American Scottie Scheffler has proved his rise to men's golfing world number one was no fluke, with a nerveless final round to win The Masters by three shots at Augusta National.
Australia's Cameron Smith started the day three shots behind Scheffler and maintained his challenge through the front nine, but a disastrous triple-bogey on the 12th ended his chances of victory.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy produced a stunning final round of 64 – one off the course record —to finish runner-up.
Scheffler, who took the world top ranking earlier this year, has now won his first major title – he has four Tour victories since February.
He took a three-shot lead into the final round, setting the stage for an Augusta shootout with Smith.
The Australian started brilliantly, with birdies on the first two holes to cut the lead down to one.
But with both players short of the green on the third, two chips would change the direction of the tournament.
Scheffler chipped in for birdie, Smith sent his long and made bogey. The American never looked back from there.
A steady front nine kept the lead at four, but a rare Smith birdie at the 11th took it back to three shots and set the stage for a closing showdown.
But the 12th, as it has so many times in Masters history, was decisive. Smith attempted an ambitious shot at the right-placed pin, but made one of his worst swings of the week.
The tee shot found Rae's Creek, and Smith was unable to recover. A triple-bogey six ended his charge.
From there, Scheffler was unflappable even as the roars echoed from around Augusta.
McIlroy drew the biggest of the day with an incredible holed bunker shot on 18 to complete his round, but even his presence at 7-under was not enough to spook Scheffler.
With a five-shot lead going into the last, Scheffler had the luxury of being able to four-putt on the final green and still closed out the tournament.
The number-one golfer is now Masters champion. It may just be the beginning for 25-year-old Scheffler.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
Leaderboard
- Scottie Scheffler -10 (71)
- Rory McIlroy -7 (64)
- Cameron Smith -5 (73)
- Shane Lowry -5 (69)
- Collin Morikawa -4 (67)
- Will Zalatoris -3 (67)
- Corey Conners -3 (70)
By Dean Bilton
Congratulations Scottie Scheffler
The formal presentation is complete, and Scottie Scheffler is the proud recipient of his very own green jacket.
Thank you so much for your company this morning. We were all here hoping our guy Cam Smith would pull it off today, but he was beaten by the best golfer in the world who produced one of the most impressive Masters performances for some time.
Until the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, goodbye!
By Dean Bilton
Scottie Scheffler is in Butler Cabin
A brief chat with Jim Nantz before Hideki Matsuyama puts the jacket on Scottie Scheffler.
The first time (winning) popped into my mind was Friday afternoon. I never really make it this far in my mind, I alway just think about playing well and competing. I can't tell you how much it means to be able to play here for a lifetime now.
I'm ready to go home. I'm tired and I'm ready to celebrate. I think I'm glad I had that little hiccup on the last hole, it made me a little less emotional to get through this interview.
I can't thank my family enough. They've made so many sacrifices for me. It's emotional just getting into this field, so to win is so special for all of them.
And with that, the jacket is lifted onto Scottie's shoulders. It suits him.
By Dean Bilton
Cam Smith is speaking now
He's disappointed, but not dispirited.
Just too many mistakes. I felt like my front-nine bogeys weren't really derserved and kinda halted my momentum a little bit.
Then a poor shot on 12, and there's the tournament.
It was all fine. It was a perfect nine iron, and just a really bad swing. Probably my worst swing of the week at the worst time of the week. I'll learn from it and be stronger from it.
I feel like I've played some of my best golf around here, it just hasn't been my time yet. A couple of lucky breaks here and there and I'm sure I'll be putting the green jacket on one day.
By Dean Bilton
Sharing this again one more time
Rory McIlroy. Greenside bunker. 18th hole. For a 64 and second place.
He says it was "the happiest I've ever been on a golf course".
By Dean Bilton
A tough finish for Cam Smith
Augusta got him. He's not the first, he certainly won't be the last. A triple-bogey six at the par-three 12th, with a tee shot flaming out into Rae's Creek, ended his hopes of victory.
And it all started so well! Smith birdied the first two to pull within a shot of Scheffler, only for Scottie to chip in for birdie at the third to flip the script straight back. A Smith birdie at 11 gave the impression the hunt was back on, but then 12 happened.
Still, it's another excellent week for the Aussie. He WILL win one of these one day, and many more tournaments besides. He is a truly great golfer, one of the very best in the world. It just wasn't his day today.
By Dean Bilton
Scottie Scheffler has won the Masters!
He finishes with a four-putt, but you can get away with that when you have a five-shot lead going into the last!
Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, has simply blown them all away this week. While the rest of the field battled conditions and pressure and everything else in between, Scheffler played near perfect golf. His status as the best in the game can not be questioned right now. And for the first time all week, the emotion is coming out.
By Dean Bilton
Scottie Scheffler has just missed two more putts
Without getting silly about things, he's going to want get that ball in the hole pretty soon.
This is for double bogey and victory.
By Dean Bilton
Cam Smith for birdie at 18
His putt is pretty level, certainly not beyond him. For standalone third place.
So close! Not sure how that didn't drop. It's a par and a 73 for Cam Smith. He gets a fine ovation, even though it wasn't the day he was hoping for.
Now Scheffler to start the celebrations...
Scheffler misses the par putt. Lucky he's still got four up his sleeve...
By Dean Bilton
Scottie Scheffler for birdie at the 18th
Is there one more incredible Scheffler highlight to top off his tournament?
It's just past the hole. He'll have a few feet left for par and glory. Smith will get out of his way first.
By Dean Bilton
A magic moment
Tears in Scottie Scheffler's eyes I think. Certainly tears from his wife Meredith, who is just on the other side of the ropes. A tremendous ovation greets the Texan as he makes his final walk.
By Dean Bilton
Scheffler from the first cut on 18
His last swing of the day. Just hit the green, Scottie.
He does. A little past the hole and up on the top ridge, but that is perfectly fine.
Scottie Scheffler will stroll up the 18th at Augusta with the Masters in the bag. What a feeling.
By Dean Bilton
Smith from the pinestraw on 18
He's going to need to give this a swipe.
And he very much does! He finds the green and keeps it on the right level. A birdie putt coming up for Cam.
By Dean Bilton
Scheffler and Smith on the 18th tee
Scheffler put his tee shot on 18 in deep trouble yesteday (still made a five though), so will be looking to avoid that last pitfall.
It's not his best, but it hits a tree and bounces back to the first cut. It's his week alright.
Cameron Smith ends his Masters with a tidy drive short and left of the fairway bunkers.
By Dean Bilton
Scheffler for par at 17
Just about a tap in. What a fantastic par save from the best golfer in the world.
He's going to tee it up at 18 on Sunday at the Masters with a five-shot lead. It really doesn't get any better than that.
By Dean Bilton
Smith for par at 17
No fuss, no trouble. He drops that one in and will go to the 18th at -5.
By Dean Bilton
Smith for birdie at 17
Another really difficult putt. Getting home in two from here would be a good result.
It looked like dropping for a second, but slipped past and long of the hole. Bit of work left for par.
