Patrick Reed claimed his maiden Major Championship title after holding off the charges of Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler to win The Masters Tournament.

“It’s almost impossible to put into words. Just to make the par on the last and watch the ball go in the hole and know that I’ve won my first Major,” said Reed.

“One of my huge goals this year was to not only contend in Majors but also get back in that winning circle. To do it in the first Major and finish off that drought, it just meant so much to me.”

The final day was billed as a potential classic, especially as Reed teed off alongside Grand Slam-chasing Rory McIlroy in the final group. Although the Northern Irishman’s chances ended in disappointment, Augusta National still sprung up the usual drama associated with the first Major of the season.

The 2015 Masters Champion Spieth was the first to test the nerve of the overnight leader Reed, threatening the course record with a remarkable streak of nine birdies in the opening 16 holes, including four in five from the 12^th.

An unfortunate break on the final hole though, where his drive clipped the trees mid-air and dropped just short of 180 yards from the tee in the rough, spoiled his chances as a bogey five meant he had to settle for an eight under 64 and a 13-under total.

Next up was another Texan, Fowler, who birdied the last to post a 14-under total after a 5-under 67, but Reed stayed resilient the whole way through and a two-putt par at the last for a 1-under 71 was enough to clinch a one-stroke triumph on 15-under par.

“I knew that the lead was going to shrink at some times, I knew the lead could grow, it’s just the flows of golf. You just have to know how to handle it and the only way I felt like I could get that done was to make sure the putter was working,” added Reed.

“It was tough out there but to be able to make that putt on 14 and then to make the two-putt on 17, it just gave me that momentum going to 18 which in the past has given me so many issues.

“Any time trying to close off a golf tournament is really hard, but to close off your first Major and to do it at a place that is so close to me.”