Jordan Spieth had it in the bag. A five-shot lead, just the back ten to go, having led the tournament for the entire tournament.
Golf is a long game – it goes for four days.
But things can change mighty fast, and it took less than an hour for Spieth to fall back from clear leader to also-ran, as Englishmen Danny Willett streaked away to win golf’s highest prize.
A five-under round of 67 was more than enough to see Willett snatch the prize from Spieth, who had a horror stretch when turning the corner at the famed Augusta course.
Sitting at seven-under, Spieth bogeyed the ninth, bogeyed the tenth, and then found the water not once but twice at the par 3 12th to all but drop out of contention. Six shots dropped in three holes – while Willett found birdies to take him to a score of 5-under.
Considering the way Spieth had played the course until that point, it was scarcely believable. This was the player who was 30-under par in his three years on the Augusta course. This was the man who had led the tournament for seven straight rounds, and was looking to be the first back-to-back wire-to-wire champion.
But a quadruple bogey killed any hope of that, with his second water-bound stroke in particular speaking to a man who was rattled. It was as fat as you’ll ever see a professional golfer hit a ball.
Willett was unflappable, nailing wedges and irons close on the back nine, and in the end it was the icy play that won the day. He may have only led for a few holes, but you only need to be leading at the end.
It is the 28-year-old first major victory, just a week after the birth of his son. He becomes the second Englishman to win the green jacket, after three-time champion Nick Faldo.
Spieth was tied for second with Willett’s compatriot Lee Westwood, while Paul Casey, Dustin Johnson and JB Holmes were a shot further back on one-under.
Jason Day finished on one-over after a round that never got going, and was the best of the Aussies.
Adam Scott, Australia’s only previous Masters winner, shot 76 in his final round to be 11 over for the week.
Cameron Smith closed out his first appearance at Augusta with a two-over-74 to finish at 15-over.
Jeremy Shrubb
Roar Rookie
Spieth's swing was shaky all week. He scrambled remarkably well and actually enhanced his lead for much of Sunday's round. He was getting it done when he didn't have his best stuff until just one too many (or two) bad swings did him in. You can't scramble from the water. Willett hung around all week in tough conditions and then got it going when it mattered.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
While it was a choke by Spieth, if you were looking back at the event in 10 years without knowing what happened it wouldn't look like that on paper. A 73 off the stick is not like a Greg Norman 78 or a Rory McIlroy 80 in the final round. Well done to Danny Willett, anyone shooting a 67 on that course in the final round is a deserving winner.
Bludger
Guest
Same here, but Speith completely imploded. Pressure got to him and who of us can point the finger? It'll make him stronger, but it will almost be in the back of his mind for all time now. He is definately human. Don't remember Tiger throwing it away too often, which is the difference between Woods and the rest.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Wow - I was watching some of the front 9 but lost interest because Spieth looked like he'd win it easily, and Day couldn't get anything going.