The long, painful wait is over. On what would have been the 60th birthday of Seve Ballesteros, at the conclusion of his 71st consecutive major, Sergio García is a champion. Amid moving scenes at Augusta National, which emphasised so many frustrations, sudden-death victory over Justin Rose afforded García the status he courted since childhood but had been so cruelly, so routinely denied him in the past. Sergio García, major winner: it is a phrase many thought impossible.

The spirit of Seve played a part in Spain’s first major win of the 21st century. Had he not won, onlookers were left to wonder how precisely García would ever recover. At last this was the 37-year-old’s time; even Rose, in calm reflection, will recognise that. “García, García,” chanted the Augusta patrons as he holed out for a three on play-off hole No1. The man himself kneeled on the hallowed turf, partly in disbelief at finally reaching this Holy Grail.

Sergio García: winning Masters on Seve Ballesteros's birthday is something amazing Read more

A tearful García was never going to be allowed to end his drought the easy way. This could only have been his earlier fate; 5ft to win the Masters. As the putt slid by, reviving memories of the wounding moments which had denied the Spaniard so many times, the die was surely cast. Everyone had been in this movie before, hadn’t they? In entering the play-off García had such a wave of Augusta National support but horrendously damaging scar tissue. Garcia was to have the last laugh with a fresh, uplifting storyline.

That García and Rose tied on nine under at the close of regulation play after trading 69s was but a statistic. The 81st Masters provided one of this grand old lady’s most iconic climaxes.

It is such a shame that duel in the sun already has context in golf. On a glorious Georgia afternoon Rose and García engaged in epic battle. It ebbed and flowed, it was similar in so many ways to the Open Championship finale involving Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson last year. It was rendered even more endearing by the fact the two golfers in question are such close friends, an alliance they did not hide when displaying sportsmanship of the highest order.

This very quickly became a two-horse race. García held a three-stroke advantage after the 5th. Rose hauled him back to the position of parity at the turn. Nobody else could gatecrash the party.

The widespread assertion was García would eventually buckle under pressure. He has previous, after all. García in fact stabilised himself from ugly dropped shots at the 10th and 11th to post a birdie at the 14th and conjure up one of the shots of the tournament a hole later. As he holed out for a three García punched the air; he finally believed. Neither he nor Rose could pull clear again from the 16th tee onwards.

Play Video 2:34 It was García's time to win, says Justin Rose – video

Sergio García the last man standing and finally a Masters champion | Andy Bull Read more

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 champion, ended up best of the rest at six under after a terrific fourth-round 68. He will probably not take offence at this being lost in the mêlée. Thomas Pieters is worth great credit on this, his Masters debut, after earning a share of fourth with Matt Kuchar on minus five. The star of Pieters continues to rise, which is a wonderful boost for European golf. This young Belgian has it all.

The biggest shock of day four was Jordan Spieth’s failure to place meaningful pressure on Rose or García. The Texan, who had finished no worse than second here, could fare no better than a bogey at the opening hole in what proved an ominous sign of things to come.

Spieth, who began Sunday two from the lead, reached the turn in 38 before being afforded a wounding glance back to 2016. On the 12th, Spieth’s now recurring nemesis, he played his tee shot into Rae’s Creek. Three birdies in the closing four holes mattered little to this fierce competitor; 75 and tie for 11th was his fate.

Kuchar had barely been mentioned during Masters week; a situation he remedied on Sunday with a hole in one at the 16th. It was the only ace of this tournament. Even more appealing was Kuchar’s immediate reaction as he signed the ball in question and handed it to a young member of the gallery. Kuchar had further cause for celebration, his closing 67 affording him that share of fourth with Pieters.

Rory McIlroy, who partnered Kuchar over the final 18 holes, must wait at least another year to complete a clean sweep of majors. The Northern Irishman signed off with a 69 to tie seventh.

The Masters 2017: fourth round – live! Read more

“It wasn’t quite good enough,” said McIlroy. “I’m getting more comfortable here. I feel like every time I tee it up here I have a real good chance to win. Top 10s right now isn’t good enough but it’s going in the right direction.”

McIlroy’s thoughts will immediately turn towards his upcoming wedding; when he returns to the competitive fold at the Players Championship next month, he will be a married man. “It’s a great time in my life,” he added. “It would have been nice to walk down the aisle in the Green Jacket. I’ll come back refreshed and start a new chapter in my life.”

