There were supposed to be a host of challengers, there were supposed to be all sorts of stars stepping up on the back nine to challenge for the 2017 Masters title.
There were only two.
Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose fought a battle they’ll talk about for quite a while and by the time 72 holes had ended Sunday at the Augusta National Golf Club, that wasn’t enough to crown a champion.
Garcia and Rose both finished at nine-under par as the two European stars went back-and-forth over the final nine holes while the rest of the pack behind them fell apart, especially Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, who started the final round within easy striking distance of the overnight leaders.
Both Rose and Garcia shot two-under par 34s on the front nine and began to separate themselves from the rest of the players behind them.
Garcia promptly bogeyed 10 and 11, staking Rose to a two-shot lead as Rose parred the first five holes coming home.
Garcia made a brilliant par save at the 13th while Rose missed from seven feet for birdie that would have stretched his lead to three.
A birdie by Garcia at 14 cut Rose’s lead to a single shot. Then the drama came at 15.
Garcia crushed a drive and stuck an eight-iron from 176 yards that almost went in the hole. It stopped just 10 feet away while Rose’s second was 35 feet away on the back fringe. Rose putted to seven feet then watched as Garcia holed his eagle. Rose sank his and they marched to 16 tied at nine-under par with the patrons in a frenzy.
Garcia hit another brilliant eight-iron, this one to five feet at 16. Rose answered with a shot that stopped just eight feet from the cup. Rose made and Garcia missed. Rose returned the favor at 17 when he missed a seven-footer for par.
At 18, Rose missed from just 12 feet while Garcia had a chance to end it. He was six feet above the hole and hit a poor put that didn’t touch the cup.
It ended on the 73rd hole thanks to a poor drive by Rose, a punch-out that barely passed Garcia’s drive. Garcia stuck his approach to 10 feet. Rose settled 14 feet away and missed, setting the stage for Garcia’s putt. He made it and ended his major championship drought after 17 years.
“It’s been an amazing week. I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life,” Garcia said.
