Australia’s Adam Scott wins Masters

Adam Scott has become the first Australian to win the Masters, beating Angel Cabrera on the second hole of a playoff on a rainy Sunday at Augusta National. The tournament went to a sudden-death playoff for the second year in a row when Scott and Cabrera made matching birdies on the 72nd hole. They both made par on the first extra hole, before Scott rolled in a 12-foot for birdie to win it.

Tiger Woods finished 4 strokes back of the winners at 5-under. Jason Day finished ahead of him at seven-under. Tiger had a controversial setback the day before. He was penalized two strokes before the start of the third round after officials reviewed a drop he took on the 15th hole in Friday’s second round. It was a huge penalty, putting Woods five shots back instead of three. Turns out a friend of an official spotted the violation and sent a text message notifying him about it. Unlike any other sport, golf officials are allowed to make or alter rulings after receiving texts from keen-eyed viewers at home (usually friends) who flag a rule violation. The PGA even fields phone calls from viewers about rule violations, and says it takes the complaints seriously.

As for Scott’s victory, prior to the playoff, Scott, playing in the next-to-last group, made a 20-foot putt and celebrated with caddie Steve Williams as if it were over. Cabrera, in the final group, watched from the fairway knowing he had to hit a brilliant shot. He did. Cabrera’s ball pulled up 3 feet from the cup for an easy birdie that sent the two players to the playoff tied at nine-under 279.