The Masters went to a sudden-death playoff for the second year in a row when Scott and Cabrera made matching birdies on the 72nd hole. They both made par on the first extra hole, returning to No. 18, before Scott rolled in a 12-footer for birdie to win it.
Scott pumped his fists in the air and high-fived caddie Steve Williams, who was on the bag for 13 of Tiger Woods' 14 major titles.
Playing in the next-to-last group, Scott made a 20-foot putt at 18 and celebrated with Williams as if it were over. Playing in the final group was Cabrera, who watched from the fairway knowing he had to hit a brilliant shot - and he did. Cabrera's ball pulled up 3 feet from the cup for an easy birdie. That sent the two players to the playoff tied at 9-under 279.
For Scott, this is the first, making up for his major meltdown at last year's British Open, where he bogeyed the last four holes to lose by a stroke to Ernie Els.
"I found my way today," Scott said.
Woods, the overwhelming favorite, came up short again. He hasn't won the Masters since 2005, or any major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open.
Woods struggled with the putter on the front side, then missed a birdie try at No. 16 that could have put some pressure on the leaders.
"I had a hard time getting accustomed to the speed," said Woods, who finished in a tie for fourth at 283. "Every putt I left short for probably the first eight holes."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
