Golf: Goosen happy to grind it out at Augusta

The odds on South African Retief Goosen winning his second major title at this week’s Masters have come tumbling down after his four-stroke victory in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta yesterday.

In the past 10 months nobody has matched the seven worldwide wins of 33-year-old Goosen - not even Tiger Woods.

And so far this season only two players have three victories to their names - Goosen and his World Cup-winning partner Ernie Els.

But the most improved player in golf, who has not looked back since capturing the US Open in Tulsa last June, is hardly returning to a place of happy memories when he drives up Magnolia Lane and into the Augusta National club.

On his debut in 1998 Goosen missed the halfway cut by one after a second round 77, two years ago he was only 40th and last season, hindered by a pulled chest muscle, he missed the cut again.

‘‘I’m definitely more excited about going there this time, though,’’ said the Surrey-based player after his latest success.

‘‘My confidence level is much higher and I know I can play under the pressure of a major championship and in tough conditions.’’

It does not worry Goosen, leading money-winner on the European tour last year, a bit that Augusta has been controversially lengthened by nearly 300 yards since Woods won last April.

‘‘It’s going to be a whole new experience for everybody, but I prefer tough courses to those where it’s just a putting contest. I like it when you have to grind it out.’’

Goosen’s game is not precisely where he wants it on the eve of the first major of the season, however.

Sixteen under par at Sugarloaf sounds impressive - Swede Jesper Parnevik was next best at 12 under after a closing 65 - but Goosen stated: ‘‘I’m going to have to drive it better at Augusta.

‘‘My short game got me this win. I chipped and putted great all week.’’ He had just 101 putts in the four rounds.

The key shot yesterday was a 100-foot chip-and-run into the fourth hole for an eagle three.

He had opened bogey-double bogey to go from two ahead of Phil Mickelson to two behind, but Mickelson took six at the fourth and was never able to get back on terms.

Parnevik is another with an indifferent Masters record - a best of 20th in five trips - but the way he grabbed second place has filled him with good thoughts.

His 65 was the lowest score of the day by three shots and it was rounded off by an eagle putt of nearly 60 feet at the last.

Parnevik, hardly heard of all year apart from revealing that Woods is dating his former nanny, began the final day in 20th place nine strokes adrift.

‘‘I hit probably the best five-wood I’ve ever hit onto the green and then one of my best-ever putts,’’ he said.

‘‘Confidence-wise I’m a 10 out of 10 at the moment. I’ve been driving so poorly this year, but just as the sun went down on Saturday night I figured something on the range to start drawing the ball again.’’

As for Augusta Parnevik added: ‘‘I’ve been too aggressive in the past. You need to think your way round there and have an unbelievable short game.

‘‘It’s just too bad that Tiger has both and his focus is fantastic there too.’’

Asked if the world number one’s new Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren might change that, Parnevik joked: ‘‘That was the original plan!’’