Trevor Immelman: What happened to the 2008 Masters Champion?

When looking through the recent Masters champions, the list is extensive and features the World’s top golfers: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, to name a few. The history of this tournament and the legacies it creates is evident, but it can also be the high point in some golfer’s careers. Look no further than the 2008 Masters Champion: Trevor Immelman.

You might be asking yourself: who’s that? Well, he’s responsible for denying Tiger Woods of his fifth Green Jacket, defeating him by 3 strokes at Augusta National. Following his win, Immelman seemed to slip out of the spotlight. So, let’s find out who the South African golfer is, and more importantly, how he’s looking forward to captaining the International Team in this fall’s President’s Cup.

What happened to former Masters winner Trevor Immelman?

Trevor Immelman entered the PGA Tour in 2006 at the young age of 24, flashing immediate success. Immelman was the PGA Rookie of the Year that season, winning his first PGA event at the 2006 Cialis Western Open where he defeated Tiger Woods by 2 strokes. It seemed that there may have been one golfer that actually enjoyed battling the legendary American phenom.

Enter 2008, Immelman was preparing for his first Masters Tournament, looking to compete on the biggest stage in the sport. The spotlight didn’t seem to be an issue for the South African as he went on to win in his very first appearance. The highest point for any golfer, this seemingly solidified Immelman’s place with the World’s best. Defeating Tiger Woods on multiple occasions is something not many golfers can say that they’ve done. However, this seemed to be the climax in his career.

Following his Masters win, Immelman’s performance saw a gradual decline, as that would be his second and final PGA Tour victory. Immelman slipped in the World Rankings and missed the majority of the 2009 & 2010 seasons due to a lingering elbow tendinitis injury. The former Masters champion saw some time in the broadcast booth with TNT in 2013, before attempting a comeback on the European Tour. While he saw some success upon his return, finishing T-3 in the 2019 Scottish Open, it seemed as though his superstar days were behind him.

Immelman now looks forward to the next stage in his career, leading the International Team in the upcoming President’s Cup, as team captain. The aspect of coaching today’s stars is an exciting transition for the 42-year-old, working to defeat Team USA for the first time since 1998 in Melbourne, Australia.

“In 2005, I played in my first President’s Cup under captain Gary Player, which was an experience as a 25-year-old, I will never forget,” Immelman expressed. “Being captain now is an amazing honor.”

Once a true underdog story in 2008, Immelman now finds himself at the end of his career. Making headlines on the biggest stage, defeating the World No. 1 during the most important week of the year has solidified his place in the golf history books. Now, Immelman looks to make more history in September at the Quail Hollow Golf Club, leading his squad to victory.