April 12, 2009
Just when PING pro Angel Cabrera's quest for his second major title in less than two years appeared unlikely, the 39-year-old native of Argentina demonstrated the perseverance that saw him rise from the caddie shack to major champion. Three birdies in the final six holes on the famed Augusta National Golf Club earned him a spot in a three-way playoff. Two pars later, including a remarkable effort from the woods on the 18th hole, and he was The Masters champion.
"This is a great moment, the dream of any golfer to win the Masters," said Cabrera, a PING staff member for almost 15 years who won the U.S. Open in 2007. "I'm so emotional I can barely talk."
Entering the final round tied for the lead at 11-under, Cabrera led briefly after a birdie on the par-4 third hole. But back-to-back bogeys on holes 4 and 5 dropped him from the lead and after another bogey on the 10th, he trailed by three with only eight holes to play. After pars on 11 and 12, he birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th holes to reach 12-under-par and pull even at the end of regulation.
On the first extra hole, his tee shot came to rest near the base of a tree to the right of the 18th fairway. With only a small opening but a major championship at stake, Cabrera attempted to reach the green but his shot ricocheted off a tree and onto the fairway, less than 100 yards from the green. His ensuing sand wedge shot came to rest eight feet above the hole. Needing the par to advance, Cabrera calmly rolled the putt into the hole and shook his fist in delight.
The playoff moved to the par-4 10th hole that Cabrera bogeyed in regulation. This time, there was no denying Cabrera his quest for the Green Jacket (size 46 Long, by the way). He split the fairway with his drive and landed his approach shot 15-feet below the hole. In the meantime, his competitor missed a long par putt, leaving Cabrera two putts to become the first Argentine to win The Masters.
In becoming only the sixth player this decade to win two majors, Cabrera relied on 14 PING clubs. He played a Rapture driver (7.5°), G10 3-wood, S57 irons (3-9, PW), a G10 2-iron, a Tour-W 54° wedge, a Tour-W TS 60° wedge and an i-Series ½ Craz-E B putter.