Cabrera pitches in with Crucial Shot

Angel Cabrera’s sublime pitch shot on the first extra hole of the Masters Tournament, which kept alive his hopes of securing his second Major Championship, has been voted The European Tour Shot of the Month for April. Having finished in a three-way tie for the lead after 72 holes at Augusta National, Cabrera and the American duo of Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry returned to the 18th tee, where the Argentine found the trees with his drive. After forcing his ball back onto the fairway, Cabrera was left with an approach shot which would make or break his dreams of adding the Masters Tournament to the US Open Championship he captured in 2007. The 39 year old is famed for his big hitting, but here showed he had a short game to match by hitting a nerveless wedge shot to within six feet of the cup. Cabrera then holed the putt to see off Campbell, who could only manage a bogey; and when Perry also failed to make par on the second extra hole, the famous Green Jacket was his. The April Shot of the Month panel, comprised of golfing media, awarded second place to Michael Hoey for his approach to the par five 13th hole in the Estoril Open de Portugal, which helped the Northern Irishman secure his maiden European Tour title. Third place went to Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, whose eight iron to within four feet of the flag on the first extra hole of the Ballantine’s Championship set up his second victory on The European Tour in as many months. Cabrera follows Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who won in January and March, and February winner Paul Casey of England in receiving the Shot of the Month Award. The European Tour Shot of the Month is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each month on The European Tour International Schedule. At the end of the season, the winning shots from each month will be entered for The European Tour Shot of the Year.