McIlroy was among those to publicly back Garcia as the play-off scene was set. The man from Castellon now enters exciting and new territory of his own. This is long overdue.</s>Golfer Sergio García of Spain slipped on the green jacket after a dramatic finish over Englishman Justin Rose at the 81st Masters in Augusta, Ga., on Sunday.

Before the sudden-death playoff, García trailed Rose by two shots with six holes remaining.

Rose sent his first playoff drive into the trees on 18 and managed to punch out before failing to sink a 15-foot par putt. That opened the door for García to win the title by two-putting from 12 feet out. García wasted no time wrapping up the Masters, sinking a birdie putt before crouching in disbelief while hearing chants of "Ser-gee-oh! Ser-gee-oh!" from the gallery. Rose patted his opponent on the cheek before they embraced. García and Rose began the final round tied for the lead before carding 3-under 69s to finish at minus-9.



"I'm going to enjoy it for the rest of my life," García said after winning his first major championship.

Rose said, "If there's anyone to lose to, it's Sergio. He deserves it. He's had his share of heartbreak."

An ecstatic García forever crossed off his name from the list of best golfers never to win a major. Thirty-seven-year-old García is in the top-10 in career prize money, but he played in 70 major tournaments as a pro without a victory. Several years ago he said he wasn't good enough to win a major — that changed Sunday after García and Rose battled to the end.



García is the third Spaniard to don a green jacket, joining the late Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal.

The final round duel also was notable for its sportsmanship.

Several times García and Rose applauded each other for great shots.</s>Sergio García’s relationship with American galleries is akin to his rollercoaster journey with golf itself. On Sunday evening, both had come full circle. So, too, did a relationship between the latest Masters champion and Augusta National.

“Initially I felt like this course was probably going to give me at least one major,” García said. “I’m not going to lie, that thought kind of changed a little bit through the years because I started feeling uncomfortable on the course. But I kind of came to peace with it the last three or four years. I accepted what Augusta gives and takes.” Including now, its ultimate prize.

Eighteen years have passed since García was low amateur at the Masters in emphasising talent further highlighted by a handicap of plus 5.8. Only three months later, the Spaniard claimed his first victory as a professional at the Irish Open. He was in the midst of one of sport’s great fairytales. At that 1999 Masters, García spent practice time in the company of Seve Ballesteros; images of that understandably surfaced again as the 37-year-old donned the Green Jacket on what would have been his late countryman’s 60th birthday.

Yet García was to prove the prime example that nothing, and certainly nothing overwhelmingly positive, lasts forever. For all he would routinely insist upon a great life and professional fulfilment there were lingering, dark moments. Bitterness was easy to detect. It became difficult to watch someone who burst on to the scene with such vigour carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

In golf terms, García sampled frustration that his undoubted talent level had not been even partly replicated by major success. At one stage, he even publicly denounced his ability to win even one. At another he took a self-imposed absence from the game. Dr Sergio and Mr García became a stock phrase within golf; this individual, supposedly destined for greatness, was struggling for peace of mind on and off course.

Relationships with Martina Hingis and Greg Norman’s daughter, Morgan-Leigh, came and went without García being afforded off-course stability. When that finally seemed to have arrived alongside Katharina Boehm, that too abruptly ended despite rumours of engagement. When speaking to anyone who knows García now, a recurring theme is of the positive influence offered by his fiancée, Angela Akins, a former television presenter. Having worked within golf she knows the scene. Crucially she seems to be able to channel García’s emotions.

The root of indifference from crowds in the United States is tricky to pinpoint. García has encountered some vicious abuse, most notably at the 2015 Players Championship when he was audibly willed on to lose by an offensive section of the Sawgrass audience. He would never speak about it – PGA Tour pension funds are lucrative – but this was not anything like an exception.

Being a kingpin in European Ryder Cup success may have played its part. It would be simple to cite career indifference between García and Tiger Woods – including the infamous “fried chicken” jibe as offered by the Spaniard four years ago – as the key motivator if the 14-times major champion was himself universally loved. Woods, whilst a constant source of fascination, lost his invincibility cloak in the eyes of the masses after the scandals which engulfed his personal life.

Nonetheless, within the Tiger-Sergio spat was a subtle truism. Amid a dispute about Woods perhaps playing a shot out of turn, his cutting jibe towards García – “It’s not really surprising that he is complaining about something” – was as wounding as it was accurate.

