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Masters champion Danny Willett finishes his round up. Picture: Getty
| Masters final leaderboard |
|---|
| -5 D Willett (Eng) -2 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth; -1 P Casey (Eng), JB Holmes, D Johnson; Level M Fitzpatrick (Eng), S Kjeldsen (Den), H Matsuyama (Jpn) |
| Selected others: +1 J Day (Aus), J Rose (Eng), R McIlroy (NI); +5 J Donaldson (Wal); +6 B Langer (Ger) |
The Englishman claimed his maiden major by three shots to become the first Briton to win the Masters for 20 years.Defending champion and overnight leader Spieth, 22, led by five shots as he approached the 10th at Augusta, but then dropped six shots in three holes.
The American ended with a one-over 73, tying for second with Lee Westwood.
Westwood, another Englishman, carded a three-under 69 on the final day to earn his second Masters runners-up finish. But Spieth will be left ruing a remarkable collapse on the iconic par-three 12th, twice finding the water in front of the green to eventually score a quadruple bogey.
That catapulted Willett, 28, into the outright lead - one that he would not relinquish after signing for the joint-lowest round of the final day.The world number 12, playing three groups ahead of Spieth, received a standing ovation as he walked towards the 18th green, on the verge of emulating fellow Englishman Nick Faldo in 1996.
Spieth was also given a sympathetic reception as he trudged towards the clubhouse about 30 minutes later, but it was no consolation for the emotional two-time major winner.And the world number two faced further ignominy by having to help Willett into the Green Jacket.
"It's been crazy. You can't really describe the emotions and feelings," said Willett.
"We all try to play good golf and someone has to win and fortunately today it was my day.
"It was a very surreal day when you look back at the ebbs and flows."
Green Jacket seals Willett's rapid rise
Willett is one of the golf's rising stars having climbed from outside the top 100 to the fringe of the top 10 in less than two years.But few would have predicted a first major win in only his second appearance on the unforgiving Augusta course. Especially because, until last week, the Yorkshireman's participation at the Masters had been in doubt - with his wife Nicole due to give birth on the final day.However, the early arrival of baby Zachariah meant Willett, who said he would stay at home if his son had not been born, was able to play.
Opening rounds of 70, 74 and 72 gave Willett a fighting chance, and he was three behind Spieth going into Sunday.
He moved just a stroke behind Spieth with a birdie at the eighth, his eagle putt just coming up short, on his way to a front-nine 34.However, Willett could not have imagined what drama was going to unfold on the back nine.
