South African Schwartzel Wins Masters

South African Charl Schwartzel won the Masters golf tournament by two strokes over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day in a dramatic back-nine showdown Sunday.

The 26-year-old closed with four straight birdies to wrap up a 6-under par 66 at the legendary Augusta National course in the southern U.S. state of Georgia. He finished 14-under 274 to win the famed Masters green jacket and $1.44 million.

Scott shot a 67 and Day finished with two straight birdies for a 68.

Tiger Woods closed with a 67 to tie at fourth place at 278 with England's Luke Donald and Australian Geoff Ogilvy, one shot ahead of Argentina's Angel Cabrera and two better than South Korean K.J. Choi and American Bo Van Pelt.

21-year-old Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland had come into the last round with a four shot lead but his game fell apart at the 10th hole.