Sergio García is a rarity among the world’s best golfers: he’s been so good, for so long, that fans know him by a single name–yet entering this year’s Masters, he had never won a major tournament. That drought, spanning 73 career starts, ended on April 9 in an unforgettable fashion. After trading shots with Justin Rose across the storied back nine at Augusta National, García, 37, had a chance to clinch the title with a putt on 18. He missed it, sending the pair to a one-hole playoff. This time García was as good as gold, sinking a birdie putt that caused the staid crowd to erupt in shouts of “Ser-gee-oh! Ser-gee-oh!”
It was a moment of redemption for García, whose reputation has been dogged by his inability to win the big one. Consider that dragon slain.
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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com