Campbell falls short, loses Masters in playoff

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Sunday, April 12, 2009 | 5:30 p.m.

Updated Sunday, April 12, 2009 | 10 p.m.

If you would have told Chad Campbell before the start of this year’s Masters that he was going to beat Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the former UNLV All-American would have surely liked his chances to win his first major.

Well, Campbell beat Tiger and Phil. He just could not hold off Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry.

Campbell rallied from two shots down entering Sunday’s final round to tie Cabrera and Perry at 12-under-par and force a three-way playoff. He birdied holes Nos. 12 to 15 and made par on the final three holes to force the playoff.

However, Campbell was eliminated after the first sudden death playoff hole when Cabrera and Perry each made par on hole No. 18 and he failed to make a 6-foot putt for par from the bunker.

Cabrera claimed the green jacket – awarded to the tournament champion – by outlasting Perry on the second playoff hole. Mickelson had his best round of the tournament Sunday, firing a 5-under par 67 to finish in fifth at 9-under and Woods was a shot back at 8-under.

"I'm disappointed about the playoff hole, but I fought all day," Campbell said. " I just pushed the putt. It was a left-edge putt and I just kind of left the blade open."

It was the end of a roller coaster ride through one of golf’s most storied events. Beating Woods and Mickelson was a small consolation prize.

Campbell led after the first and second rounds but bogeyed two of the final three holes Saturday in the third round to card an even-par and fall two shots behind Cabrera and Perry.

It wasn't the first time the 34-year-old Campbell was in contention on the final day of a major. He took third at the Masters in 2006 and was second at the 2003 PGA Championship.

Six years ago at the PGA Championship, Campbell was one shot behind on the 18th hole at Oak Hill when Shaun Micheel hit a 7-iron 2 inches from the hole.

"I just got beat by a better shot,” Campbell said of the PGA Championship. “And today, I kind of blew it myself. I hit bad shots.”

Campbell was at 9-under-par and two shots behind the Cabrera and Perry — the same spot he was in at the start of the day — after bogeying holes No. 9 and 11. But he recorded a two on the par-3 12th hole and birdied the next three holes to join the leaders.

The playoff hole was played on hole No. 18, the same hole he bogeyed on Thursday when he was attempting to set a tournament record for low round.

Cabrera, who won the U.S. Open at Oakmont two years ago, finally earned a green jacket for Argentina.

It was 41 years ago when Roberto de Vicenzo made one of golf's most famous gaffes, signing for the wrong score that denied him a spot in a Masters playoff.

De Vicenzo gave him a picture of a green jacket two years ago when Cabrera returned home as U.S. Open champion and told him to go for it. On this turbulent day, it took everything Cabrera had.

"This is a great moment, the dream of any golfer to win the Masters," Cabrera said through an interpreter during the green jacket ceremony. "I'm so emotional I can barely talk."

He closed with a 1-under 71 to get into the first three-man playoff at the Masters in 22 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.