last year’s US Open after squandering a last-day Masters lead, fired a 76 to join Woods. Donald fired a 68 and finished on 291.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2012.