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 Three strokes behind the pacesetting Spieth going into the final
round at Augusta National, an ice-cool Willett closed with a
five-under-par 67 to end a 17-year title drought by European golfers
at the year's opening major.
Willett, a four-times winner on the European Tour competing in his
second Masters, birdied three of the last six holes to cap off a
bogey-free display in sun-bathed but cool conditions and post a
five-under total of 283.
He became only the second Englishman to win the coveted Green
Jacket, following three-times champion Nick Faldo, and ended a
barren title run by Europeans dating back to Spaniard Jose Maria
Olazabal's second victory here in 1999.
"It's been crazy," Willett, 28, said before being helped into the
coveted Green Jacket by last year's champion, Spieth. "You can't
really describe the emotions and feelings.
"We all go out there and try and play good golf and at the end of
the day someone's got to win the golf tournament. Fortunately
enough, today was my day," added 2007 English Amateur champion
Willett, who is the son of a vicar.
 "It was tough. Every time we seemed to make ground, Jordan kept
pulling ahead. And we were just trying to dig in and dig in ...
trying to make birdies and birdies. It was just a very surreal day
when you look back at the ebb and flows."
Willett's participation at this year's Masters had been in doubt
last month with his wife scheduled to give birth on Sunday, but
their baby boy Zachariah arrived 12 days ago.
"He came early ... to let me play," Willett smiled. "You talk about
fate ... it's just been a crazy, crazy week."
Spieth, bidding for a second consecutive wire-to-wire win at the
Masters and a third major title, had to settle for a share of second
place after carding an adventurous one-over 73 that included a
quadruple bogey and seven birdies.
NIGHTMARE SEVEN
The American world number two had stormed five strokes in front with
nine holes to play and victory seemingly assured when he bogeyed the
10th and 11th before running up a nightmare seven at the par-three
12th.
"It's tough, it's really tough," Spieth told CBS Sports about his
stunning three-hole collapse, his voice cracking with emotion.
"Pretty sure I'll be disappointed with that one.
"Just put a bad swing on it right at the wrong time. Just compounded
mistakes. Just lack of discipline. A very tough 30 minutes for me
that hopefully I will never experience again."
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Finishing level with Spieth at two under was England's former world
number one Lee Westwood who, still seeking a first major title after
recording 17 top-10 finishes during a stellar career, returned a 69.
England's Paul Casey (67) and Americans J.B. Holmes (68) and Dustin
Johnson (71) tied for fourth at one under while world number three
Rory McIlroy, seeking to complete a career grand slam of the majors,
returned a 71 to share 10th place.
After three rounds of gusting winds, players were greeted by the
coldest temperatures of the week but the calmest conditions as
Sunday's final round began with an abundance of compelling possible
storylines in the melting pot.
For the first nine holes, Spieth was his usual unflappable self as
he mixed five birdies with a lone bogey and several clutch putts to
reach the turn five strokes clear at seven under, seemingly in total
command.
However, the 22-year-old Texan bogeyed the 10th, after bunkering his
approach, and also the 11th, after his tee shot sailed right into
the trees, before the tricky 12th took an even more severe toll.
After hitting successive shots into the waters of Rae's Creek in
front of the 12th green, Spieth found a back bunker with his fifth
en route to a mind-boggling seven, tumbling back into a tie for
fourth at one under.
Though he did well to rebound with birdies on both par-fives, the
13th and 15th, he also bogeyed 17 after bunkering his approach and
was never able to catch Willett, who picked up shots at the 13th,
14th and 16th to give himself a cushion.
"I had my 'B minus' game tee to green, and I made up for it around
the greens with my putter," said Spieth. "Ultimately you just have
to have your 'A' game every single part, and I just didn't have
those iron swings, as it showed on the back nine."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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