By Julian Linden
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 3 (Reuters) – Twelve months after
his stunning victory in the Masters, Charl Schwartzel is back at
Augusta National and feeling confident about his chances and
determined to prove his win was no fluke.
The South African said he felt a sudden tingle in his spine
when he drove down Magnolia Lane, the short road that leads to
the Augusta National clubhouse, as the memories of his amazing
victory came flooding back.
But rather than be overawed by his ability to triumph at the
Masters in only his second attempt, Schwartzel felt a calming
surge of confidence that he could do it again.
“I have a different mind-set coming into this event knowing
that you’ve won,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.
“I almost expect myself to win. I feel like I’m playing good
enough. I feel like if I’ve done it before, why can’t I do it
again.”
Schwartzel was presented with the winner’s green jacket
after producing the greatest finish in the 75-year history of
the Masters, making birdies on each of the last four holes to
clinch his first major title by two shots.
His life changed forever but not everything has gone
according to plan for the 27-year-old since then. Although he
has played consistently well and finished in the top 16 at each
of the next three majors, he has been unable to reproduce his
brilliant finish at the Masters.
He has not won a won a tournament since last year’s Masters
and comes into the first major of 2012 after missing the cut at
his last two PGA Tour events.
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