Rain. It wasn't just a drizzle; it was that heavy, soaking Georgia downpour that makes the greens at Augusta National look like glass and the fairways feel like sponges. Most people remember the 2013 US Masters winner for the "C'mon Aussie!" scream on the 18th, but the real story is much messier than a single putt. It was about a guy who had basically become a punchline for "best player to never win a major" finally staring down the literal ghosts of his own past.
Adam Scott wasn't supposed to be there. Not after what happened at Lytham the year before. He’d coughed up a four-shot lead with four holes to play at the Open Championship. People were calling him fragile. They were saying his anchored putting stroke—that long broomstick putter—was a crutch that wouldn't hold up under the pressure of a Sunday at Augusta.
Then came April 14, 2013.
The Long Shadow of Greg Norman
You can't talk about the 2013 US Masters winner without talking about the "Great White Shark." For decades, Australian golf was defined by a specific kind of heartbreak at Augusta. Greg Norman’s 1996 collapse is etched into the brain of every golf fan over the age of thirty. It was a curse. Honestly, it felt like a law of physics: Australians do not win the Green Jacket.
Scott grew up idolizing Norman. He moved like him, drove the ball like him, and unfortunately, seemed to be inheriting that knack for the Sunday stumble. When Angel Cabrera—a guy who looks like he could win a major while smoking a cigar and eating a steak—started charging, everyone thought they knew how the script ended. Cabrera had won in 2009. He was a bull. Scott was the "pretty" golfer with the perfect swing who might just fold again.
But something was different this time. Scott’s caddie, Steve Williams, had been on Tiger Woods' bag for years. He knew how to win. He knew when to tell a player to shut up and swing.
That Monster Birdie on 18
The drama started peaking around the 17th. But the 18th hole? That was pure cinema. Scott stood over a 20-foot birdie putt that looked impossible in the fading light and the mist. If he makes it, he wins—or so he thought. He drained it. He let out a roar that echoed through the pines, a release of ten years of frustration.
"C'mon Aussie!"
It was the loudest Augusta had been in years. But here’s the thing: golf is cruel. While Scott was celebrating, Angel Cabrera was standing in the middle of the 18th fairway watching the whole thing. Most players would have wilted. Cabrera just smiled. He stuffed a 7-iron to about three feet.
Suddenly, we had a playoff.
Two Heavyweights in the Dark
The playoff was played in what was essentially twilight. If you go back and watch the footage, the colors are muted, the shadows are long, and the tension is thick enough to choke on. They both parred the first playoff hole (the 18th). Then they headed to the 10th.
The 10th at Augusta is a brute. It’s a long, downhill par 4 that doglegs left. It’s where dreams go to die—just ask Rory McIlroy about his 2011 meltdown there. Both guys hit great drives. Both guys hit solid approaches.
Cabrera almost ended it first. His birdie putt tracked perfectly, curling right toward the cup, but it stopped literally an inch short. An inch. If that ball rolls one more time, Adam Scott is just another guy who almost won.
Instead, it was Scott’s turn.
He had a 12-footer. It was dark. He couldn't even see the line clearly. He turned to Stevie Williams and asked for the read. Williams told him it was at least two cups outside the left. Scott trusted him. He stroked that long putter, the ball tracked, and it disappeared.
The 2013 US Masters winner was finally an Australian.
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Why the 2013 Victory Still Matters for Golf Gear
One of the weirdest subplots of this win was the putter itself. The broomstick. At the time, the USGA and the R&A were already looking at banning anchored putting. Scott’s win basically accelerated that conversation. Critics argued that anchoring the club against your chest or chin took the "skill" out of the yips.
But if you watched Scott that day, there was nothing "easy" about it. He was under more pressure than any human should have to endure. Since the ban on anchoring went into effect in 2016, Scott had to reinvent his game. The fact that he stayed competitive for a decade after losing his "crutch" proves that he wasn't just a product of a specific club. He was a world-class ball-striker who just needed one moment of validation.
The Numbers Behind the Green Jacket
If you look at the strokes gained data from that week, Scott wasn't actually the best putter in the field. He won because he was a machine from tee to green.
- He hit nearly 80% of his greens in regulation.
- His driving accuracy was top-ten for the week.
- He avoided the big "miss" that usually haunts players on the back nine on Sunday.
He finished at 9-under par. It wasn't a blowout. It was a grind.
The "Tiger" Factor that Nobody Mentions
We usually forget that Tiger Woods was actually the favorite going into the weekend in 2013. But he had that bizarre "illegal drop" incident on Friday at the 15th hole. He hit the flagstick, the ball bounced back into the water, and he dropped in the wrong spot. He got a two-stroke penalty, but he wasn't disqualified.
That drama hovered over the entire tournament. If Tiger doesn't hit that flagstick, or if he drops correctly, does he win? Maybe. But the chaos of the "Drop-Gate" opened the door for Scott and Cabrera. It changed the energy of the leaderboard. It felt like the golf gods were clearing the way for something new.
Real-World Takeaways from the 2013 Win
What can a regular golfer—someone who shoots 95 on a good day—actually learn from the 2013 US Masters winner?
It's not about the swing. Scott has arguably the most aesthetic swing in the history of the sport, but that swing failed him at the Open in 2012. He won in 2013 because of resilience.
Most people quit mentally after a heartbreak like Lytham. Scott didn't. He changed his caddie, he tweaked his routine, and he leaned into the pressure. He didn't try to hide from the "Australian Curse"—he acknowledged it.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Game:
- The Power of the Caddie (or Friend): Scott wouldn't have made that final putt without Steve Williams. If you're struggling on the course, get a second pair of eyes. Sometimes you're too close to the problem to see the line.
- Putting is Mental, Not Just Mechanical: Whether you use a broomstick or a blade, the "yips" are in the brain. Scott focused on a singular routine that he repeated until it was automatic.
- Manage the "Miss": On Sunday, Scott didn't hunt every pin. He played to the fat parts of the greens when he had to. Winning isn't always about being flashy; it's about not being stupid.
- Short Memory: You have to forget the double bogey on the 4th hole if you want to birdie the 18th. Scott’s ability to bury the 2012 Open collapse is a masterclass in sports psychology.
The 2013 US Masters winner didn't just get a green jacket. He ended a national drought and proved that "nice guys" can actually close the deal. It remains one of the most statistically solid and emotionally charged wins in the modern era of the PGA Tour.
If you want to improve your own mental toughness, start by analyzing how you react to your worst holes. Scott didn't change his swing after his biggest loss; he changed his mindset. That’s the real secret of Augusta.
To truly understand the impact of this win, look at the rise of Australian golf since 2013. Players like Jason Day and Cameron Smith have cited Scott’s breakthrough as the moment they realized it was possible. It broke the ceiling.
For anyone looking to replicate that kind of consistency, the next step is focusing on Strokes Gained: Approach. Scott led the field in that category for a reason. Better iron play takes the pressure off your putter, regardless of whether you're playing for a Green Jacket or a $10 bet with your buddies. Focus on hitting more greens in regulation and the scores will naturally follow.