Schwartzel not satisfied with defense of Masters title

Charl Schwartzel was not happy just to be here.

After a Sunday 74 that included his fourth-consecutive bogey on 18 and left him tied for 50th in his Masters Tournament title defense, the young South African wasn’t particularly pleased with his performance.

Schwartzel didn’t come back to Augusta National Golf Club to have dinner and smell the azaleas, if they had been in bloom.

The strain of being the returning champion was not the reason for not breaking par in four rounds and finishing 8-over in his worst Masters finish in three starts.

“Not at all,” Schwartzel said. “I felt perfectly fine. Nothing different from any other week, it felt to me. I felt in control. I felt like I was more than capable of defending. That was not on my mind at all. That’s no excuse.”

After opening with 72, Schwartzel never seemed as comfortable on the greens as he did a year ago. The man who finished with four consecutive birdies and ranked second in the field in putting in 2011 required 10 more putts this week.

“I felt very good out there. I just didn’t play very well,” he said. “I got some bad breaks, and my putting let me down. Some putts that you need to make to keep the momentum going, I missed. It affected my game. That’s the consequence of not playing very well.”

Despite his finish, Schwartzel leaves Augusta with new memories of joining the exclusive club of past champions.

“It was great,” he said of the experience. “The beginning of the week and everything up to it was fantastic. I think the respect that you get and gain from everyone. This tournament is different than others. It was an honor being the Masters champion the way people treated you. It was great.”

Though holding a traditional South African braai for his fellow champions was a highlight, so was playing the course before the tournament with his father, George, and brother, Attie. That might have been the biggest thrill for his father, who taught him the game.

“To play Augusta is anybody’s dream,” George Schwartzel said. “To play Augusta with your sons is even better. To play Augusta with your son who is the Masters champion is unbelievable.”

As Schwartzel finished his round, his childhood friend and junior team partner Louis Oosthuizen was teeing off on the first hole in third place. Minutes before Oosthuizen registered the first double eagle on the second hole to leap into the lead, Schwartzel was emphatic that his friend would be receiving the green jacket from him in the Butler Cabin ceremony hours later.

“I think he will,” Schwart-z­el said. “I think he’s playing the best out of everyone up there. He’s definitely the most solid. You guys don’t know it, but when he’s playing like this he’s unstoppable. When he’s hot, he’s real hot, and I don’t think they can beat him.”