Spaniard Sergio Garcia is the 2017 Masters Champion after a thrilling playoff victory against England’s Justin Rose.

The unwanted moniker of one of the best players to never win a Major no longer applies to the 37-year-old who finally broke through in his 74^th attempt.

"The way I tried to look at it was in a positive way. Obviously I like where I stand now better," Garcia said when asked of the tagline that has followed his illustrious career up until this point.

"But it’s always nice to be recognised or seen as the best player to not have won a major, because at least it’s best player, there’s a good thing there so that’s the way I looked at it.

"I don’t have to answer that anymore.  Now I’ll have to answer if I’ll be ‘the best player to have only won one Major’. But I can live with that."

Both Rose and Garcia entered the final round as joint leaders on 6-under par, it didn’t take long for Garcia to claim the outright lead with a birdies on the first then third, Rose had an up and down front-9 but both made the turn at 8-under par.

As is usual at Augusta National, the tournament came to life over the last nine holes, Garcia dropped shots at both 10 and 11 to go back to 6-under while Rose looked in complete control reeling off five consecutive pars.

After climbing back to 7-under the card on 14, Garcia caused the patrons to erupt on the 15^th with a massive eagle on the par-5 hole.

Rose responded with birdie on the same hole and the pair were once again locked at 9-under.

The pair went stroke-for-stroke right up until the 18^th where both made par and ensured the 2017 Masters Champion would be decided in a sudden death playoff.

Rose teed off first and found the trees and his recovery shot from the pine needles wasn’t much better, opening the door for Garcia to make birdie and take home a coveted Green Jacket.

After coming so close to a Major victory on four separate occasions (two times runner-up in both The Open and PGA Championship) the victory is one Garcia will savor in an already glittering career.

"I knew I was playing well.  I was very calm, much calmer than yesterday, much calmer than I’ve felt probably in any ‑‑ in any major championship on Sunday," Garcia said post victory.

"So obviously Justin wasn’t making it easy.  He was playing extremely well.  But I knew what I was capable of doing, and I believed that I could do it.  Thanks to that, I was able to do it."

In a heartwarming display of synchronicity, Garcia’s win falls on what would have been the 60^th birthday of one of the all-time greatest players and fellow Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros.

"It definitely popped in my mind a few times.  There’s no doubt about it.  Obviously today a couple of times here and there.  And I’m sure he helped a little bit with some of those shots or some of those putts.

"I’m thrilled to be standing here this late on Sunday afternoon, Sunday evening.  It’s always a beautiful thing to have.  So it’s been an amazing week, and I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life."