It’s not the thought of teeing up as defending champion on Thursday that is filling Charl Schwartzel with nerves, but rather hosting tonight’s Champions Dinner in the presence of the legends of the game.
“I am nervous, to be honest,” he admitted. “I am nervous and very excited. I'm going to be around past champions and legends that I never got to see play. You know, we see the highlights of how these guys did it, and I'm going to be in a room with them. I think it's going to be an unbelievable evening. “
Schwartzel has opted for a traditional South African braai and although he initially wanted to cook the meat himself, has decided to leave that to the chef as he didn’t want to get oil on his Green Jacket!
Twelve months ago he produced the greatest finish ever witnessed at Augusta National by becoming the first player to birdie each of the last four holes to win the Green Jacket, although it took a while for that grandstand finish to sink in.
“When I finished that Sunday, I wasn't even conscious of the four birdies that I just made,” he reflected. “I was just over the moon putting on the Green Jacket.
“And then afterwards, everyone started going on about the four birdies that I made. I went home and I watched it, and it looked pretty spectacular on the TV.”
And the 27 year old is sure the 2012 Masters Tournament will produce similar fireworks on the back nine.
“With so many guys playing so good that it's going to, I think, come down to a tight finish again. I think this tournament over the years has always had some electrifying finishes over the last nine holes, and I don't see why this year is going to be any different.
“It's going to come down to the guy that finishes off the best back nine on Sunday.”
Whether that is Schwartzel again remains to be seen but he is in confident mood on his return to his greatest triumph.
“It's fantastic to be back. I've started preparing a couple of weeks ago, and everything feels like it's falling into place for me. My golf swing after the Florida Swing with a bit of wind felt like it was a bit suspicious, and I started working on it again for the last two weeks, and it really feels very good.
I played last week. Obviously I missed the cut by a shot. But I wasn't too fazed because honestly my golf swing felt good. I knew if I could get my putting in place, I'm pretty much on track like I was last year.”
His victory last year inevitably lifted him into the spotlight, and he hopes his success will not end there.
“It has been pretty overwhelming. You know, my life basically changed overnight there. When I got back home, I didn't realize how big it was, how many people actually saw it. Wherever I went, people congratulated, and still do. It doesn't seem to ease down. It doesn't stop, and it's fantastic.
“I just feel like I'm very blessed to have achieved what I did, and hopefully I've got a few more in me.”