Justin Rose, defeated by García in the play-off, was perfectly aware of who the Augusta patrons wanted to prevail. The feeling was palpable as the Sunday shadows lengthened. “Often Sergio feels like he’s not supported the way he would like to be here in America,” Rose said. “It was encouraging to see the crowd get behind him. I think that they realised that he paid his dues, and they realised that he’s been close so many times.”

That García was alongside Rose for Sunday’s round is important in itself. There seemed relaxation in the company of a friend. Danny Willett benefited in the same manner, 12 months ago, when Lee Westwood was his partner.

García’s win triggered congratulations from those within golf who had watched him fall at so many final hurdles. “It was only a matter of time,” Luke Donald said. If Donald truly believed that, he did so against the vast weight of evidence.

“I had a lump in my throat watching it,” said Paul McGinley, who forged a tight alliance with García at the Ryder Cup. “I had been there so many times watching him, I had felt his pain. He is an emotional person and I know how much those previous experiences hurt him. I also know how much this will mean to him. We were all worried he was going to have a career without any major at all.”

McGinley rightly acknowledged that García’s impulsive and creative nature is perfectly suited to Augusta. An indication of how wonderfully accurate the champion’s tee to green play was over four rounds comes form the fact he was 20th in the cumulative putting statistics table. He was the flag bearer in what was a hugely successful Masters for European golf.

“Hopefully I will be able to add some more,” García said before leaving Georgia. Even if the major floodgates do not open he has at last found sanctuary. The suffering is over.</s>AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the final round of the Masters on Sunday (all times local):

The Masters is headed to a sudden-death playoff between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.

Rose missed a 7-footer for birdie at the 18th hole, giving Garcia a chance to win the first major championship of his career from just 5 feet away.

Now, they’re headed back to the 18th tee box for the first playoff hole, tied at 9-under 279.

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are tied for the lead heading to the 72nd hole of the Masters.

Rose gave up the advantage when he failed to get up and down from a bunker in front of the 17th green, settling for a bogey that dropped his score to 9 under.

Garcia is also at 9 under after a par on the next-to-last hole.

Back and forth they go at Augusta National.

Justin Rose reclaimed the Masters lead at the 16th hole with a brilliant tee shot, which set up an 8-foot birdie putt that pushed his score to 10 under.

Sergio Garcia’s tee shot was even closer, curling back toward the pond before stopping 6 feet away. But the Spaniard pulled the putt, settling for a par that left him one stroke behind with two holes remaining.

Rose is seeking his second major title, having won the U.S. Open in 2013. Garcia has never captured one of golf’s biggest events.

Sergio Garcia has rallied to tie Justin Rose for the lead with three holes remaining at the Masters.

In a stunning turn of events, Garcia birdied the 14th hole and followed with an eagle at the par-5 15th after his approach shot caught the flagstick and stopped 15 feet away. The putt barely trickled into the cup for his first eagle at Augusta National in 452 holes.

Rose managed to make a birdie, but it wasn’t enough to keep the lead. The two players in the final group are both 3 under for the day and 9 under overall, setting up a magnificent finish at the Masters.

Garcia is going for the first major title of his career.

Rose is the 2013 U.S. Open champion and an Olympic gold medalist.

Justin Rose has a two-shot lead with five holes to play at the Masters.

But Sergio Garcia caught a big break at the 13th after pulling his tee shot into an azalea bush left of the fairway. He had to take a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable shot, but he still managed to salvage par.

Playing with Garcia in the final group, Rose had a 6-footer for birdie that would’ve given him a three-shot lead. But the putt slid left of the cup, giving Garcia a reprieve as they headed to the 14th.

Matt Kuchar is in the clubhouse with a 67, leaving him three shots behind at 5 under. Thomas Pieters and Charl Schwartzel are also at 5 under.

Matt Kuchar has made a hole-in-one at the 16th hole to give himself an improbable shot at his first major title.

Kuchar sent the crowd into a frenzy when he aced a 7-iron at the 170-yard hole Sunday, the ball landing on the green and curling back toward the pond before dropping in the cup.

The patrons chanted ”Kooch!” as the popular golfer walked toward the green. He retrieved the ball, signed it and gave it to a young boy along the ropes.

Kuchar is now at 5 under, three strokes behind Justin Rose.

Sergio Garcia dropped one stroke behind the leader with a bogey at the 10th.

