Gary Player inspired me to victory over Tiger Woods, reveals Masters winner Trevor Immelman

Immelman's hero and fellow South African broke Arnold Palmer's record of 50 starts in the Masters last Thursday.

The three-time Masters champion, 72, failed to make the cut and was flying on a business trip to the Middle-East by the time Immelman began his final round holding a four-shot lead at Augusta National.

But before he left, Player left a message on his protege's mobile telephone.

Immelman, 28, recalled: "You know, it gave me goosebumps.

"I played it to my family on speakerphone.

"Mr Player told me he believed in me and I needed to believe in myself.

"He told me to just go out there and be strong through adversity, because he said that adversity would come and I just had to deal with it.

"I took that all to heart and I'm obviously thankful for the message and I'm sure he's proud of me."

Player's favourite clothing colour on the course led to him being called the Black Knight and Immelman was similarly attired yesterday as he became the first golfer since American Ray Floyd in 1976 to win wire-to-wire.

A final round of three-over-par 75 left him with a total of eight-under-par 280, three better than Woods and four ahead of two other Americans, Brandt Snedeker and Stewart Cink.

Woods had gone into the season's first major on such a dominating run of form that he felt inclined to proclaim his sport's first calendar Grand Slam of victory in all four majors was "easily within reach".

That made Immelman's victory all the sweeter.

Having survived a doublebogey at the par-three 16th where he dumped his tee shot in the water, he said: "Tiger told us he was playing at his peak so for me to win is a hell of an achievement. This guy is frightening.

"To win 13 majors at the age of 31 or 32 is just amazing.

"It's crazy to think how many he's going to get to."

Woods knew why he failed to put pressure on Immelman. "I didn't putt well all week," he said. "I had the speed right, I just didn't get the line right."

Open champion Padraig Harrington finished top European in joint-fifth place with left-handers Phil Mickelson and Steve Flesch.

Harrington, never close enough to threaten a repeat of his Carnoustie heroics, was round in a fine 72.

But for the others it was a real tale of woe.

Paul Casey, fourth when he teed off yesterday, turned in 41 and ended up with a 79 for 11th spot alongside Lee Westwood, who carded a 73.

Ian Poulter, his flagging chances reignited by birdies on the opening two holes, then had four double-bogeys in a 78 to finish a lowly 25th on four over.

Casey was left devastated after having to call a penalty on himself when his ball moved as he was about to putt on the sixth green.

He said: "That took the wind out of my sails because it was so difficult out there.

"Bogeys you can handle, doubles as well, it's like everybody's made one.

"But to have a golf ball move on you, that's out of your control."

Justin Rose had been joint leader with Immelman after an opening 68, but the European No1 crashed out of contention with a second round of 78 followed by a final card of 76 to finish 36th.