American Bubba Watson claimed his second Masters title in three years last night as the weight of history finally proved too much for Jordan Spieth.
Watson carded a closing 69 to finish eight-under-par 280, three shots ahead of Spieth and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, with Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez fourth another shot behind.
The 35-year-old was embraced by his wife and their son on the 18th green, he and Angie having adopted Caleb just days before his victory over Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off two years ago.
Spieth was looking to eclipse Tiger Woods as the youngest Masters champion and the 20-year-old held a two-shot lead after seven holes, aided by holing a bunker shot on the fourth.
But that two-shot lead became a two-shot deficit in the space of two holes and with no one able to mount a challenge, Watson held his nerve on the closing stretch to ensure a sixth Masters victory by a left-hander since 2003.
European hopes of a first winner since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999 had been high, but Jimenez – also looking to become golf’s oldest major champion – paid the price for a front nine of 38, while Lee Westwood was never in contention after playing the first four holes in three over.
Rory McIlroy’s best Masters finish was little consolation for a frustrating week which also saw the former world number one outscored by his marker in the third round, the 24-year-old joint eighth on level-par 288 with 56-year-old two-time champion Bernhard Langer.
The previous three winners had come from outside the last group, but the final round was largely a duel between Spieth and Watson, who had won just once in seven attempts when in the lead after 54 holes.
Westwood’s record winless streak in majors stretched to 64 and the 40-year-old said: “It’s a little bit disappointing.
“I needed to get a quick start but was three over after four and that’s not ideal. I had a chance, although Bubba is eight under at the moment, but seventh is my best result this year and the work I am doing with my coach is taking me in the right direction. The Masters probably came a couple of weeks too early.”
McIlroy’s previous best finish at Augusta was joint 15th in 2011, when he led by four shots going into the final round before collapsing to a closing 80.
But the 24-year-old was again left wondering what might have been if not for a second round of 77 and a failure to convert enough birdie chances, especially on the par fives.
“It’s been a frustrating week, because I felt like from tee to green I played as good as the leaders,” McIlroy said after his 69.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played as good tee to green around this course as I have this week. I just need to take some more chances that I’ve given myself on the greens.
“I finished even par on the par fives this week and even for the tournament and that’s not good enough,” the two-time major winner added.
“You are looking to play them in 10 under and that would be good enough to win. I will come back next year, try to putt a little better and play the par 5s better and you never know.”