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are making the turn at the Masters right where they began the day: tied for the lead.

Garcia pulled three shots ahead Sunday with two early birdies and a bogey by Rose at the fifth.

But Rose started a run of three straight birdies at the sixth to quickly erase the deficit. Garcia had a chance to stay ahead but missed a 6-foot birdie try at No. 8.

Rickie Fowler is three shots behind, while Charl Schwartzel is another stroke back.

Jordan Spieth has faded from contention. The 2015 Master champion is 3 over through 10 holes and a daunting seven shots behind.

Sergio Garcia has made two early birdies in the final round of the Masters, a promising start in the Spaniard’s bid to capture his first major championship.

He rolled in a 5-foot putt at the first hole, breaking a tie for the lead with England’s Justin Rose. Garcia stretched the margin to two strokes with another birdie at the third, driving the ball just short to the green, pulling off a delicate chip and knocking in an 8-footer.

Garcia squandered a booming drive at the par-5 second, where he dumped his approach in a bunker and missed a 5-foot putt. But he’s three shots ahead of Rickie Fowler, four clear of Charley Hoffman and five up on Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Paul Casey.

The final group has teed off at Augusta National.

Justin Rose of England and Sergio Garcia of Spain are tied for the top spot at 6 under.

Rose won the U.S. Open in 2013 and captured the Olympic gold medal in Brazil last summer. Garcia is a longtime star but still seeking his first major championship.

It figures to be quite a Sunday shootout at the Masters.

The next-to-last pairing includes Rickie Fowler and 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth. Fowler is one shot off the lead, while Spieth is part of a group at 4 under.

Ernie Els may have hit his final shot at the Masters.

If so, the Big Easy hardly went out with a flourish.

Playing with a marker in the first group, Els posted a 6-over 78 Sunday and will likely finish with the highest score of anyone making the cut at 20 over.

On Saturday, the South African struggled to an 83 – his worst score ever at Augusta National.

This is the final year of automatic eligibility for the 47-year-old Els, and given his age and state of his game, he knows it will be tough to earn his way back.

”You can put a line on it and say most probably it will be the last one,” Els said before the tournament started. ”We’ll see, unless we do something down the road. But you know, it’s been good. Whatever. If I come back again, great. If I don’t, it’s been good.”

Els has played the Masters 23 times. He was twice a runner-up but missed the cut five of the last 10 years.

Brendan Steele had the hottest start at the Masters on Sunday. It won’t get him into the mix for a green jacket, but it should make him feel a bit better about his week.

Steele opened with three straight birdies and added a fourth on the seventh hole to improve to 2 over about two hours into the final round. He’s still eight shots behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia at 6-under. Rickie Fowler is one shot off the lead.

Rose and Garcia, friends and European Ryder Cup teammates, tee off in just less than two hours.

Rose is seeking his second career major title while Garcia is chasing his first.

Justin Rose sounded more like a golf fan planning out his Sunday TV schedule than a co-leader at the Masters prepping for the final round.

There’s Jordan Spieth, who ”obviously has a special relationship the Masters,” Rose said.

And Rickie Fowler, who will ”be all up for it tomorrow.”

And his Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia, who will ”have a great opportunity.”

He summed up his rundown saying, ”There’s wonderful storylines.”

Garcia and Fowler will be seeking their first major wins. But perhaps the best comeback of this tournament belongs to Spieth.

The 2015 Masters champion was all but gone after a frustrating, quadruple bogey nine on the 15th hole in Thursday’s opening round. Spieth, though, started clawing back with a birdie on No. 16 to reframe his focus and, although he was 10 shots down he’s just two back heading into the final round.</s>Justin Rose lost out to Sergio García in a thrilling battle as the Spaniard won his first major title at the Masters after a play-off.

On what would have been the 60th birthday of two-time champion Seve Ballesteros, Garcia became the third Spanish winner at Augusta National with a birdie on the first extra hole following a sensational duel with his Ryder Cup team-mate.

The pair had finished tied on nine under par after closing rounds of 69, with Rose overturning an early three-stroke deficit to lead by a shot after 16 holes, only to bogey the 17th and then fail to convert a birdie attempt from seven feet on the last.

That left Garcia with a chance to win his first major title at the 74th attempt, but his putt from five feet slid past the hole and meant the first play-off at Augusta since Adam Scott beat Angel Cabrera in 2013.

