Brave Bubba edges Oosthuizen in Masters playoff

American left-hander Bubba Watson secured a thrilling Masters victory last night after defeating South African Louis Oosthuizen at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Augusta National.

The pair had been part of a bunched group of players at the top of the leaderboard on an exciting final day but eventually finished 72 holes two shots clear of the field with Lee Westwood of England, American duo Matt Kuchar and three-time champion Phil Mickelson and Sweden’s Peter Hanson, who had taken a one-shot lead into the final round after a third-round 65, tied for third at eight under par.

Oosthuizen had led from early in the round after a holing out from 253 yards on the par-five second hole for just the fourth albatross in Masters history but Watson caught him with a birdie at the 16th and with nothing separating them over the next four holes as the moved into a play off, it took an extraordinary shot to finally decide the contest.

This time it came from Watson, with a hooked wedge out of the trees at the 10th hole that left him with two putts from around 15 feet.

He was in tears before he picked the ball out of the cup and there was reason to celebrate for Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington, too, after he secured his best finish in a major since winning the Open and then the PGA Championship back-to-back in 2008.

The Dubliner had plenty of chances to challenge the lead but while he will rue missed birdie opportunities, his tie for eighth on four under alongside Adam Scott and Justin Rose after a closing 72 should send the three-time major winner’s confidence soaring for the rest of the season.