ANGEL DUSTED: Angel Cabrera misses a shot on the 17th hole yesterday before being defeated by Adam Scott on the second playoff hole at the Masters. (Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Angel Cabrera, whose hopes of winning a second Masters and a third career major — credentials certain to earn him a fast ticket to the World Golf Hall of Fame — were dashed by Adam Scott, who received an unwitting assist from his foe.
After Scott defeated Cabrera on the second playoff hole at Augusta National last night, he praised the Argentine for his encouragement when they were Presidents Cup teammates.
“He said a great thing to me in 2009 at the Presidents Cup before we all left,’’ Scott recalled. “I was on a captain’s pick there and my form was struggling, but he pulled me aside and he said, ‘You’re a great, great player.’ That was something I didn’t forget and really nice of him.’’
After Scott hit his approach shot on No. 10, the second playoff hole, Cabrera gave Scott a thumbs-up congratulations — a cool moment in the heat of the battle.
“That was a nice gesture down 10,’’ Scott said. “Angel is a great man, and I’ve gotten to know him a fair bit through Presidents Cups.’’
When Scott sank his Masters-winning putt on 10, he and Cabrera embraced for several moments.
“I told him that I was happy for him,” Cabrera said, “that I know that he deserved it and that he was going to eventually win it like he did right now. It was just a matter of time.’’
Cabrera, who owns two major championships, knows the impact winning a first major has on a player and the spoils that will come Scott’s way.
“Well, it’s going to change quite a lot, his life,’’ he said. “He’s been looking for it, searching for it, this major title. He’s achieved it, so I’m pretty sure his life is going to change really fast right now.’’
There were two defining moments for Cabrera. One came on the 18th, the first playoff hole, when his chip nearly went in. The second came a few seconds before Scott made his winning putt on 10, when Cabrera’s 15-foot birdie attempt came on 10 within less than an inch of going in.
Had it gone in, Scott might not have been as freed up to make his, because of the pressure of having to make it.
“His chip on the first playoff hole was just beautiful and unlucky not to go in,’’ Scott said. “That must have gone right over the edge of the hole. My heart was about to stop as I was standing at the side of the green thinking, ‘Is this it, really?’
“And then he hits a beautiful putt on 10, as well. Those things can just as easily go in as go out.’’
Said Cabrera: “Yeah, that’s golf. Sometimes you make those putts, sometimes you just miss them. That’s golf. Golf gives and takes.’’