The players returned to the 18th and Rose was unable to save par after pushing his drive into the trees and hitting a poor recovery, but Garcia finished an unforgettable day in style by holing from 12 feet for birdie.</s>(AP Photo/David Goldman). Rickie Fowler hits a drive on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum). Sergio Garcia, of Spain, reacts after making his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel). Justin Rose, of England, tips his hat on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson). Ross Fisher of England, hits a shot on the first hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip). Ernie Els of South Africa, walks to the second green during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - The Latest on the final round of the Masters on Sunday (all times local):

Sergio Garcia has won the first major championship of his career with a dramatic, sudden-death victory over Justin Rose at the Masters.

Garcia finally broke through in his 71st major as a professional, and nearly 18 years after he was runner-up to Tiger Woods in a breakthrough performance in the PGA Championship.

After missing a 5-foot birdie at the 72nd hole, Garcia had to get through one extra hole to finally remove the stigma of being considered the best player never to win one of golf's biggest events.

It was worth the wait.

Playing the 18th hole again, Rose got in trouble with an errant tee shot, forcing him to punch out from behind a giant magnolia tree. He missed a 14-foot par-saving putt that would've put some pressure on the Spaniard.

It didn't matter. Garcia curled in a 12-foot birdie that gave him the green jacket.

The Masters is headed to a sudden-death playoff between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose.

Rose missed a 7-footer for birdie at the 18th hole, giving Garcia a chance to win the first major championship of his career from just 5 feet away.

Now, they're headed back to the 18th tee box for the first playoff hole, tied at 9-under 279.

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are tied for the lead heading to the 72nd hole of the Masters.

Rose gave up the advantage when he failed to get up and down from a bunker in front of the 17th green, settling for a bogey that dropped his score to 9 under.

Garcia is also at 9 under after a par on the next-to-last hole.

Back and forth they go at Augusta National.

Justin Rose reclaimed the Masters lead at the 16th hole with a brilliant tee shot, which set up an 8-foot birdie putt that pushed his score to 10 under.

Sergio Garcia's tee shot was even closer, curling back toward the pond before stopping 6 feet away. But the Spaniard pulled the putt, settling for a par that left him one stroke behind with two holes remaining.

Rose is seeking his second major title, having won the U.S. Open in 2013. Garcia has never captured one of golf's biggest events.

Sergio Garcia has rallied to tie Justin Rose for the lead with three holes remaining at the Masters.

In a stunning turn of events, Garcia birdied the 14th hole and followed with an eagle at the par-5 15th after his approach shot caught the flagstick and stopped 15 feet away. The putt barely trickled into the cup for his first eagle at Augusta National in 452 holes.

Rose managed to make a birdie, but it wasn't enough to keep the lead. The two players in the final group are both 3 under for the day and 9 under overall, setting up a magnificent finish at the Masters.

Garcia is going for the first major title of his career.

Rose is the 2013 U.S. Open champion and an Olympic gold medalist.

Justin Rose has a two-shot lead with five holes to play at the Masters.

But Sergio Garcia caught a big break at the 13th after pulling his tee shot into an azalea bush left of the fairway. He had to take a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable shot, but he still managed to salvage par.

Playing with Garcia in the final group, Rose had a 6-footer for birdie that would've given him a three-shot lead. But the putt slid left of the cup, giving Garcia a reprieve as they headed to the 14th.

Matt Kuchar is in the clubhouse with a 67, leaving him three shots behind at 5 under. Thomas Pieters and Charl Schwartzel are also at 5 under.

Matt Kuchar has made a hole-in-one at the 16th hole to give himself an improbable shot at his first major title.

Kuchar sent the crowd into a frenzy when he aced a 7-iron at the 170-yard hole Sunday, the ball landing on the green and curling back toward the pond before dropping in the cup.

The patrons chanted "Kooch!" as the popular golfer walked toward the green. He retrieved the ball, signed it and gave it to a young boy along the ropes.

Kuchar is now at 5 under, three strokes behind Justin Rose.

Sergio Garcia dropped one stroke behind the leader with a bogey at the 10th.

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose are making the turn at the Masters right where they began the day: tied for the lead.

Garcia pulled three shots ahead Sunday with two early birdies and a bogey by Rose at the fifth.

But Rose started a run of three straight birdies at the sixth to quickly erase the deficit. Garcia had a chance to stay ahead but missed a 6-foot birdie try at No. 8.

