Master Of The House: Immelman Wins At Augusta


April 14, 2008

By Phillip Howley

Augusta, Ga. - Many people were anticipating a possible Grand Slam of the major championships this year. 

So, what do you think Trevor Immelman?

"Probably not," said Immelman with a laugh, moments after winning the Masters on Sunday. "It's probably too early to think about that."

Granted, all the Grand Slam talk coming into the Masters Tournament was focused on Tiger Woods. This after the world's No. 1 player had casually mentioned at the Buick Invitational in January that he was shooting for it this year. But a funny thing happened on the way to chasing that unprecedented single-season professional mark. Immelman got in the way.

Trevor Immelman shot 3-over 75 on a breezy Sunday. (USGA Photo Archives)

"I learned my lesson there with the press," said Woods after his fifth runner-up finish in majors. "I'm not going to say anything. It's just one of those things when you're out there playing, you couldn't care less. You're trying to win a golf tournament."

Which is what the 28-year-old South African did. Immelman overcame adversity, took inspiration from his iconic countryman, and barged into the major championship picture at Augusta National.

Immelman was just four months removed from a serious surgical procedure when he left the grounds of Augusta on Saturday evening. He was just a week removed from missing the cut at the Shell Houston Open when he found himself holding the 54-hole lead at the season's first major.

He was still trying to make sense of it all when he checked his phone messages and found something there from three-time Masters winner Gary Player.

"I got it when I was leaving the premises," said Immelman, the 1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion and 1997 U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up.

"And it gave me goose bumps. He told me he unfortunately had to leave - he's on his way to the Middle East - and that he wouldn't be able to watch the coverage.

"But he told he believed in me and I needed to believe in myself. He told me I had to keep my head a little quieter when I putt . he told me to just go out there and be strong through adversity. Because he said adversity would come today, and I had to deal with it.

"I took that all to heart and I'm obviously thankful. I'm sure he's proud of me."

Immelman golfer'd up, all right. On a day that Augusta relinquished only four rounds under par, a day when everyone expected Woods to charge, a day when Woods needed to birdie at No. 18 just to call it even, Immelman did himself proud.

His final round 75 said more about substance than style. His wire-to-wire win at Augusta - the first since 1980 - gave him something in common with the man who left the message, the man he grew up idolizing.

Now they both have green jackets.

Is it crazy to suggest Immelman is just getting started, that the first major winner of the season might win the next major of the season - the U.S. Open June 9-15 at Torrey Pines?

After this past week, where Immelman is concerned, "crazy" is a relative term. "Here I am after missing the cut last week - Masters champion," he said. "It's the craziest thing I ever heard of."

But when you watch Immelman's fluid, compact swing, the possibilities seem endless. When you consider he finished first in driving accuracy at Augusta, hitting 48-of-56 fairways, and fourth in driving distance (average of 287.5 yards), the shoe fits. Accurate driving is a hallmark of U.S. Open champions.

And when you recognize the momentum Immelman built this week and remember his Amateur Public Links title came on that same Torrey Pines turf, nothing makes more sense.

"You know, I've always dreamed about winning majors," Immelman said. "Deep down, I always thought I was good enough. But you at times, you obviously doubt yourself, because you know, you miss a few cuts and you screw up a few times.

"You're just like, 'Man, maybe I'm not good enough.' But this is a tremendous confidence boost. Now that I know I have got one under my belt .  I mean, I'm definitely not going to sit back and go, 'OK, that's me, I'm done.' I'm going to keep working hard and trying to make the most of what I've been given."

OK, Woods didn't win the first major of the season. But maybe that Grand Slam conversation is still alive, after all.

Phillip Howley is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usga.org. For more stories, click here .