After almost two decades of major championship heartache and self doubt, Sergio Garcia believes his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, had a hand in his breakthrough Masters victory.
Garcia ended the second-longest active winless streak in majors with an emotional triumph when he beat England's Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to don the Masters green jacket on Sunday (Monday AEST).
After he holed a 12-foot birdie putt to triumph at the first extra hole, the 37-year-old wept on the green as he became just the third Spaniard to win the Masters after Ballesteros (1980, 1983) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999).
There was relief and elation that Garcia had shaken the majors monkey, having often been lumbered with the dreaded 'best player never to win a major' tag, with four runner-up finishes among 22 top-10s in 73 previous attempts.
There was also delight that he'd done it on the day Ballesteros - the winner of five major titles - would have turned 60.
"He definitely popped in my mind a couple of times and I'm sure he helped a little bit with some of those shots or some of those putts," Garcia said of the swashbuckling Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in 2011.
"It's amazing to do it on his 60th birthday and to join him and Olazabal, my two idols, is something amazing."
England's Lee Westwood, who finished tied for 18th, is yet to win a major after 76 attempts. The longest drought in majors history stands at 87 and is held by 63-year-old American Jay Haas, who now plays on the Champions Tour.
Garcia admitted self doubt had made his majors quest more difficult as the years slipped by, yet ultimate acceptance had probably helped him win in the end.
"It's been such a long time coming. I kind of came to peace with it (not happening)," Garcia said.
"But I felt the calmest I've ever felt in a major.
"Even after making a couple of bogeys I was still very positive and I hit good shots coming in."
Garcia and Rose had finished tied at nine-under par 279 after shooting closing rounds of three-under 69 to be three shots clear of third-placed Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 champion, who shot a closing 66.
Australia's 2013 champion Adam Scott finished a disappointing tied for ninth at two under, after starting the day in contention three of the lead and shooting a 73.
When Garcia lost a two-shot lead early on the back nine, it appeared the heartbreak kid was destined for another collapse.
But he rallied with a key birdie on the the par-4 14th and backed up with a magnificent eagle on the par-5 15th.
Level on the final hole, Garcia and Rose both hit great approach shots within 10 feet but neither could make the birdie putt.
Rose faltered in sudden death with a tee shot into trees on the right, which required him to punch out off the pine needles and, when he missed his par putt, Garcia had two putts to win and needed only one.
Rose, the 2013 US Open winner, admitted his opponent deserved a bit of luck but was adamant he'd, one day, be the third Masters winner from England after Nick Faldo (1989, 1990 and 1996) and Danny Willett (2016).
"It was a wonderful battle today," Rose said.
"If I was going to lose to anyone I don't mind it being Sergio.
"He's had his fair share of heartbreak and this is a tournament I think I'm going to win one day."
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