Rickie Fowler is three shots behind, while Charl Schwartzel is another stroke back.

Jordan Spieth has faded from contention. The 2015 Master champion is 3 over through 10 holes and a daunting seven shots behind.

Sergio Garcia has made two early birdies in the final round of the Masters, a promising start in the Spaniard's bid to capture his first major championship.

He rolled in a 5-foot putt at the first hole, breaking a tie for the lead with England's Justin Rose. Garcia stretched the margin to two strokes with another birdie at the third, driving the ball just short to the green, pulling off a delicate chip and knocking in an 8-footer.

Garcia squandered a booming drive at the par-5 second, where he dumped his approach in a bunker and missed a 5-foot putt. But he's three shots ahead of Rickie Fowler, four clear of Charley Hoffman and five up on Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Paul Casey.

The final group has teed off at Augusta National.

Justin Rose of England and Sergio Garcia of Spain are tied for the top spot at 6 under.

Rose won the U.S. Open in 2013 and captured the Olympic gold medal in Brazil last summer. Garcia is a longtime star but still seeking his first major championship.

It figures to be quite a Sunday shootout at the Masters.

The next-to-last pairing includes Rickie Fowler and 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth. Fowler is one shot off the lead, while Spieth is part of a group at 4 under.

Ernie Els may have hit his final shot at the Masters.

If so, the Big Easy hardly went out with a flourish.

Playing with a marker in the first group, Els posted a 6-over 78 Sunday and will likely finish with the highest score of anyone making the cut at 20 over.

On Saturday, the South African struggled to an 83 - his worst score ever at Augusta National.

This is the final year of automatic eligibility for the 47-year-old Els, and given his age and state of his game, he knows it will be tough to earn his way back.

"You can put a line on it and say most probably it will be the last one," Els said before the tournament started. "We'll see, unless we do something down the road. But you know, it's been good. Whatever. If I come back again, great. If I don't, it's been good."

Els has played the Masters 23 times. He was twice a runner-up but missed the cut five of the last 10 years.

Brendan Steele had the hottest start at the Masters on Sunday. It won't get him into the mix for a green jacket, but it should make him feel a bit better about his week.

Steele opened with three straight birdies and added a fourth on the seventh hole to improve to 2 over about two hours into the final round. He's still eight shots behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia at 6-under. Rickie Fowler is one shot off the lead.

Rose and Garcia, friends and European Ryder Cup teammates, tee off in just less than two hours.

Rose is seeking his second career major title while Garcia is chasing his first.

Justin Rose sounded more like a golf fan planning out his Sunday TV schedule than a co-leader at the Masters prepping for the final round.

There's Jordan Spieth, who "obviously has a special relationship the Masters," Rose said.

And Rickie Fowler, who will "be all up for it tomorrow."

And his Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia, who will "have a great opportunity."

He summed up his rundown saying, "There's wonderful storylines."

Garcia and Fowler will be seeking their first major wins. But perhaps the best comeback of this tournament belongs to Spieth.

The 2015 Masters champion was all but gone after a frustrating, quadruple bogey nine on the 15th hole in Thursday's opening round. Spieth, though, started clawing back with a birdie on No. 16 to reframe his focus and, although he was 10 shots down he's just two back heading into the final round.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>AUGUSTA, GEORGIA — Sergio Garcia has won the Masters for his first major championship, beating Justin Rose in a playoff.

The playoff was required after both players missed birdie putts on the 18th hole to stay tied at 9 under 210.

The 37-year-old Garcia hit a 12-foot putt for birdie on the playoff hole to seal the victory.

It was the 17th time in Masters history that the tournament had been decided by a playoff.</s>David Cannon/Getty Images(AUGUSTA, Ga.) — Sergio Garcia has finally won his first major championship.

After 72 holes of the 2017 Masters tournament, the 37-year-old Spanish golfer beat the English-born Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff– the 17th playoff in the Masters history.

The Masters win marked Garcia’s 74th attempt in his 18-year career at a major title.</s>(AP Photo/David Goldman). Rickie Fowler hits a drive on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum). Sergio Garcia, of Spain, reacts after making his putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel). Justin Rose, of England, tips his hat on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson). Ross Fisher of England, hits a shot on the first hole during the final round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip). Ernie Els of South Africa, walks to the second green during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - The Latest on the final round of the Masters on Sunday (all times local):

Sergio Garcia has made two early birdies in the final round of the Masters, a promising start in the Spaniard's bid to capture his first major championship.

