LAST MAN STANDING

By MICK ELLIOTT The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 14, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Trevor Immelman's arrival Sunday as a Masters champion of the golf universe did not take place with the suddenness and bravado that lends itself to spectacular and memorable video highlights. Instead, the 28-year-old South African's entrance was more a slow and deliberate - often tedious - hike, noteworthy for its resolve and single-mindedness.

How do you make the 2008 Masters Tournament your first major championship, and only second career PGA Tour victory? You shoot a final-round 3-over 75, making two birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey. You equal the highest final-round score by a Masters champion in history. You charge to the clubhouse by finding water off the tee on the par-3 16th.

And still pull away from the field.

While certainly not the scenario Immelman might have scripted when imagining a career-changing victory, it worked because no one did better.

Not a single player from the day's final five twosomes broke par on a clear, crisp, wind-blown day when the level of difficulty was crippling.

Brandt Snedeker, two shots back after 54 holes, shot 77. Steve Flesch, three behind, posted 78. Trailing by four, Paul Casey closed with 79.

"When I woke up [Sunday] morning and I peeked outside and saw the trees moving around, I knew it was going to be tough out there for us," Immelman said. "And I knew I had to go out there and just be tough. I'm proud of myself for doing that."

It all worked to turn Immelman's 8-under finish into a three-shot victory over Tiger Woods, who moved up the leaderboard and finished as runner-up in his second consecutive Masters on the strength of an even-par 72.

One year ago at Augusta National, while shooting 21 over to finish in a tie for 55th, Immelman contracted a stomach parasite, lost 22 pounds and about six weeks of the season. After barely enough time to play himself back into form to win in South Africa, he underwent surgery in December to remove a tumor from under his ribcage and did not return to competition until February. Before the Masters he had made four cuts in eight events, with only one top-20 finish.

"This had probably been the ultimate roller-coaster ride, and I hate roller coasters," Immelman said. "You know, it's kind of really weird. Obviously, I win down in South Africa and a week later I'm having an operation to remove a tumor.

"I make a fast recovery over a six-, seven-week period and I get back eager to play, but my game wasn't there. I'm missing another cut last week and now here I am Masters champion. It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

As often happens at Augusta National during the Masters, oxygen began to vanish off the golf course late Sunday just as the leaders began making their way around the back nine.

Not even Woods was immune, stalling when he could have applied some heavy heat to the leader.

After rolling in a 45-foot putt at No. 11 to go 5 under, the four-time Masters champ missed a 4-foot birdie attempt at 13 that could have put him within three shots of Immelman. Woods then bogeyed 14.

"I didn't putt well all week," Woods said. "I kept dragging the blade. Out here, if you're not starting the ball perfectly on line, you're not going to make any putts.

"We figured if we shot something in the 60s we're going to be right there with a chance to win and put a lot of pressure on Trevor. It turns out that would have been the case. But I didn't do my part."

Immelman, the first South African to earn a green jacket since Gary Player won his third 30 years ago, did everything that was needed.

He claimed a share of the first-round lead with an opening 68 and never relinquished his command. He was No. 1 for the week in driving accuracy, hitting 48 of 56 fairways (86 percent). He ranked fourth in putting, needing 112 for the week - eight fewer than Woods.

"Phenomenal," Snedeker said of his third- and final-round pairings partner. "The last two days I don't think I've ever seen anybody drive the ball as well as that, anywhere. It was just an unbelievable display of ball-striking.

"When he got into trouble, he got right out of it. He made a little hiccup on 16, but you're going to do that when you're trying to win your first major. I hiccupped my whole way around the golf course."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be

reached at (813) 281-2534

or melliott@tampatrib.com.