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Schwartzel makes steady start to Masters defence

By Julian Linden

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) – Charl Schwartzel made a solid start to

his Masters defence at Augusta National on Thursday but was unable to conjure up the same magic that won him the green jacket

a year ago.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa 

hits his tee shot on the first hole during first round play in the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf 

Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 5, 2012. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Defending champion Charl

Schwartzel of South Africa hits his tee shot on the first hole during first round play in the 2012 Masters Golf Tournament at

the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 5, 2012. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

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.

“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.”

Unlike last year when he

started his final round by chipping in for a birdie at the first then making birdies on each of the last four holes to clinch

his first major title by two shots, the 27 year old was battling just to hold par on Thursday.

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.”

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.”

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.

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“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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Schwartzel makes steady start to Masters defence

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