The Masters: Ranking the 25 most exceptional performances at Augusta

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AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 13: Zach Johnson (L) and Trevor Immelman of South Africa (R) wait at the green jacket presentation after Immelman’s three-stroke victory at the 2008 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2008 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

T-20. Trevor Immelman, 2008 Masters; 280 (-8), Std. Deviation -2.38

In becoming the first South African since Gary Player to win the Masters, Immelman led or co-led after every round, and never really was threatened.

Immelman’s Thursday 68 matched Justin Rose for the day’s low round, two ahead of Zach Johnson, the defending champion. He backed that up with a second 68 on Friday to lead Brandt Snedeker by a stroke.

With his principal challengers failing to mount a Saturday charge, Immelman recorded a 69 to build his advantage to two strokes over Snedeker. By this time most of the field’s glamour names were in trouble. Woods stood six strokes back in fifth and Phil Mickelson was tied for seventh, nine behind.

Snedeker’s eagle at No. 2 on Sunday briefly moved him into a tie for the lead. But he bogeyed the third hold, and by the sixth Immelman had expanded his lead to three. It became four – over Steve Flesch — when he birdied the 13th, and stood at five until Immelman doubled the 16th. By that point it didn’t matter; his 75 was good enough to hold off Woods by three strokes.

Immelman’s 72-hole score of 280 was more than 11 strokes better than the four-round field average

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