Updated April 10, 2017 14:03:11

Spain's Sergio Garcia has ended a long wait for his first major title, beating England's Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta after a thrilling duel on the back nine.

The 37-year-old sank a putt on the first extra hole to clinch the title. It was an emotional win for Garcia, coming on what would have been the 60th birthday of former Spanish legendary golfer — and two-time Masters champion — Seve Ballesteros.

A delighted crowd chanted "Sergio, Sergio!" as he celebrated on the 18th green.

"It's been a long time coming," he told CBS after the final round.

"I knew I was playing well, I felt today the calmest I've ever felt on a major Sunday.

"Even after making a couple of bogeys, I was still positive, I still believed there were a lot of holes I could get to. I'm so happy!"

The win made Garcia the third Spanish golfer to become Masters champion, along with Ballesteros (1980 and 1983) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (1994 and 1999).

"It's amazing, to do it on his (Seve's) 60th birthday and to join him and Olazabal, my two idols in golf my whole life, it's just amazing," Garcia said.

Rose and Garcia began the day tied at 6-under, and Garcia — who had never won a major title — started the stronger, establishing a three shot lead after five holes.

Rose made three birdies in a row, however, to draw level with the Spaniard by the eighth hole. As other contenders gradually fell by the wayside, it became a match in two for the first major title of the year.

Garcia started to show the strain, with a couple of dropped shots, but he turned his fortunes around after drawing a penalty on the par-five 13th for hitting a ball in a water hazard before recovering to make par.

He eagled the 15th, with Rose birdieing the par-five, bringing the pair together again on 9-under.

Rose birdied the par-three 16th to take the advantage, but the Englishman — who won the Olympic gold medal in Rio last year — got out of a bunker on 17 only to miss a par putt to leave them tied going down the last.

Both players drilled their shots to within 10 feet on the final hole, but Rose missed his, leaving Garcia with a putt for the title. However Garcia missed his shorter putt to the right to take the tournament to a playoff.

Rose found the trees on the first play-off hole, while Garcia cracked his drive straight down the fairway.

The Englishman struggled to get out on the fairway with his second, while Garcia hit his approach shot to the centre of the green to set up the victory.

Adam Scott was the leading Australian, shooting a 1-over round of 73 to finish on 2-under for the tournament, tied for ninth. Jason Day had a 1-under 71 to finish on 2-over.

Marc Leishman finished 8-over for the tournament, while amateur Curtis Luck finished on 9-over.

Photo: Rose and Garcia traded blows like prize fighters throughout the final round. (AP: David Goldman)

Topics: sport, golf, united-states

First posted April 10, 2017 09:30:39