Cabrera Wins Masters

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson threatened.
Kenny Perry cruised.
But in the end Angel Cabrera won.
Instead of a familiar face donning the green jacket after a memorable final round, or seeing a first time winner of a major at the age of 48, the reticent Argentinian took home the coveted garb, defeating Perry and Chad Campbell in a three way playoff.
All eyes diverted to the pairing of Mickelson and Woods, the co-leader heading into Sunday's final round flew under the radar.
His slow start disinterested those that remained with the final group.
Back-to-back bogies at hole 4 and 5 hole and another at 10 put him three off the lead. He couldn't find the stroke and seemed destined for at best, a top-5 finish.
Not so fast.
He regrouped, collecting birdies at 13, 15 and 16. Perry bogied 17 and 18 and the two, along with Campbell headed into a three way playoff.
Campbell couldn't get the handle on the first hole and was eliminated. Perry took two shots to land the green and two more to reach the cup setting up Cabrera for the win on a six inch putt.
The win was his second major, the other one coming in 2007 at the U.S. Open.

Thoughts:

Woods wasn't in top form for whatever reason. His mechanics and approach were just a bit off. But Woods at his worst still finishes tied for sixth-place. Anyone else at his worst probably doesn't make the cut.

If Mickelson (-9) had sunk just about any putt on the back nine and/or avoided the water at 12, he could have been in line to win his fourth major championship. He made history, tying three others with a front nine 30 and would get as close as a stroke off the lead after sitting tied for 10th to start the day.

John Merrick ran out of time. The young man shot a day low 66 to end up tied for sixth with Woods and two others.

Steady doesn't win ... this time. Perry pared the first 11 holes and 13 of 14, but ended up losing in the playoff thanks to two bogies on the final two holes. They were just his fifth and sixth bogies of the Masters, certainly coming at a costly time.