Playing his best golf in the final leg of the Masters Tournament, Garcia wiped out a two-shot delay with six holes to play, before defeating Justin Rose in overtime and getting his first major title after almost two decades of misery .

No one had ever participated in so many major tournaments as a professional – before signing a first victory.

Garcia chased his old demons on two important 5-normals – one for a normal, the other for an eagle – and he handed a 69 (minus-3) card. It was never easy until Rose sends her tee shot into the pine needles on the right of the 18th driveway to the first extra hole. Rose then missed a 15-foot rook and was content with a boguey.

Seeking the cut in two blows, Garcia did not prolong the suspense by setting a 12-foot roll for a birdie and victory. The 37-year-old Spaniard bent his knees and clenched his fists as a celebration.

Rose, who also played 69, then brace to Garcia, before giving her a little blow on the heart. Meanwhile the crowd chanted the name of the conqueror.

Garcia turned to the spectators and threw a kiss with his hand before leaning back and dropping his fists on the green.

He became the third Spaniard to win the National Augusta, triumphant in what would have been the 60th birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros.

Combative

Garcia did not let himself fall after missing a six-foot row at the 16th hole or another five-foot for a birdie and victory at the last regulatory hole.

He kept his head held high and fought to the end.

Yet Garcia seemed to be headed for another disaster when he saw his three-shot lead melt ahead of Rose, who managed three birdies in a row before the end of the first nine.

Garcia quickly found himself in front of a deficit of two shots after bogueys at the 10th and 11th holes. Rose seemed ready to carry the knockout blow to the 13th hole, a normal-5, when Garcia sent his tee shot to the plants to the left of the alley.

Everyone knew what was coming, right? Garcia had already declared in a moment of doubt that he did not have what it took to win a major tournament. He finished second four times. It was the third time he was in the last group.

It was at this point that the wind turned in favor of Garcia.

He had to accept a one-shot penalty because he could not access his ball, but he still found a way to enter the normal.

Garcia then registered a birdie in the 14th, before making an eagle at the 15th hole, which allowed him to join Rose in the lead.

Rose, winner at the US Open in 2013, and at the Rio Olympics last summer, took the lead with a birdie in the 16th, but he committed a bug in the 17th.

The two golfers missed wraps for birdies in the 18th, and Garcia quickly took advantage of Rose’s mistake to win in overtime.

South African champion Charl Schwartzel, 2011 champion of the Tournament of the Masters, finished in third position at minus-6 after a round of 68.

Matt Kuchar, who scored a 16th hole ace on the way to a score of 67, and Thomas Pieters (68) scored fourth at minus 5.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC, had his best round of the week, finishing 70 points and tying 36th at 6.