For Charl Schwartzel, winning the Masters Tournament last year was undoubtedly a life-changing moment, but as he prepares for his return to Augusta National in April, the South African is determined to savour every single minute of his reign.
Schwartzel sealed his place in Masters folklore by birdieing the closing four holes last year to capture the Green Jacket by two strokes, following his close friend, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, into the exclusive group of Major Champions, and completing a historic European Tour clean sweep of the game’s greatest prizes.
With less than two months to go until he returns to Augusta National, Schwartzel retains an overriding sense of honour and accomplishment each time he recalls his triumph.
“There's something about the Green Jacket, every single time you put it on, you get this very, very proud feeling,” he said.
“I wore it I don't know how many times. It travelled with me the whole of last year. Basically every single function that we went to, I wore it. I played 36 tournaments last year, and I must have worn it more than 20, or 25 times at functions. Every time you put it on, it's a special moment.”
Not overawed by his new status, and the additional attention it has attracted, the crown of Major Champion sat comfortably with Schwartzel, who only missed one cut in the remainder of the 2011 season, and finished fourth in The Race to Dubai.
As the affable 27 year old reflected on his year as Masters Champion during a media conference, he admitted he was careful not to let the magnitude of his career-defining victory affect him, either on or off the course.
“Winning the Masters was a life-changing experience,” said Schwartzel. “Getting my first Major Championship in the way I did it, it's something that I'm very, very proud of.
“I've had a fantastic year being the Masters Champion. Everywhere you go you get treated so well. It's just been an awesome year so far. I’m really looking forward to coming back and trying to defend my title.
He added: “I think one of my biggest challenges was to try not to change as a person after winning so big. I think it very easily can happen. I tried to stay very humble.
“I felt like I dealt with it fairly well. I really enjoyed all the things that went with winning a Major Championship.”
The last player to successfully defend the Green Jacket was Tiger Woods in 2002, but a decade on Schwartzel is not fazed by returning to one of golf’s most iconic venues as the man in possession of golf’s most famous outfit.
“I think probably the biggest challenge this year is there's obviously going to be more eyes on you,” he said. “People would want to see whether you can live up to the challenge.
“But that's something I have to get around in my head, not to worry about. I have to go out there and treat it as a new tournament, just give it my best. As long as I prepare properly, and give the golf the attention it needs that week.”
Preparation proved vital in Schwartzel’s victory last year, as the seven-time European Tour champion ensured seven weeks prior to the tournament that he was ready for the challenge of Augusta’s notoriously quick greens.
That groundwork paid off, particularly on the back nine of the final round as he surged clear of a pack which included 14-time Major Champion Tiger Woods and a faltering Rory McIlroy.
“To close off any tournament with four birdies would be a fair task. But to do it at the Masters, I think is something very special.
“All I can say is for some reason that whole week, especially those last few holes except for the 18th tee, I was very, very calm - calmer than I normally am. Why that was, I've got no idea.
“That played a big role in me executing the shots I did, and making the birdies. I think most of the time when you come down a stretch like that, any Major Championship, you would be more nervous than what you would normally be. But for some reason I was very, very calm. I think that sort of helped me convert those birdies at that stage of a Sunday afternoon.”
He added: “For me, one of the nicest things at Augusta was to see Tiger come up the leaderboard, with what he's done for golf, and the Major Championships he's won. If you can beat a guy like that on a Sunday afternoon, in a Major Championship, you know you've achieved something in your career.”
In time-honoured tradition, Schwartzel will round off his 12month reign by taking charge of the menu for the Champions Dinner, and he plans to recognise his homeland, after becoming only the third South African to win the Masters Tournament, following Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978), and Trevor Immelman (2008).
“We were going to try and do a barbecue,” said Schwartzel. “In South Africa we call it a 'braai'. I don't like very formal dinners. I thought of keeping it very relaxed, sort of standing around a fire and cooking the meat.
“That's what I hope to do. The only thing that could stop me probably if there are too many people. Then it's very difficult to do the meat yourself. But we're still waiting for confirmation if it will be allowed.”
