Masters Winners & Losers: Sergio wins in playoff

By Golf Digest

April 07, 2017

Shop This Look

Photo By: JD Cuban

Photo By: Rob Carr

Photo By: Dom Furore

Photo By: Andrew Redington

Photo By: Dom Furore

Photo By: Harry How

Photo By: Rob Carr

Photo By: Andrew Redington

Photo By: David Cannon

Birdie: Sergio Garcia

It looked like the S.S. Sergio was sinking after back-to-back bogeys on the second nine, and a wayward drive on the 13th seemed to pen his eulogy. Yet Garcia answered, and answered with vigor, saving par from a penalty stroke, making birdie on the 14th and nearly jarring his approach on the 15th on way to an eagle. And rather than fold after the missed putt on the 18th, Garcia smacked his drive on the playoff hole down the pipe. An approach to 10 feet -- along with Rose's troubles with the pines -- sealed the deal for Sergio. It only took him 74 tries, but Garcia finally caught his major title. -- Joel Beall

Photo By: JD Cuban

Birdie: Justin Rose

He came out on the short end of the playoff, and his missed putt on the 72nd hole will keep him up many a night. Nevertheless, Rose put forth a valiant effort throughout the afternoon, tallying five birdies and finishing with a commendable 69. At 36, one has to wonder how many more chances Rose will get at a green jacket. But as he proved this week, the Englishman still has plenty of game left in the tank. -- JB

Photo By: Rob Carr

Bogey: Jordan Spieth

Some days, you just don’t have it. That was evident early with Spieth, his drives and approaches on the first three holes were all troublesome. A bogey on the sixth -- his third of the day -- effectively sank his bid for a second green jacket. -- JB

Photo By: Dom Furore

Birdie: Matt Kuchar

One of the best moments on Sunday came from Kuchar’s ace at the 16th hole, as Kuch proceeded to run around the tee box and high-five every patron in sight. Not only was his celebration epic, but so was the rest of the round, as the 38-year-old turned in 67. Kuchar is still one of the best players to not have won a major, but he couldn’t have asked for a much better Sunday. -- Stephen Hennessey

Birdie: Thomas Pieters

Four straight birdies on the back nine catapulted the 25-year-old firmly into the mix on Sunday. A missed par putt at the 16th hole took the green jacket out of the equation, but a four-under final round -- his second 68 of the week -- gave the first-timer from Belgium an impressive finish. -- SH

Photo By: Andrew Redington

Bogey: Rickie Fowler

We all hoped the Jordan Spieth-Rickie Fowler pairing would create an electric birdie-fest. But alas, there were more bogeys than birdies. Fowler closed bogey-bogey-bogey to shoot 76, far from the green jacket. There will be more major opportunities in his future, but this was a tough one to swallow. -- Keely Levins

Photo By: Dom Furore

Birdie: Hideki Matsuyama

A bomber off the tee and one of the game’s best iron players, Matsuyama seems built for Augusta National, a sentiment supported by top 10s in the last two years. While the wind swept away his chances on Thursday with a 76, Matsuyama turned in one of the better rounds of the tournament with seven birdies on Sunday, walking off the 18th with a 67. Though it wasn’t the final standing he expected, it was further proof the 25-year-old has what it takes to eventually win a Masters title. -- JB

Photo By: Harry How

Birdie: Steve Stricker

Fred Couples and Larry Mize earned the old-timer accolades through three days at Augusta National, yet it was Stricker -- the 50-year-old captain of this year’s U.S. Presidents Cup team -- who made geriatrics proud on Sunday. Stricker strung together four birdies and an eagle for a four-under 68, capping of a commendable week. Golf, a game for all ages. -- JB

Photo By: Rob Carr

Birdie: Paul Casey

Casey shot his best round of the week on Sunday, a four-under 68 that included six birdies. It was good for sixth place, impressive for a guy who hasn't won since 2009. It wasn’t enough to be in contention, but it was a nice charge and respectable showing for the veteran. -- KL

Photo By: Andrew Redington

Bogey: Charley Hoffman

The clock struck midnight for Hoffman, that Thursday 65 seeming like a distant memory. He began the day at four under, two shots off the lead. After a round that included five bogeys and two doubles, Hoffman left Augusta at two-over. Overall it was a fine week for Hoffman, but his final round was 13 strokes higher than his first. -- KL

Photo By: David Cannon