Immelman makes triumphant return to Augusta

2008-04-10

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By Andrew BothPA SportsTicker Golf Writer

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Ticker) - It was during last year''s Mastersthat it all started to go wrong for Trevor Immelman.

The talented South African arrived at Augusta National confidentof a big performance, but under the circumstances he did welljust to make the cut, eventually finishing tied for 55th.

That''s because he was hideously ill just a couple of days beforethe event, eventually losing 22 pounds during a two-week battlewith nausea and diarrhea.

"I pretty much slept in the bathroom," he recalled. "I took acouple of packs of (diarrhea medication) and managed to make itthrough Augusta, eating pretty much just toast, trying not totake anything that would make me go."

After becoming even more ill the following week, Immelmanconsulted a specialist who diagnosed the problem as a stomachparasite.

Though he was back to full health within a month, his game wasslower to come around.

He finished a disappointing 46th on the PGA Tour money list,after ranking seventh the previous year, but a victory against astar-studded field at the Nedbank Challenge in his homeland atthe end of the year provided a confidence boost heading into2008.

"Today was a great round," he said after earning a share of thelead with a bogey-free 4-under-par 68. "I never got myself intoany great danger and I managed to make the putts to keep themomentum going. It was low stress and I did nothing too crazy toget upset."

Even though Immelman has started the year quietly, he hasn''tbeen too far away from striking top form.

"I''ve been struggling through a few things," he said. "Each weekI''ve chipped away at something new and started getting a littlebetter.

"The results have been pretty frustrating and disappointing(but) I felt I was starting to get some form back, even thoughthe results weren''t showing it."

Immelman is the latest in a fine recent run for South Africansat the Masters. Five times in the past six years a player fromthat country has finished runner-up, although Gary Playerremains the only South African to don the green jacket.

Immelman''s best finish has been a tie for fifth in 2005.