World Golf News - 12 April 2011

All eyes were on the course at Augusta National Golf Club on the weekend, as South African Charl Schwartzel claimed his first major victory on Sunday at the US Masters.

The Masters, one of the major tournaments that comprise the grand slam of international golf, is regarded by some as the most revered and historical tournament on the world golf circuit. This year expectations were high, with the world top 10 in constant flux and some signs that Tiger Woods may be returning to good form. In the end however, the final battle for the Masters trophy was between Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel – two rising stars in the world of international golf.

McIlroy is no stranger to competitive golf, and the first round saw him surge ahead with an impressive display of power and precision on Augusta’s challenging fairways and slippery greens. Spain’s Alvaro Quiros was quick to catch up to his Irish counterpart on the back nine, putting himself in contention. On the second day of play, McIlroy retained the lead, with Quiros slipping down the leader board amid a charge by Australia’s Jason day. As Day and McIlroy, two young and highly talented players, vied for the lead Tiger Woods holed seven birdies on day two to tie for third place – a development that had many predicting a win for the former world number one.

Exciting developments again greeted golf fans in round three, as McIlroy surged ahead to establish a four shot lead. Meanwhile, the race for second place on the leader board had intensified. With Woods slipping back after tying for third overnight, Jason Day retained his place behind McIlroy alongside Argentinean Angel Cabrera, South Korea’s KJ Choi and Charl Schwartzel.

The final round took place in the glorious weather of Georgia’s springtime, and Rory McIlroy looked poised for an equally glorious victory. By the ninth hole however, his lead had been eroded to just one stroke, and a series of disastrous bogeys saw him fall out of contention. For his part, Schwartzel saw his opportunity and with a steely resolve he soared to a two stroke win, with a back nine performance that wowed the crowd at Augusta.