Bubba Watson became just the third Masters champion to claim a second win in a three-year span when he nestled into his second green jacket at Augusta National on Sunday.
2014 MASTERS LEADERBOARD
- Bubba Watson -8
- Jonas Blixt -5
- Jordan Spieth -5
- Miguel Angel Jimenez -4
- Matt Kuchar -3
- Rickie Fowler -2
- Lee Westwood -1
- Bernhard Langer E
- Thomas Bjorn E
- John Senden E
The Floridian's triumph was more comfortable than his tense play-off with Louis Oosthuizen in 2012, as he finished on -8, three shots ahead of Swede Jonas Blixt and Jordan Spieth.
Watson, with his son Caleb, takes the acclaim from fans at Augusta after finishing his final round
Spieth, the 20-year-old rookie, threatened to become the youngest winner at Augusta when he briefly moved three shots clear after seven holes, but finished joint second with Blixt.
Watson carded a closing 69 and was embraced by his wife and their son on the 18th green, he and Angie having adopted Caleb just days before his victory over Oosthuizen two years ago.
Since Mike Weir's win in 2003, the Masters has been won by a left-hander six times.
Watson is congratulated by his wife, Angie, after clinching his second Masters win
European hopes of a first winner since José María Olazábal in 1999 had been high, but Miguel Ángel Jiménez - also looking to become golf's oldest major champion - paid the price for a front nine of 38, while Lee Westwood was never in contention after playing the first four holes in three over.
Rory McIlroy's best Masters finish was little consolation for a frustrating week which also saw the former world number one outscored by his marker in the third round, the 24-year-old joint eighth with 56-year-old two-time champion Bernhard Langer.