CHARLIE MULQUEEN: Final day masterclass rescues a forgettable Major for the Irish

JUST when the 77th Masters was in danger of being regarded as one of the flattest for years, it was saved by the dramatic birdie-fest over the closing holes that saw Adam Scott pip Angel Cabrera.

Just as Scott, who has jumped to third in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, proved a very worthy winner, the sporting manner in which Cabrera accepted defeat considerably enhanced the 43-year-old grandfather’s stature while helping to redeem the image of the game after the regrettable developments surrounding Tiger Woods’s dodgy drop on Friday.

The thrilling finale just about made up for the absence of the drama and excitement normally associated with this marvellous sporting occasion over the previous 71 holes. The failure of marquee names Woods, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson to get involved at the top of the leaderboard contributed to the sense of anti-climax while the snail’s pace of play on the first two days proved a major downer for players, fans and television viewers alike.