Masters 2017: Top Quotes and Takeaways from Final Round of Year's 1st Major

After years of frustration that seemingly were going to continue at the midpoint of Sunday's final round, Sergio Garcia found his game and earned the Masters green jacket courtesy of heroics on the back nine and in a playoff at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Garcia's eagle at the 15th hole catapulted him to a brief lead, but playing partner Justin Rose birdied that hole to tie the Spaniard at nine-under par. Both players whistled near-perfect tee shots on the par-three 16th hole that put them within seven feet of the flag stick. Rose made his putt to move one stroke ahead, but Garcia left his putt somewhat short and had to settle for par.

That lead was not built to last, as Rose gave his advantage back when he bogeyed the 17th hole. They went to the 18th hole tied with the Masters in the balance.

After Rose hit a solid drive and got a break on his second shot that left him eight feet from the hole, Garcia hit a near-perfect shot that left him four feet from the flag stick. Rose's putt slid by the hole on the right side, as did Garcia's. That sent the two stellar golfers to a playoff.

Garcia drained a birdie putt on the first extra hole, and that was the putt of a lifetime for the 37-year-old Spainard. He celebrated with the crowd and his fiancee, letting out a yell that combined joy and relief at ending a long run of professional frustration—it was Garcia's first win at a major.

Rose could not have been more sportsmanlike in defeat. While he was clearly so close to winning his first Masters title, he was gracious towards the winner.

"If there's anyone to lose to, it's Sergio. He deserves it," Rose said at the tournament's conclusion (h/t Associated Press and PGATour.com). "He's had his fair share of heartbreak."

Rose continued to pay respect to Garcia as he analyzed the final-round play. 

"Sergio had a great comeback by making par on 13 after driving into the trees and that was the turning point for him. At that point I was in control," Rose told BBC.com. "I hit a really good putt on 18 in regulation play and thought that was going to go in and I guess I under-read my putt in the play-off because of that and that's why it went low."

Garcia became the third Spanish player to win the Masters, joining Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal. Both of those players won two Masters titles, and they have served as Garcia's golfing idols throughout his career.

Garcia pulled off the triumph on what would have been Ballesteros' 60th birthday.

"It's amazing. To do it on his 60th birthday and to join him and Olazabal, my two idols in golf my whole life, it's something amazing,” Garcia told CBS' Jim Nantz. “Jose sent me a text on Wednesday night telling me how much he believed in me and what I needed to do and just pretty much believing in myself and being calm and not let things get to me like I've done int he past.” 

Five years ago, Garcia's confidence had been drained, and he had had so many near misses that he said he had to play for second or third place.

"I'm not good enough ... I don't have the thing I need to have," Garcia said to the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle in his native Spanish. "In 13 years, I've come to the conclusion that I need to play for second- or third-place."

He later added that he meant he wasn't good enough to win any major, not just the Masters.

But he turned that around with three strong rounds at the Masters and a remarkable final round that included a triumph in the playoff.

Garcia had competed in 73 major tournaments before recording the victory. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the only golfers with more starts without a victory are Lee Westwood (75) and Jay Haas (87).

"It's been such a long time coming," Garcia said during the presentation ceremony in the Butler Cabin. "I'm so happy."