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SPORTS Monday 10 april 2017

Worth

The Wait

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, reacts after making his birdie putt on the 18th green to win the Masters golf tournament after a playoff Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Augusta,
Ga.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Sergio Garcia wins the Masters, ends drought at the majors

DOUG FERGUSON majors as a pro — 70 — be- for a birdie. He crouched again and slammed his fist He didn’t get down after
AP Golf Writer fore winning one for the first in disbelief, and shouted into the turf of the green. missing a 6-foot putt on
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Ser- time. Garcia got rid of the above the loudest roar of All that Spanish passion was the 16th hole, or missing
gio Garcia finally showed demons and the doubts the day. Rose, who also on display, raw as ever, this a 5-foot birdie putt on the
he has what it takes to with two big moments on closed with a 69, lovingly time sheer joy. Garcia be- 18th hole in regulation.
win a major, and he has a the par 5s — one a par, patted Garcia’s cheek be- came the third Spaniard in His chin was up and he bat-
green jacket to prove it. the other an eagle — in fore they embraced. Rose a green jacket, winning on tled to the end.
Needing his best golf on closing with a 3-under 69. then tapped Garcia on the what would have been the “If there’s anyone to lose
just about every shot in the It was never easy until the heart, which turned out to 60th birthday of the late to, it’s Sergio. He deserves
final hour at the Masters, end, when Rose sent his be a lot bigger than any- Seve Ballesteros. And it was it,” Rose said. “He’s had his
Garcia overcame a two- drive into the trees on the one realized. Jose Maria Olazabal, who fair share of heartbreak.”
shot deficit with six holes to 18th hole in the playoff, “Ser-gee-oh! Ser-gee-oh!” won the Masters in 1994 This was shaping up as an-
play and beat Justin Rose punched out and failed to the delirious gallery chant- and 1999, who sent him a other, especially after Gar-
in a sudden-death playoff save par from 15 feet. ed to Garcia, who couldn’t text on the eve of the Mas- cia watched a three-shot
Sunday for his first major af- That gave the 37-year-old contain his emotion. ters telling Garcia to be- lead disappear as quickly
ter nearly two decades of Spaniard two putts from 12 Garcia turned with his arms lieve and “to not let things as it took Rose to run off
heartache. feet for the victory, and his to his side, blew a kiss to the get to me like I’ve done in three straight birdies on the
No one ever played more putt swirled into the cup crowd and then crouched the past.” front nine.q