Coaster ride stops at top

Trevor Immelman became the first South African since 1978 to win the Masters.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Trevor Immelman felt goose bumps as he listened to a phone message left by Gary Player, his childhood idol and the last South African to slip on a green jacket at the Masters.

Player told him to believe in himself, to be strong through the adversity that was sure to find him during the wind-whipped final round at Augusta National.

“I took that all to heart,” Immelman said after a three-shot victory. “And I’m sure he’s proud of me.”

For more than just his golf.

Only four months ago, Immelman was in a hospital in South Africa as doctors prepared to remove a tumor from his diaphragm, learning only after the operation that it was benign. Sunday, as he stood over a slippery 20-foot putt for par as Tiger Woods was trying to make a charge, Immelman passed his biggest test in golf.

Immelman came up clutch around Amen Corner, stretched his lead to as many as six shots, and held on for a 3-over 75 to become the first South African since Player in 1978 to wear the green jacket.

“This has been the ultimate roller-coaster ride, and I hate roller coasters,” Immelman said.

He wins a tournament in South Africa. He’s in the hospital a week later as doctors slice open his back to remove a tumor. He struggles to contend when he returns to golf. And only last week, he misses another cut on the PGA Tour.

“Here I am ... Masters champion,” Immelman said. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of.”

Player is among five players to have won the career Grand Slam. Among active players, Immelman becomes the third South African to capture a major, joining Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

As for that calendar Grand Slam, that will have to wait until next year for Woods.

He never got within five shots of the lead when he was on the course. He twice missed birdie putts inside 8 feet. And he had to settle for a 72 for his fifth runner-up finish in a major.

“I learned my lesson there with the press,” Woods said with a smile. He was the one who started the talk about a Grand Slam by stating three months ago that winning all four majors in the same year was “easily within reason.”

The only slam possibilities now belong to Immelman, a 28-year-old with a polished swing and quiet determination.

“I knew he was going to make a run,” he said, referring to Woods.

Even after Immelman dunked a 7-iron into the water on the 16th hole with a five-shot lead, he regrouped to make double bogey, saved par from a bunker on the 17th and hit the final green despite his tee shot landing in a deep divot.

He tied Arnold Palmer (1962) for the highest final round by a Masters champion, but all that did was make it look closer than it was. The three guys behind Immelman going into the last round were a combined 18-over par. Only four players broke par.

Immelman finished at 8-under 280 for his second PGA Tour win, and ninth worldwide.

He had to work hard to keep his cool. He made a 10-foot par save from the bunker at No. 9 to keep a two-shot cushion, but continued to look shaky. Immelman missed the 11th green well to the right when his chip didn’t quite reach and he was left with a 20-foot putt that was slick and dangerous.

Ahead of him, Woods was gaining momentum.

Woods holed a 70-foot birdie putt on the 11th, made an acrobatic escape from the trees on the 13th and spun a wedge down the slope on the par-5 13th that left him 5 feet away for birdie.