By Julian Linden
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 5 (Reuters) – Charl Schwartzel made
a solid start to his Masters defence at Augusta National on
Thursday but was unable to conjure up the same magic that won
him the green jacket a year ago.
On a day when most players struggled to shoot low scores,
the South African finished with an even-par 72 and said he was
relieved to have avoided any major damage.
“I felt good out there. I hit some really good shots,” said
Schwartzel. “My golf swing felt like I was in control of it and
it could have easily been a two or three-under-par day.”
Unlike last year when he started his final round by chipping
in for a birdie at the first then making birdies on each of the
last four holes to clinch his first major title by two shots,
the 27 year old was battling just to hold par on Thursday.
He salvaged a par on the first hole and played the last four
in one-over-par, making bogey on the 15th and 18th holes and a
birdie at 17.
“Disappointing finish, bogey out of the middle of the
fairway,” he grumbled. “I wish I played like Sunday last year.”
While Schwartzel struggled at the end, his good friend and
compatriot Louis Oosthuizen finished strongly to charge up the
leaderboard and into a share of second place.
The runaway winner of the 2010 British Open made birdies at
four of the last five holes to sign for a four-under-par 68.
Continued…
