Sergio Garcia wins the Masters to end his long wait for a first major title

Sergio Garcia ended his long wait for a major title with victory at the Masters in Augusta.

In what was his 74th major, the Spaniard triumphed over Englishman Justin Rose to take the green jacket on an emotional day for the 37-year-old, on what would have been the late Seve Ballesteros’s 60th birthday.

When Garcia landed an eagle – what was his first in 452 holes at the Masters – it looked for that he would claim the trophy.

But Rose replied instantly on the 15, securing a birdie to reclaim the lead. The players were level on nine under par as they headed to the final hole.

Neither man could find the telling blow, and this magnificent duel would have to be settled by a playoff, and it was Garcia who came out on top.

Speaking after his triumph, Garcia said: "I felt like this course was probably going to give me one major. That thought changed over the years as I started feeling uncomfortable on the course but I came to peace with it and accepted it."

"It has been such a long time coming. I thought I had it on 18. I hit the putt exactly how I wanted but it didn't quite break how I thought. I knew I was playing well. I felt the calmest I ever felt in a major. Even after a couple of bogeys I was still positive that there were a lot of holes I could get to. I am so happy.

"It is amazing. To do it on his [Seve's] 60th birthday and to join him and Jose Maria Olazabal, my two idols in golf, it is something amazing. Jose Maria texted on Thursday saying how much he believed in me and to believe in myself. Everybody has been great. My whole family, my fiance."

Garcia becomes the third Spaniard to win at Augusta, following Ballesteros (1980 and 1983) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1994 and 1999).