Masters Results 2017: Top Takeaways and Reaction to Final Standings

Sergio Garcia finally climbed the major mountain.

The 37-year-old won his first major in 74 tries Sunday when he outlasted Justin Rose in a playoff hole at the 2017 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia:

The PGA Tour shared his tournament-winning moment:

It was the triumph Garcia has strove for throughout his career, and he finished a dramatic day atop the leaderboard. He appeared in control at times—and all looked lost at others—but he did what was needed at the end.

Here is a look at the final leaderboard, as well as some reaction and takeaways from the final round at Augusta.

Final Standings

Garcia's Legacy Is Cemented

Justin Ray of Golf Channel noted Garcia was playing in his 19th Masters, which marked the record for a first-time green jacket winner.

He is no longer in the "best golfers to never win a major" arguments thanks to Sunday's win, and there is no longer an asterisk in what has been an impressive career he has accumulated playing in Tiger Woods' and Phil Mickelson's shadow.

Dan Wolken of USA Today suggested he didn't need the win, but it provides a signature moment:

Garcia and his fiancee, Angela Akins, reacted like they no longer have to hear the major-less narrative, as CBS Sports shared:

It looked as if the narrative would continue when he tallied bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11, but he birdied No. 14 and eagled No. 15 to tie Rose. The Masters passed along Garcia's critical putt that helped set up the playoff:

Things looked dire again for Garcia when Rose birdied No. 16, but the challenger notched a bogey on No. 17 while Garcia finished with pars on the last three holes of regulation. Garcia could have won it on No. 18, but he missed his pressure-packed putt.

Fellow golfer Rory McIlroy reacted to the start of the playoff: 

Garcia won with a birdie on the playoff hole, although he needed to just two-putt for a par because Rose finished with a bogey. The buried putt was a cathartic way for Garcia to win considering he often struggles on the greens and is just 193rd on tour in strokes gained putting, per his PGA Tour profile.

Past Success Breeds More at the Masters

While attention was on the showdown between Garcia and Rose, some familiar veterans finished inside the top 10.

Matt Kuchar finished in a tie for fourth at five under par. It was his seventh top-25 finish and fourth top-10 finish at the Masters, and he posted a signature moment of his own with a hole in one on No. 16, which the PGA Tour captured:

Elsewhere, 2013 champion Adam Scott ended in a tie for ninth at two under par for his ninth top-25 finish and fifth top-10 finish at Augusta.

Rory McIlroy ended in a tie for seventh at three under par for his seventh top-25 finish and fourth top-10 finish. Still, the Masters has been a thorn in his side when it comes to majors, as Ray noted:

Despite McIlroy's failure to parlay his contention into an actual green jacket, those looking for early predictions for next year's Masters (be it in Las Vegas or elsewhere) would be wise to remember past success often breeds more at Augusta.

That bodes well for Garcia.