• The Masters

Schwartzel thanks Nicklaus for Masters tips

ESPN staff
April 11, 2011
Charl Schwartzel was awarded the green jacket by 2010 Masters champion Phil Mickelson © PA Photos
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Masters champion Charl Schwartzel has revealed that 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus gave him advice on how to approach the course at Augusta National.

South African Schwartzel, who has climbed to a career-high 11th in the world rankings, birdied his final four holes to clinch a thrilling victory on Sunday to claim a prestigious green jacket.

It was an impressive victory for Schwartzel on only his second appearance at The Masters, but he admitted he had had a helping hand from a man who knows the course at Augusta - Nicklaus having competed in The Masters more than 40 times over the space of six decades.

Before his Masters debut last year, Schwartzel met six-time Masters champion Nicklaus at a charity event in Florida.

"I knew Mr Nicklaus liked hunting so I started talking about that," Schwartzel said. "But [a mutual friend] said: 'Give Charl a tip about how to play Augusta'. I expected some little vague, quick thing.

"But he actually took me through every hole and how he played every shot at the Masters. I had never seen the course, except on TV, and I was so in awe. I kept trying to remember what he said."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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