Augusta, Georgia, April 12: Argentina's Angel Cabrera claimed his first Masters green jacket on Sunday, prevailing in a nerve-janggling three-way play-off against American duo Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.
The big-hitting Cabrera, the first from his country to win the Masters, edged Perry at the second extra hole at Augusta National with a par on the 10th hole after the American found trouble by missing the green with a wayward approach shot.
Campbell had earlier bowed out when he bogeyed the first play-off hole held on the 18th in front of an appreciative gallery.
It was sheer heartbreak for Perry as he had led the Masters by two strokes with two holes to play in regulation play before dropping two bogeys to fall into a tie on 12-under-par 276 with Cabrera and Campbell.
It was Cabrera's second major title following his victory in the 2007 US Open but he was counting his lucky stars after slipping on the green jacket, the first by an Argentine in the 73-year history of the Masters.
In the first play-off hole, he pushed his tee shot into the pine trees and his second shot hit another tree before landing on the fairway. From there, he pitched brilliantly to six feet to save an unlikely par.
At the second extra hole, Cabrera found the green in regulation and safely two putted for his four after Perry missed his 15-foot par attempt.
Cabrera, who closed with a 71, said: "This moment, along with Oakmont, are the happiest in my life. When I won the US Open, Roberto De Vicenzo (one of Argentina's greatest players) gave me a nice picture with a green jacket inside of it and asking me to go for it."
Perry, bidding to become the oldest major champion at the age of 48 and eight months, signed for a 71 and lamented his ill fortune. "I had it in my hands but I didn't get it done," said Perry.
For full reports, go to www.masters.com