TREVOR IMMELMAN survived a double-bogey at the 16th hole to become the first South African to win the U.S. Masters in 30 years with a three-shot victory on Sunday.

Maintaining his composure in swirling winds at Augusta National, the dapper 28-year-old got up and down from a greenside bunker to par 17 before parring the last to seal his first major title.

Two ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Immelman followed in the footsteps of his childhood hero Gary Player to secure the prized green jacket with a three-over-par 75.

He also became the fifth wire-to-wire champion at the Masters, and the first since American Raymond Floyd in 1976, with an eight-under total of 280.

“It was just so tough and I was trying to be tough,” a beaming Immelman said after being presented with his green jacket by last year’s champion, American Zach Johnson.

“That’s all I kept saying to myself, just hang in there and play one shot at a time. There’s a disaster around every corner, as I showed on 16. I just tried to hang in there and I can’t believe I did it.”

World No. 1 Tiger Woods, four-time champion at Augusta and overwhelming favorite at the start of the week, had to settle for second place after closing with a 72.

(SD-Agencies)