He rolled in a 5-foot putt at the first hole, breaking a tie for the lead with England's Justin Rose. Garcia stretched the margin to two strokes with another birdie at the third, driving the ball just short to the green, pulling off a delicate chip and knocking in an 8-footer.

Garcia squandered a booming drive at the par-5 second, where he dumped his approach in a bunker and missed a 5-foot putt. But he's three shots ahead of Rickie Fowler, four clear of Charley Hoffman and five up on Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Paul Casey.

The final group has teed off at Augusta National.

Justin Rose of England and Sergio Garcia of Spain are tied for the top spot at 6 under.

Rose won the U.S. Open in 2013 and captured the Olympic gold medal in Brazil last summer. Garcia is a longtime star but still seeking his first major championship.

It figures to be quite a Sunday shootout at the Masters.

The next-to-last pairing includes Rickie Fowler and 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth. Fowler is one shot off the lead, while Spieth is part of a group at 4 under.

Ernie Els may have hit his final shot at the Masters.

If so, the Big Easy hardly went out with a flourish.

Playing with a marker in the first group, Els posted a 6-over 78 Sunday and will likely finish with the highest score of anyone making the cut at 20 over.

On Saturday, the South African struggled to an 83 - his worst score ever at Augusta National.

This is the final year of automatic eligibility for the 47-year-old Els, and given his age and state of his game, he knows it will be tough to earn his way back.

"You can put a line on it and say most probably it will be the last one," Els said before the tournament started. "We'll see, unless we do something down the road. But you know, it's been good. Whatever. If I come back again, great. If I don't, it's been good."

Els has played the Masters 23 times. He was twice a runner-up but missed the cut five of the last 10 years.

Brendan Steele had the hottest start at the Masters on Sunday. It won't get him into the mix for a green jacket, but it should make him feel a bit better about his week.

Steele opened with three straight birdies and added a fourth on the seventh hole to improve to 2 over about two hours into the final round. He's still eight shots behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia at 6-under. Rickie Fowler is one shot off the lead.

Rose and Garcia, friends and European Ryder Cup teammates, tee off in just less than two hours.

Rose is seeking his second career major title while Garcia is chasing his first.

Justin Rose sounded more like a golf fan planning out his Sunday TV schedule than a co-leader at the Masters prepping for the final round.

There's Jordan Spieth, who "obviously has a special relationship the Masters," Rose said.

And Rickie Fowler, who will "be all up for it tomorrow."

And his Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia, who will "have a great opportunity."

He summed up his rundown saying, "There's wonderful storylines."

Garcia and Fowler will be seeking their first major wins. But perhaps the best comeback of this tournament belongs to Spieth.

The 2015 Masters champion was all but gone after a frustrating, quadruple bogey nine on the 15th hole in Thursday's opening round. Spieth, though, started clawing back with a birdie on No. 16 to reframe his focus and, although he was 10 shots down he's just two back heading into the final round.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Sergio Garcia finally showed he has what it takes to win a major tournament, and he has a green jacket to prove it. He overcame a two-shot deficit with six holes to play in the Masters and beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Sergio Garcia finally showed he has what it takes to win a major tournament, and he has a green jacket to prove it.

Needing his best golf on just about every shot in the final hour at the Masters, Garcia overcame a two-shot deficit with six holes to play and beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff Sunday for his first major after nearly two decades of heartache.

No one ever played more majors as a pro — 70 — before winning one for the first time.

Garcia got rid of the demons and the doubts with two big moments on the par 5s — one a par, the other an eagle — in closing with a 3-under 69. It was never easy until the end, when Rose sent his drive into the trees on the 18th hole in the playoff, punched out and failed to save par from 15 feet.

That gave the 37-year-old Spaniard two putts from 12 feet for the victory, and his first putt swirled into the cup for a birdie. He crouched in disbelief, and shouted above the loudest roar of the day.

Rose, who also closed with a 69, lovingly patted Garcia’s cheek before they embraced. Rose then tapped Garcia on the heart, which turned out to be a lot bigger than anyone realized.

“Ser-gee-oh! Ser-gee-oh!” the delirious gallery chanted to Garcia, who couldn’t contain his emotion.
In golf, Sergio García of Spain wins the 2017 U.S. Masters defeating Justin Rose of England in a sudden-death playoff. It is García's first major victory.