AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A brief look at the fourth round of the Masters:
WINNER: Sergio Garcia captured the first major championship of his career with a birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose. Both players shot 9-under 279 in regulation. The Spaniard’s victory came nearly 18 years after a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship and 22 top-10 finishes in major tournaments without winning.
RUNNER-UP: Rose had a chance to capture his second major title eight months after winning the Olympic gold medal in Brazil, but three missed putts inside 10 feet over the final six holes of regulation doomed his chances.
KEY MOMENT: After back-to-back bogeys to start the back nine, Garcia was two strokes behind and in big trouble when he drove under an azalea bush at the par-5 13th hole, forcing him to take a one-stroke penalty. Garcia managed to save par with a 7-foot putt, Rose missed a 5-foot birdie try, and Garcia wiped out the deficit over the next two holes.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Matt Kuchar sent the patrons into a frenzy with his hole-in-one at the 170-yard 16th hole, which briefly gave him hope of challenging the leaders. He closed with two pars, finishing four shots back in a tie for fourth.
REMEMBERING SEVE: Garcia became the third Spaniard to capture the green jacket, on what would have been the 60th birthday for the first one to do it. Seve Ballesteros, who won the Masters in 1980 and 1983, died in 2011 from a brain tumor.
FALTERING AMERICANS: The final day looked like it would be a four-man duel, at least, with 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler in the next-to-last group. But the young Americans were never a factor. Spieth struggled to a 3-over 75 that would’ve been much worse without three birdies in his final four holes. Fowler shot 40 on the back side and signed for a 76. Those were the highest Sunday scores of anyone finishing in the top 20.
FABULOUS FREDDIE: At 57, Fred Couples showed he still knows his way around Augusta National. He climbed up the leaderboard with four birdies on the front nine. Even though he faded down the stretch, shooting 3 over after the turn, he closed with a 72 and in a tie for 18th at 1-over 289.
BOOKING A RETURN TRIP: Russell Henley was the last player to qualify for the Masters by winning the Houston Open the previous week. He’ll have no such concerns for 2018. By finishing in a tie for 11th, he’s already claimed a spot in next year’s field.
KEY STATISTIC: Garcia became the first player since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1994 to win the Masters after making an eagle on Sunday at the 15th hole.
NOTEWORTHY: Garcia won the Masters in his 19th appearance, the most for any first-time champion. Mark O’Meara previously held the record, winning in 1998 on his 15th try.
QUOTEWORTHY: “I felt a calmness that I never felt on a major Sunday. Even after making a couple of bogeys, I was still very positive.” - Garcia.
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