By Simon Evans
March 29 (Reuters) – After a year of proudly travelling with
his green jacket, South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel returns to
defend his Masters title knowing that handling the treacherous
greens at Augusta National is the key to success in the first
major of the season.
A fearless Schwartzel birdied the final four holes last year
to clinch his first major title by two strokes over Australians
Adam Scott and Jason Day and says he was rewarded for weeks of
Augusta-specific putting practice.
“At Augusta, if you know the greens well, you can actually
use them to your benefit rather than thinking that you should be
scared of them. But you really need to know them like the back
of your hand,” said Schwartzel, who had struggled on the greens
when he finished tied for 30th in his Masters debut in 2010.
“I was fortunate. I asked a few guys, some of the best
putters in the world, I asked them what they did on the very
fast greens, and they gave me a bit of advice. It worked out for
me.
“I practised for about six, seven weeks before I got there
to putt on those fast greens. I think that’s what made me feel
so comfortable. I wasn’t scared of the greens at all.”
That was evident during last year’s final round at Augusta
National when he showed composure by draining a 20-footer on the
18th to complete a six-under-par 66, the low round of the day.
Under intense pressure, Schwartzel had made putts of 18 and
12 feet on the 16th and 17th holes as he pulled clear of the
Australian pair.
It is tough to find greens that can replicate the speed and
complex lines of Augusta but Schwartzel said for the two months
prior to the event he did his best to find something similar.
Continued…
