That winning feeling!

THE golfing world united in celebrating Sergio Garcia’s triumph as he ended nearly two decades of major heartbreak by heroically winning the US Masters on Sunday.

He beat England’s Justin Rose in a thrilling play-off on what would have been the 60th birthday of his hero, the late Seve Ballesteros.

After four runner-up finishes and years of self-doubt, Garcia finally delivered the long-awaited title that seemed destined to forever elude him. When he played at Bahrain’s Royal Golf Club, for example, in the 2011 Volvo Golf Champions tournament, won by England’s Paul Casey, the Spaniard was tied-30th on 10-under.

His set aside the heartache with a 12-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole. When it dropped into the cup at the par-four 18th it triggered a massive cheer from an Augusta National gallery that began chanting his name after willing him across the line.

As his ball disappeared, Garcia crouched, clenched his fists and let out a mighty scream of pure joy releasing years of frustration, his 74 major starts the most made by any professional golfer before a first win.

“I did think about, am I ever going to win one?” admitted Garcia. “I’ve had so many good chances and either I lost them or someone has done something extraordinary to beat me. So it did cross my mind. But lately I’ve been thinking a little bit different, a little bit more positive and kind of accepting, too, that if it for whatever reason didn’t happen, my life is still going to go on.”

Deadlocked after nine holes, the two friends and rivals produced an enthralling back nine showdown worthy of any Masters final round in what became a head-to-head battle after the other challengers fell away.

Garcia and Rose both carded 69 to finish tied on nine-under-par 279, three strokes clear of 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, sending the year’s first major to a play-off when both missed birdie putts at the 72nd hole.

Garcia frittered away a chance to win in regulation when his downhill five-footer dribbled away to the right and did not even threaten the cup, moments after Rose had also misread his seven-footer.

It marked the first Masters playoff since Adam Scott beat Angel Cabrera to become the first Australian to wear the Green Jacket in 2013.

All the omens had seemed in place for a Spanish victory with Garcia starting the day perched atop the leaderboard alongside Rose on Ballesteros’ birthday.

Ballesteros, the Spanish talisman winner of the Green Jacket in 1980 and 1983, died of brain cancer in 2011. He inspired a generation of golfers in his country, including the Royal Golf Club’s teaching professional Juan Manuel Fuentes, who received coaching from the late great player, and promised to pass on his knowledge to golfers in the kingdom.

Juan had just stepped off the plane in Bahrain after a short break back home in Spain and managed to watch the final strokes of play on TV.

He knows Garcia’s parents well from his caddying days on the senior tour and said: “I’m so happy, he’s been waiting for this moment for so long. The whole of Spain, in fact the whole of the golfing world, is cheering!”

Garcia becomes the third Spaniard to win the Masters, also joining Jose Maria Olazabal, who triumphed twice at Augusta, in 1994 and 1999.

“It is amazing. To do it on his (Ballesteros’) 60th birthday and to join him and Jose Maria Olazabal, my two idols in golf, it is something amazing,” said Garcia. “I’m sure he helped a little bit with some of those shots or some of those putts.”

Region of fans around the world surely feared another nightmare ending, but this time there was a happy ending for the Spaniard.Garcia demonstrated during an enthralling rollercoaster battle with Rose that he does indeed possess the tools and determination of a champion.

Rose certainly was convinced, the Olympic champion going toe-to-toe with Garcia in a back-nine battle that at times played out like a heavyweight fight. “You can’t feel bad for me,” said Rose. “If there was anyone to lose to it would be Sergio. He deserves it as much as anyone out here.”