Garcia Masters Augusta to end major drought

Sergio Garcia ended nearly two decades of major heartbreak when he beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the US Masters on Sunday on what would have been the 60th birthday of his hero, the late Seve Ballesteros.After four runner-up finishes and years of self doubt, Spain’s Garcia finally delivered the long-awaited title that seemed destined to forever elude him.His 12-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole dropped into the cup at the par-four 18th, triggering a massive cheer from an Augusta National gallery that began chanting his name after willing him across the line.As his ball disappeared, Garcia crouched, clenched his fists and let out a mighty scream of pure joy releasing years of frustration, his 74 major starts the most made by any professional golfer before a first win.“I did think about, am I ever going to win one?” admitted Garcia. “I’ve had so many good chances and either I lost them or someone has done something extraordinary to beat me. So it did cross my mind.“But lately I’ve been thinking a little bit different, a little bit more positive and kind of accepting, too, that if it for whatever reason didn’t happen, my life is still going to go on.”Deadlocked after nine holes, the two friends and rivals produced an enthralling back nine showdown worthy of any Masters final round in what became a head-to-head battle after the other challengers fell away.Garcia and Rose both carded 69 to finish tied on nine-under-par 279, three strokes clear of 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, sending the year’s first major to a playoff when both missed birdie putts at the 72nd hole.Garcia frittered away a chance to win in regulation when his downhill five-footer dribbled away to the right and did not even threaten the cup, moments after Rose had also misread his seven-footer.It marked the first Masters playoff since Adam Scott beat Angel Cabrera to become the first Australian to wear the Green Jacket in 2013.All the omens had seemed in place for a Spanish victory with Garcia starting the day perched atop the leaderboard alongside Rose on Ballesteros’ birthday.Ballesteros, the Spanish talisman who died of brain cancer in 2011, inspired a generation of golfers in his country, winning the Green Jacket in 1980 and 1983.Garcia becomes the third Spaniard to win the Masters, also joining Jose Maria Olazabal, who triumphed twice at Augusta, in 1994 and 1999.“It is amazing. To do it on his (Ballesteros’) 60th birthday and to join him and Jose Maria Olazabal, my two idols in golf, it is something amazing,” said Garcia. “I’m sure he helped a little bit with some of those shots or some of those putts.”Garcia has been plagued by self doubt in the majors and once said he did not have what it takes to be a major winner.On Sunday, though, he demonstrated during an enthralling rollercoaster battle with Rose that he does indeed possess the tools, demeanour and determination of a champion.Rose certainly was convinced, the Olympic champion going toe-to-toe with Garcia in a back-nine battle that at times played out like a heavyweight fight.“You can’t feel bad for me,” said Rose. “If there was anyone to lose to it would be Sergio.“He deserves it as much as anyone out here. He’s had his fair share of heartbreak.”Garcia’s legion of fans around the world surely feared another nightmare ending, but this time there was a happy ending for the Spaniard.“Today I felt the calmest I’ve ever felt on a major Sunday,” Garcia said.Finally! Spain hails favourite son Sergio GarciaSpain paid homage to new Masters champion Sergio Garcia yesterday after he broke his duck on the biggest stage of all to add a first major to his glittering career.“Finally!” blared the headline in Madrid sports daily Marca as for once the football stars of Real Madrid were relegated to the inside pages.“Sergio Garcia wins the Masters in Augusta, the major he has so deserved for the past 18 years.”“At 37 Sergio broke the curse that lasted nearly two decades since he was second at the USPGA in a battle with Tiger Woods at 19,” Madrid’s other sports daily AS said in its online edition.“Already admired, victory in the 2017 Masters changes the golfing wold’s perceptions of the Spanish player,” added El Pais.Prior to beating out England’s Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff after a thrilling final round, Garcia had been known for a series of near-misses at major championships.As well as losing out to Woods at the USPGA in 1999, Garcia was runner-up at the 2007 and 2014 Open Championships and the 2008 PGA. However, he finally delivered by rolling home a birdie putt on the first playoff hole.Many of Spain’s other sporting greats joined in the congratulations.“Dear friends, I introduce you to the Master champion in Augusta!! CONGRATULATIONS @TheSergioGarcia,” tweeted Spain’s World Cup winning football captain Iker Casillas.“How great is @TheSergioGarcia, very emotional after so many years fighting so hard! Many congratulations, what joy!” tweeted 14-time tennis Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal.