Immelman savors Masters win

AUGUSTA, Ga. - A young sportswriter from London was attending his first Masters this past weekend and decided to make it a little more interesting. So before he left home, where betting is legal, he wagered 10 pounds (about $20) on Trevor Immelman to win the Masters.

The odds were 150-to-1, so the sportswriter is $3,000 richer and all of a sudden is a big Immelman fan.

A lot of other people became Immelman fans after watching his performance at blustery Augusta National on Sunday.

Immelman fired a protect-the-lead 75 and never looked over his shoulder at those who were chasing him. Not even when Tiger Woods got to three shots down on the back side did Immelman falter. He also didn’t look at the leaderboard much, but he had a feeling he was doing OK.

"When I doubled 16 and the people still clapped, I kind thought I was in good shape," said Immelman, who won his first major at age 28 and became the second straight Masters winner to get his first major here. Zach Johnson did it last year.

Immelman was able to hold off Woods by three, and Stewart Cink and Brandt Snedeker by four.

It has been unusual for younger golfers to win major tournaments during the Woods Era of professional golf. Woods is 32 and has won 13 majors. Immelman is the only golfer under 30 on tour who has won a major.

"I don’t think it’s ever easy to win a major in any era," Immelman said. "But you know, as you say, I’m playing in the Tiger Woods Era. You know, the guy boggles my mind.… He’s told us that he’s playing at his peak, so it’s a hell of achievement. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get it done again, but I’ll be trying my best."

As one watches his smooth swing (countryman Gary Player compares Immelman’s swing to Ben Hogan’s), the feeling is that Immelman isn’t a one-hit wonder.

He’s young enough to contend in majors for a long time, and he has some perspective after coming back from a cancer scare in December.

"I have no idea what’s going to happen," Immelman said about the impact on his life of winning a major. "I’m going to try and take it in stride, and I’m going to try to be a great role model to young kids out there."

One of Immelman’s first memories of Player was when he got to have his picture taken with Player.

"I first met him when I was 5-years-old at my home in Somerset West," Immelman said. "He picked me up and put me on his shoulders, and I had no front teeth."

Player helped fuel Immelman’s passion for golf.

"He’s kind of been like another type of a father for me," Immelman said about Player, who won nine majors.

"And to have somebody with that much experience on your side, giving you advice is just incredible. And I’m thankful for that."

Immelman hadn’t had the Masters green jacket on for an hour when he was asked about winning more majors. He said he probably wouldn’t win the Grand Slam this year, but, "I’ve always dreamed about winning majors, and deep down, I always thought I was good enough," he said. "But obviously this is a tremendous confidence boost, and now that I know that I have got one under my belt, all I can do is go out there and prepare well for the majors and just try my best."

? John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com