Cabrera wins Masters in playoff

Kenny Perry was honest.

"I lost this tournament," said Perry, who seemingly had the Masters in hand only to lose in a playoff to Argentina's Angel Cabrera on Sunday at sun-splashed Augusta National.

After hearing the roars of the charging two-headed monster of Tiger and Phil, Perry was still in control after a birdie at 16 to go to 14 under. With Woods and Mickelson doing all they could to get back in the game but coming up short, it all fell into Perry's lap, but he spilled the goods.

Perry was the sentimental favorite from Kentucky, who at age 48 was trying to become the oldest major champion in history.

"I had a putt to win," he said afterward about the eight-foot putt for par above the hole at 18.

Instead, he didn't hit it hard enough as it innocently stopped just above the hole. He had a two-shot lead after the birdie at 16, but a bogey on 17 after what he called a skulled chip and another bogey at 18 ended the dream.

Cabrera, who is nicknamed the Duck because of his walk, became the first Argentine to win the Masters.

The playoff also included Chad Campbell, and it was the first three-way playoff since 1987 when Larry Mize, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros were involved. Mize chipped in to beat Norman on the second playoff hole.

Campbell, after battling all day and shooting a 69, bowed out of the playoff on the first hole on 18 when he missed a four-foot par putt.

On No. 10, the second playoff hole, Perry's approach was hooked and it led to a bogey while Cabrera, who won his second major, two-putted for par and the victory.

With his family here at the tournament Perry didn't hang his head after the loss. With his father back home in Kentucky taking care of his ailing mother, Perry refused to play the pity card.

"I'm not going to feel sorry," Perry said. "If this is the worst thing that happens to me, I can live with it. I really can. Great players get it done, and Angel got it done. This is his second major he won. I've blown two, but that's the only two I've had chances of winning."

Perry also lost to Mark Brooks in a playoff at the 1996 PGA Championship

Cabrera, Perry and Campbell all finished at 12 under and Shingo Katayama (68) was fourth at 10 under. Mickelson (67) was fifth at 9 under while four players tied for sixth including Woods, who shot 68.

Woods and Mickelson got it to 10 under at one point, but couldn't get any closer.

Perry was well aware what was going on in front of him. The roars of the lively crowd echoed through the pines as the course was set up to create plenty of scoring chances. And for the first time all week the players did their part.

"I never really looked at Angel," Perry said. "I knew Chad was playing good in front of me and I saw Tiger and Phil going crazy out there."

Through all the excitement, however, Perry stuck to his game plan and made 11 straight pars to open his round. He birdied 12 and 15 and 16, but one of his biggest mistakes came at 13.

He reached the par-5 in two but three-putted for a disappointing par. When asked what shot he would like to have back he didn't hesitate. "That first putt at 13," he said.

When Perry hit what he called a perfect 8-iron to the par-3 16th to four inches the birdie kept him in front of Cabrera by two shots. Cabrera also made a nice birdie putt on 16 to stay within striking distance.

On the first playoff hole, Cabrera hit a poor drive into the woods and his second shot hit a tree and caromed into the fairway. He got up and down from there to save his par, and admitted he didn't see the second shot hit the tree.

"I heard it hit," he said through a translator.

The break allowed Cabrera to stay in the playoff where he won it on the next hole. Perry's drive was OK but there was mud on his ball and the approach caused it to go right into a big swale below the green. This led to the bogey and ultimately opened the door for Cabrera.

"I just hope it don't go too far left," Perry said about his bad approach to the second playoff hole. "And it just kept easing its way over left and kind of missed on the bank there and spin it on down."

Through all the questions Perry faced from reporters he refused to say anything negative about the experience. He hopes that this will spur him on to do more as the year goes on.

Still it was hard to imagine that he would come close again to winning his first major.

"I had that putt on 18 that I've seen Tiger make," Perry said. "I've seen so many people make that putt. I knew exactly what it was. That was probably the most disappointing putt of the day because I hit it too easy. You know what; you've got to give that putt a run.

"I mean, how many chances do you have to win the Masters? That was very disappointing."

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