Schwartzel makes steady start to Masters defense
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By Julian Linden
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Charl Schwartzel made a solid start to his Masters defense at Augusta National on Thursday but was unable to conjure up the same magic that won him the green jacket a year ago.
On a day when most players struggled to shoot low scores, the South African finished with an even-par 72 and said he was relieved to have avoided any major damage.
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"I felt good out there. I hit some really good shots," said Schwartzel. "My golf swing felt like I was in control of it and it could have easily been a two or three-under-par day."
He salvaged a par on the first hole and played the last four in one-over-par, making bogey on the 15th and 18th holes and a birdie at 17.
"Disappointing finish, bogey out of the middle of the fairway," he grumbled. "I wish I played like Sunday last year."
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While Schwartzel struggled at the end, his good friend and compatriot Louis Oosthuizen finished strongly to charge up the leaderboard and into a share of second place.
The runaway winner of the 2010 British Open made birdies at four of the last five holes to sign for a four-under-par 68.
"I felt it was a really good round," he said. "At this golf course, you've got to be very patient. I played really well at the end, hit a lot of fairways and hit it pretty close and made a few putts."
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Oosthuizen has missed the cut in each of his three previous appearances at the Masters so had turned to Schwartzel to help him do better this year.
"We play together a lot," Oosthuizen said. "Seeing the way he handled himself under the pressure which was brilliant, finishing with four birdies. The main thing was he put himself in a position to win.
"I tried to, to get the four, but I missed the one."
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(Editing by Frank Pingue)