The Masters

All the world's a stage and this was golf's biggest stage. Owing to the match play set up, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia were what could be called as the final act, as the others would tee off and finish before the two did. And on the biggest stage in golf the two protagonists put on a show so magnificent that it made audiences the world over sit on the edge of their seats for the majority of the day.

Garcia was golf's nearly man and finally on the 9th of April, 2017, he won his first major in his 74th attempt and 72nd consecutive major appearance. It was only fitting that the agonising 18 year wait ended at the most prestigious event in the sport. Going into the final day Sergio Garcia and Olympic Gold medallist Justin Rose were tied -6 under par. Based on the match pairings, the two teed off last on the final day.

Garcia and Rose were engaged in a thrilling duel. They started off at -6 each and ended the front nine level at (34) 2 under par. Garcia had taken a 2 shot lead with birdies on Tea Olive and Flowering Peach (holes 1 and 3) He had a 3 shot lead when Rose bogeyed on Magnolia (hole 5) but then sunk in a hat trick of birdies on Juniper, Pampine and Yellow Jasmine (holes 6,7 and 8) to draw level.

Garcia bogeyed at Camelia and White Dogwood (holes 10 and 11 respectively) whereas Rose was on par. Advantage Rose. All Rose had to do was hold his nerve and make pars till the end. He did that until Chinese Fir (hole 14) and then managed to birdie on Firethorn and Redbud (holes 15 and 16)

 Garcia birdied on Chinese Fir (hole 14) to reduce the deficit to 1 and then carded an eagle on Firethorn (hole 15) to go a shot ahead. Only for Rose to reply with a birdie on Firethorn (hole 15) to draw level and then take the lead with another birdie on Redbud (hole 16). Rose bogeyed on Nandina (hole 17) and squandered his 1 shot lead when Garcia was on par for the hole. They headed to Holly (hole 18) and the 72nd hole for the event tied level at -9 each. It was nerve jangling.

Both players had birdie attempts with Rose’s shot going wide and eventually carded a par. Garcia had to hit a birdie to claim the Green Jacket, but no, he too missed his shot and finished the hole on par. We were in for a playoff.
Under playoff rules the players tied for first will tee off from Holly (hole 18) and play until there is a winner. Roses tee landed in the rough and he carded a bogey. Garcia carded a birdie and won the playoff and clinched his 1st ever green jacket and an invitation to every single Masters tournament for life.
Looking back at the four days one can say that Sergio Garcia deserved it as whether it was the gusty winds of the first two days or the late surge of Justin Rose as he collected a hat-trick of front-nine birdies, Garcia remained calm and was the only man to be sub-par in all four rounds.(below 72 in each round)
Rory Mcllroy started off the final day on par and 6 shots off the leaders. He needed a final day collapse which alas didn't come and he carded a (69) -3 under par to finish at 3 under and claim 7th spot in a tie with Kevin Chappell.
Rory will have to wait another 12 months to return to Augusta and attempt to finally complete his collection of majors.

Augusta golden boy Jordan Spieth recorded his worst ever finish at the Masters by carding a disastrous final round score of (75) 3 over par. His round included 5 bogeys and a double bogey at Golden Bell (hole 12) it was an improvement from last year as he quadruple bogeyed at Golden Bell. His round did include 4 birdies. Heading into the final 4 holes he was at 2 over par and carded 3 birdies across the 4 holes and ended at -1 under par and tied for 11th with World. No 4 Hideki Matsuyama.

Matt Kuchar and Hideki Matsuyama carded the best rounds for the day at (67) -5 under par. Kuchar’s effort included 6 birdies and an eagle hole in one at Redbud. Matsuyama’s effort included 7 birdies and 2 bogeys.

At twilight Danny Willet as per tradition, passed on the green jacket to the new winner. The world no.70 had banished his so near yet so far tag. It was done at Augusta. The grounds of Augusta will have the tales of Sergio’s first Major, the one time he was The Man and not the nearly man. It will join all of Augusta’s legendary tales and will be a part of those hallowed grounds forever.