Justine Rose happy to lose to Sergio

While fans braced for a familiar collapse on Sunday’s back nine, Garcia showed a confidence absent for so many tournaments.

He has played in four Ryder Cups, including the 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” when he beat five-time major champion Phil Mickelson in the singles to help Europe recover from 10-6 down to defeat the United States in one of sport’s great comebacks.

Both men played the ideal hole up until the green where Rose missed a seven-foot birdie putt to hand Garcia his chance, but he rolled a shorter – but arguably more testing putt – wide of the hole and they would soon replay the last.

Prior to beating out England’s Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff after a thrilling final round, Garcia had been known for a series of near-misses at major championships.

Garcia and fellow competitor and friend, Justin Rose, went into the 18th hole deadlocked. A par save after having to take a drop from a bush at the 13th was “big”. “This is my favourite tournament of the year”, said Rose, 36. He was forced to punch out for his second shot, then hit his third shot onto the green.

When asked about the Grand Slam, Garcia said, “You can’t win them all if you don’t win the first one”.

In the playoff, Rose pushed his drive right into the trees.

Rose birdied to match Garcia, then birdied the par-3 16th only to bogey and remain deadlocked to set up the closing drama. Rose would then miss a par putt, basically giving Garcia the trophy.

Golfers should get some credit for getting into position to win, even if they fail – as opposed to sneaking into a high finish, as happened with the likes of Charl Schwartzel and Matt Kuchar in the Masters. Brandt Snedeker, who finished tied for 27th at August, thinks that’s a good thing. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson withdrew on Thursday after he fell down the stairs at the home he was renting.

But the Olympic champion sees no reason why he can not challenge for a green jacket again and is already turning his focus to the next three majors, with the U.S. Open at Erin Hills just over two months away.

On what would have been the late Ballesteros’ 60th birthday, Garcia rallied from what had become his typical collapse and recovered from losing a three-stroke lead to Englishman Rose. Finally with a major championship in his trophy cabinet, the 37-year old will have the knowledge and confidence to be in serious contention at this year’s summer majors.