The Masters 2017 highlights and results: Sergio Garcia wins

Sergio Garcia outlasted Justin Rose in a playoff after they tied through 72 holes to win The Masters and his first-ever major championship

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose started the final round of The Masters 2017 on Sunday as the final pairing, tied for the lead at 6-under. However, with a surging Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler in the pairing immediately before them and the likes of Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and many others within striking distance, it was seemingly anyone’s race.

As it turned out though, it was Garcia and Rose’s race. While Matt Kuchar posted a 5-under 67 on the day to finish The Masters at 5-under and as Charl Schwartzel posted a 68 in the final round to move to 6-under, the final pairing was in a class of their own.

The two veteran Europeans fed off of one another throughout the round on Sunday. When one would pull ahead, the other had an answer. That truly came to a head on the 15th hole. From 14 feet out, Garcia had fallen behind Rose by two strokes, but had an eagle putt to tie. With nerves of steel, he sunk it to tie for the lead at 9-under. That set up a thrilling three-hole finish down the stretch to decide The Masters champion.

After Nos. 16 and 17, the two men were still knotted up at 9-under and both men brought their A-games to the final hole. Garcia and Rose each hit beautiful drives and had good chances at approach shots. Rose was away and hit a gorgeous shot that admittedly took a fortunate bounce off of a ridge to trickle down for a makeable birdie putt. Garcia’s shot was even better, though, sticking his even closer.

Then came the moment for Garcia to potentially win his first major and finally get over the hump that’s plagued him for so long. Rose hit his putt true, but it was all for naught as his line was wrong by about an inch to the right. That left the door open for Garcia with a shorter putt, but he too misread his and left it right. Each man registered a par to force a playoff.

On the first playoff hole, though, Garcia had to taste his first-ever major championship after each golfer took their tee shot. While Rose’s ended up behind trees in the pine straw, his landed in the middle of the fairway. His confidence had to increase further as Rose had to punch out into the fairway with his second shot. That showed as he stuck a beautiful approach in the middle of the green.

Rose hit a nice approach following the punch-out and had a similar putt to the one on the 72nd hole. However, he missed that as well to tap in for bogey. That left Garcia with two puts to win The Masters. He only needed one. And with a birdie on hole No. 73 at Augusta this weekend, Sergio Garcia captured the elusive Green Jacket and his first-ever major.

Here’s a look at the final leaderboard for The Masters 2017, looking at the top 10 finishers in the tournament at Augusta:

1. Sergio Garcia -9 (71, 72, 67, 69) – Playoff Hole: Birdie
2. Justin Rose -9 (71, 69, 70, 69) – Playoff Hole: Bogey
3. Charl Schwartzel -6 (74, 72, 68, 68)
T4. Matt Kuchar -5 (72, 73, 71, 67)
T4. Thomas Pieters -5 (72, 68, 75, 68)
6. Paul Casey -4 (72, 75, 69, 68)
T7. Kevin Chappell -3 (71, 76, 70, 68)
T7. Rory McIlroy -3 (72, 73, 71, 69)
T9. Adam Scott -2 (75, 69, 69, 73)
T9. Ryan Moore -2 (74, 69, 69, 74)

Highlights

Next: Complete List of U.S. Open Winners

To be as close as he’s been so many times and to have fallen short time and again, it’s been heartbreak for one of the game’s best on numerous occasions. But now he can try any future tears on the sleeve of his Green Jacket. Sergio Garcia is a major champion, and it’s long overdue.