<p>Schwartzel, who began the final round at Augusta National four strokes off the pace, showed nerves of steel as he rolled in a 20-footer on the 18th green to complete a six-under-par 66, the lowest score of the day. <br /><br />The 26-year-old threw both arms skywards in jubilation after his ball dropped into the cup to give him a 14-under total of 274 in the season's opening major. Schwartzel, who launched his round with a sizzling birdie-par-eagle run, became the third South African to win the Masters, following Gary Player (1961, 1974 and 1978) and Trevor Immelman (2008). <br /><br />“Walking up 18 was such a special feeling,” Schwartzel told reporters after claiming his first US PGA Tour title in only his second Masters appearance. <br /><br />“I only had a one-shot lead, so you don't want to get too excited about it. You've still got to win the golf tournament. But it just really felt good.”<br /><br />Adam Scott (67) and Jason Day (68), each aiming to become the first Australian to triumph at Augusta National, shared second at 12-under after playing together on the final day. <br /><br />Four-times champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first tournament victory in nearly 17 months, had to settle for a tie for fourth after closing with a 67. Woods finished at 10-under with Australian Geoff Ogilvy (67) and Briton Luke Donald (69). <br /><br />Overnight leader Rory McIlroy of Britain, four ahead going into the final round, suffered a nightmare day as he tumbled out of contention with an 80 for a four-under total of 284. The 21-year-old Northern Irishman clung to a one-stroke lead after the first nine holes before spiralling downwards. <br /><br />He triple-bogeyed the 10th after pulling his tee shot in between two Augusta National residential cabins and twice hit trees before reaching the green. McIlroy then bogeyed the 11th, after three-putting, and also the par-three 12th, where he four-putted from 25 feet. <br /><br />“I'm very disappointed,” the world number nine said. “I was leading this golf tournament with nine holes to go and I just unravelled. It's going to be hard to take for a few days, but I'll get over it.”<br /><br />On a sweltering afternoon of breathtaking shot-making at Augusta National, the leaderboard fluctuated repeatedly and eight different players held at least a share of the lead as roars from the fans repeatedly echoed amid the Georgian pines. <br /><br />Scott appeared to take control on the back nine with birdies at the 11th and 14th, where he coolly knocked in a seven-footer to get to 11-under. A tap-in birdie at the par-three 16th kept him one ahead. <br /><br />Schwartzel, however, emerged from the logjam with his stunning finish. <br /><br />He very nearly chipped in for eagle from behind the green at the par-five 15th, where he knocked in a four-footer for birdie, and then sank further putts from 18 and 12 feet at the 16th and 17th. <br /><br />In perfect position off the tee at the par-four 18th where he led by one, he struck his approach to 20 feet before again finding the middle of the cup with his birdie putt. <br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes): 274: Charl Schwartzel (SA, 69, 71, 68, 66); 276: Jason Day (Aus, 72, 64, 72, 68), Adam Scott (72, 70, 67, 67); 278: Luke Donald (Bri, 68, 69, 69), Geoff Ogilvy (US, 69, 69, 73, 67), Tiger Woods (US, 71, 66, 74, 67).</p>
<p>Schwartzel, who began the final round at Augusta National four strokes off the pace, showed nerves of steel as he rolled in a 20-footer on the 18th green to complete a six-under-par 66, the lowest score of the day. <br /><br />The 26-year-old threw both arms skywards in jubilation after his ball dropped into the cup to give him a 14-under total of 274 in the season's opening major. Schwartzel, who launched his round with a sizzling birdie-par-eagle run, became the third South African to win the Masters, following Gary Player (1961, 1974 and 1978) and Trevor Immelman (2008). <br /><br />“Walking up 18 was such a special feeling,” Schwartzel told reporters after claiming his first US PGA Tour title in only his second Masters appearance. <br /><br />“I only had a one-shot lead, so you don't want to get too excited about it. You've still got to win the golf tournament. But it just really felt good.”<br /><br />Adam Scott (67) and Jason Day (68), each aiming to become the first Australian to triumph at Augusta National, shared second at 12-under after playing together on the final day. <br /><br />Four-times champion Tiger Woods, seeking his first tournament victory in nearly 17 months, had to settle for a tie for fourth after closing with a 67. Woods finished at 10-under with Australian Geoff Ogilvy (67) and Briton Luke Donald (69). <br /><br />Overnight leader Rory McIlroy of Britain, four ahead going into the final round, suffered a nightmare day as he tumbled out of contention with an 80 for a four-under total of 284. The 21-year-old Northern Irishman clung to a one-stroke lead after the first nine holes before spiralling downwards. <br /><br />He triple-bogeyed the 10th after pulling his tee shot in between two Augusta National residential cabins and twice hit trees before reaching the green. McIlroy then bogeyed the 11th, after three-putting, and also the par-three 12th, where he four-putted from 25 feet. <br /><br />“I'm very disappointed,” the world number nine said. “I was leading this golf tournament with nine holes to go and I just unravelled. It's going to be hard to take for a few days, but I'll get over it.”<br /><br />On a sweltering afternoon of breathtaking shot-making at Augusta National, the leaderboard fluctuated repeatedly and eight different players held at least a share of the lead as roars from the fans repeatedly echoed amid the Georgian pines. <br /><br />Scott appeared to take control on the back nine with birdies at the 11th and 14th, where he coolly knocked in a seven-footer to get to 11-under. A tap-in birdie at the par-three 16th kept him one ahead. <br /><br />Schwartzel, however, emerged from the logjam with his stunning finish. <br /><br />He very nearly chipped in for eagle from behind the green at the par-five 15th, where he knocked in a four-footer for birdie, and then sank further putts from 18 and 12 feet at the 16th and 17th. <br /><br />In perfect position off the tee at the par-four 18th where he led by one, he struck his approach to 20 feet before again finding the middle of the cup with his birdie putt. <br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes): 274: Charl Schwartzel (SA, 69, 71, 68, 66); 276: Jason Day (Aus, 72, 64, 72, 68), Adam Scott (72, 70, 67, 67); 278: Luke Donald (Bri, 68, 69, 69), Geoff Ogilvy (US, 69, 69, 73, 67), Tiger Woods (US, 71, 66, 74, 67).</p>
