An emotional Bubba Watson claimed his first major victory at the Masters on Sunday, beating Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off.
Charl Schwartzel helps winner Bubba Watson into the green jacket.
It was another tense and thrilling final day at Augusta National as several challengers stood up to be counted, but ultimately it was the 33-year-old American who outlasted the rest, reeling off four consecutive birdies on the back nine - just as Charl Schwartzel did last year - to first catch Oosthuizen and then best him on the second hole of a sudden death play-off.
The duo finished tied on 10 under par before heading to the first extra hole, Oosthuizen after a 69 and Watson a 68, two shots clear of Lee Westwood (68), Matt Kuchar (69), Phil Mickelson (72) and overnight leader Peter Hanson (73).
Oosthuizen's round began in amazing fashion as he holed an incredible 260-yard iron shot on the par-five second hole for a stunning albatross, the first on that hole in Masters history.
It gave him an immediate two-shot lead as leaders Hanson and Mickelson struggled early on, Mickelson racking up a triple-bogey six at the short third and Hanson bogeyed the first and the third.
Oosthuizen bogeyed the fourth and the 10th, however, keeping the contest alive, and despite birdies at the par-five 13th and 15th holes, Watson was able to catch the South African thanks to a late-round birdie blitz.
After bogeying the 12th to fall back to six under, where he started the day, Watson seemed to find extra reserves as he birdied the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th in incredible fashion to tie with Oosthuizen heading into the final two holes.
Several others challenged late in the day as well - Lee Westwood played the back nine in four under par, including three straight birdies from the 13th, but his putter went cold over the closing holes and he had to settle for a 68.
Matt Kuchar eagled the 15th to reach nine under, but then bogeyed the very next hole, while Mickelson recovered with birdies at 13 and 15 but failed to make up any further ground after that.
The first play-off hole between Oosthuizen and Watson, the 18th, was halved and the South African appeared to have the advantage on the second, the 10th, after Watson hit his tee shot deep into the pines.
The American had a shot, however, and drew his ball at least 40 yards around the trees to find the green, 10 feet away from the cup. It was the shot of the tournament.
Oosthuizen's second found the front edge of the green, but his chip shot was a touch heavy and he left himself 15 feet for par. He failed to convert, and it meant Watson had two putts to win the Masters, which he promptly took before breaking down in tears.
Never one to seek the spotlight, Watson was clearly overwhelmed and lost for words after the victory.
Asked if he had ever dreamed of winning the Masters, he said: "I never got this far in my dreams.
"It's a blessing."
Of his incredible second shot on the final play-off hole, he said: "I was there earlier, so I was used to it.
"I knew what I was facing. I had a good lie. I had to hook it about 40 yards, but I am pretty good at hooking it."
Watson and his wife adopted their first child recently and he added: "To go home to my new son is going to be fun."
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