A major relief

In 73 major championships heading into this Masters, Sergio Garcia had finished in the top three six times but never won. To put the Spanish star’s Augusta triumph in context, here’s a closer look at his heartbreaking history.

1999 PGA Championship (2):

Shot to fame after a final-round duel with Tiger Woods. Trailed by as many as five strokes on Sunday, battled back but fell a shot short.

2005 U.S. Open (T3):

Despite finishing in a tie for third, Garcia was never in it on the final day, finishing 5-over and five strokes behind winner Michael Campbell. Woods finished second at 2-over.

2006 PGA Championship (T3):

No one was catching Woods. Garcia started five strokes back, shot 2-under and finished six back of Woods.

2007 British Open (2):

Led after each of the first three rounds and led by as many as four shots early in the final round but went on to lose in a four-hole playoff to Padraig Harrington.

2008 PGA Championship (T2):

Began the round tied with eventual winner Harrington at 1-over. Garcia started with a birdie and an eagle but bogeyed two of the final three holes and lost by two strokes.

2014 British Open (T2):

Garcia finished with five birdies and an eagle on the final day but never could catch Rory McIlroy, who went wire to wire and beat Garcia and Rickie Fowler by two strokes.