Golf-No more Argentine bloopers as Cabrera wins Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 12 (Reuters) - Angel Cabrera made up for one of Argentina's biggest sport bloopers on Sunday, winning the U.S. Masters on the second hole of a sudden death playoff against Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.

Until Sunday, no South American had won the Green Jacket though Cabrera's fellow Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo came closest in 1968 only for him to submit an incorrect scorecard.

The error gave American Bob Goalby a one-shot victory instead of sending the year's first major to a playoff.

Cabrera made no such mistake on Sunday with a perfect approach on the second playoff hole, hitting to 12 feet at the 10th then calmly two-putting before raising his right arm in celebration in the fading Georgia twilight.

"He (De Vicenzo) gave me a picture where he has in his hand a green jacket, and he says, 'I hope this gives you luck so someday you can bring back a green jacket for yourself'," Cabrera told reporters through an interpreter.

"De Vicenzo had bad luck. He had a bad moment.

"It's not going to change what happened to him.

"This win, to take back to Argentina, it's going to help a lot with our game."

The party awaiting Cabrera in his hometown of Cordoba will not be the first for the 39-year-old Argentine, who sparked wild celebrations in Argentina when he won the U.S. Open in 2007.

The victory at Oakmont two years ago set Cabrera up for his win at Augusta National, he said.

"I think I'm more prepared," said Cabrera, whose only two PGA Tour wins have been majors.

"I think the U.S. Open got me by surprise.

"This win, I'm more prepared. I am more aware of where things happen."

Trailing by two shots with two holes to play, Cabrera clawed his way into a three-way playoff.

Then on the first extra-hole, the burly Argentine escaped from deep in the Georgia pines and ricocheted a shot off the trees out on to the fairway and saved par to stay in the chase.

"I only had a spot like this big, and only trees, so I've got to put it through there, that's it.

"As easy as that.

"It's a course that you can do a lot of birdies, a lot of bogeys.

"A lot of magical things happen. It's simply the Masters."

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)