He actually did it. For years, if you followed golf even casually, you knew the narrative surrounding Sergio Garcia. It was heavy. It was a burden that seemed to grow with every missed putt and every Sunday collapse. People called him the best player to never win a major. It wasn't a compliment; it was a ghost that followed him from Carnoustie in 1999 all the way to the hallowed, pine-scented corridors of Augusta National. When we talk about the winner of Masters 2017, we aren't just talking about a guy who shot the lowest score over four days. We are talking about a career-defining exorcism that happened right on the 18th green.
It was April 9. Seve Ballesteros’ birthday. If you believe in sports karma or the "golf gods," the timing was almost too perfect to be real. Sergio, the fiery Spaniard who often let his emotions get the better of him, was suddenly standing in the middle of a slugfest with Justin Rose.
The Duel That Nobody Saw Coming
The 2017 Masters wasn't a runaway. It wasn't Tiger Woods in 1997 or Jordan Spieth in 2015. It was a grind. By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, it became a match-play scenario between two Ryder Cup teammates. Sergio and Rose.
Honestly, the momentum shifts were enough to give you whiplash. Sergio started hot, but then the old demons started peeking out. You remember the par-4 10th and the par-4 11th? He made bogeys. Back-to-back. At that point, the collective "here we go again" from the gallery was almost audible. Rose took a two-shot lead. It felt like another chapter in the book of Sergio’s heartbreak. But then came the 13th hole, "Azalea."
Sergio hooked his drive into the bushes. He had to take a penalty drop. Most people thought it was over right there. Rose was sitting pretty, looking at a potential birdie or an easy par. But Sergio scrambled. He saved a miracle par. That specific moment changed the entire energy of the tournament. It was the spark. He followed it up with a birdie on 14 and an eagle on 15 that nearly took the roof off the Georgia sky.
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Breaking the "Best Without a Major" Curse
To understand why the winner of Masters 2017 matters so much in the history of the sport, you have to look at the numbers. Before that Sunday, Sergio Garcia had played in 73 major championships without a win. Seventy-three. That is a lot of scar tissue. He had 22 top-ten finishes in majors before he finally put on that Green Jacket.
The pressure was immense. You've got guys like Phil Mickelson who took a while to get their first, but Sergio’s wait felt more personal because of his public battles with his own psyche. He famously once said he wasn't good enough for majors after a tough round at the U.S. Open. He had basically given up on the idea. That's what made the 2017 victory so human. It wasn't just a physical win; it was a psychological breakthrough.
The Playoff and the 73rd Hole
They finished 72 holes tied at 9-under par.
Sudden death.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
They went back to the 18th tee. Justin Rose, who is usually a machine under pressure, pushed his drive into the trees. He ended up with a bogey. Sergio? He stripe-showed a drive right down the middle. He stuck his approach to about 12 feet. When that birdie putt curled into the cup, Sergio didn't just pump his fist. He crouched down and hammered the grass with his hands. It was pure, unadulterated relief.
The Green Jacket was finally his.
Why This Victory Still Resonates
We see a lot of first-time winners in golf, but Sergio's win felt like the end of an era. It was the moment the "Spanish Armada" truly returned to the forefront of Augusta, following in the footsteps of his idols, Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.
What's wild is how much the equipment and the course have changed since then, but the strategy Sergio used—superb ball-striking combined with a newfound mental patience—remains the blueprint for winning at Augusta. He led the field in Greens in Regulation (GIR) that week, hitting over 75% of them. In a game that is increasingly about distance, 2017 showed that hitting the right spots on those tiered greens is still the only way to survive.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Misconceptions About the 2017 Win
A lot of people think Sergio "lucked" into it because Rose made a mistake in the playoff. That's a bit unfair. If you look at the final round, Sergio shot a 69. He overcame a two-shot deficit on the back nine of a major. That isn't luck; that’s taking it.
Another common thought is that the course played easy that year. It didn't. The wind was swirling early in the week, and the greens were classic Augusta—lightning fast and unforgiving. The winning score of -9 is actually quite modest compared to the double-digit underscores we've seen in more recent years when the course was soft.
What You Can Learn from Sergio’s Performance
If you’re a golfer or just a fan of sports psychology, there are a few tactical things Sergio did that year that are worth noting for your own game:
- Patience over aggression: Even when he was two down with five to play, he didn't start firing at dangerous pins. He waited for his spots on 13 and 15.
- The "Reset" Button: After the penalty drop on 13, he took a breath. He didn't let the mistake compound into another mistake.
- Embracing the Moment: Instead of fighting the pressure, he leaned into it. He acknowledged the crowd and used the energy rather than trying to block it out.
The winner of Masters 2017 gave us one of the most emotional celebrations in the history of the tournament. It reminded everyone that in sports, as in life, it really isn't over until it's over. You can fail 73 times and still succeed on the 74th.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Masters
To get the most out of watching future tournaments or studying past winners like Sergio, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the GIR stats: The winner is almost always in the top 5 for Greens in Regulation. Putting is great, but ball-striking gets you the jacket.
- Focus on the Par 5s: Sergio played the par 5s beautifully in 2017. If you can't birdy the long holes at Augusta, you won't win.
- Check the weather history: Wind at Augusta changes everything. Sergio's ability to flight the ball low helped him during the gusty early rounds of 2017.
- Study the 13th hole: It is historically the "swing" hole. Whether it's Sergio's par save or Tiger's charges, what happens at the start of Amen Corner usually dictates the winner.
The story of the 2017 Masters isn't just about a trophy. It’s about a man who finally stopped fighting himself long enough to win the one thing he wanted most. It remains a masterclass in perseverance.