Master Spieth is the new Masters champion

In the end, the boy wonder was crowned king. His two-under 70 for a record-equalling 18-under aggregate of 270 gave him a commanding four shot victory over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose with Rory McIlroy two strokes further back on 276. A bogey on the last would not sully this monumental achievement. He missed out on equalling the major record low of 19-under but when you're snuggling into a Green Jacket who cares? "I'm ready," said Spieth when asked if he was prepared to slip into golf's most cherished blazer. His time had come. "This is the greatest day of my life, a dream come true," he said.

His journey to glory was superb. Every time the chasing pack thought the door may have creaked ajar, Spieth stayed as tough as an old Texas snake boot and demoralised them by slamming it shut with a display of bold, brave front-running golf. His nerveless approach over the water at the raking 13th illustrated this sturdy, resilience. He'd just three-putted the 12th but his response was outstanding as he clattered a superbly flighted second shot to within 10-feet to give himself an eagle opportunity. Play it safe? No chance. Spieth was relentless. He was also calm and composed. As roars erupted when the chasing Mickelson holed his bunker shot ahead of him on the 15th for an eagle, Spieth took a step back from his short par putt on the 14th, steadied himself again and completed the job. His up and down on the 16th to preserve his four stroke lead was inspired and decisive. "That putt there was the biggest of my life," reflected Spieth of this key moment. He was displaying all the hall marks of great champions.

It was an overcast start to Masters Sunday but the shimmering sense of anticipation was never going to be dulled. The scent of victory was hanging in the air ... or was it the waft of southern fried chicken? Whatever it was, it made for a mouth watering sensation.

Saturday night's finale to a captivating, undulating third round was fevered and provided a vivid reminder that, in this unpredictable, fickle game, nothing is finished until caps are removed and hands are shaken on the final green.

In this mind mangling pursuit, there was a lot praying on the minds as the leading groups marched off into the frontline yesterday afternoon. Four years ago, a 21-year-old led the Masters by four shots going into the closing 18 holes and ballooned to an 80. Yesterday, there was another 21-year-old holding a similar advantage.

The difference between Rory McIlroy in 2011 and Spieth in 2015? Well, McIlroy was leading at a major heading into the final round for the first time in his career. Spieth, by contrast, was in this lofty position here at Augusta 12 months ago as he found himself tied at the top with Bubba Watson. Indeed, in his last four starts, the young Texan has teed off in the last group four times. He seems as comfortable in this place as he does in his own bed. Of course, the major battleground is a different environment altogether and Augusta National has a habit of gobbling up leaders on the final day. The last time an Englishman won the Masters, in 1996, Nick Faldo carved into Greg Norman's six shot lead on final day to plunder the Green Jacket as his Australian rival imploded. Rose, who had conjured a barnstorming finish to his third round and birdied five of his last six to vault into contention, was looking to perform a similar overhaul. He certainly set about his task with purpose and, like a cold assassin in his dark glasses, the former US Open champion drained a birdie putt on the first to signal his intent and strike an early psychological blow Spieth was unmoved, though, and calmly followed him in from 10 feet. The race to the finishing line was underway. Mickelson, the three times Masters champion, needed to do something special to keep pace and a birdie on the par-five second, an absolute must when you're playing a colossal catch up game, kept him floating around. All eyes were on Spieth and Rose, though, as they continued to trade birdies. Rose knocked in another on the second to get to within three shots but Spieth was right back at him on the next with a putt that prompted an early first pump. The young Texan kept staving off Rose's attempts to stick a thorn in his side. The 34-year-old Englishman was trying to apply some pressure but on the seventh, he was in the trees off the tee was still in dicey territory after two blows. A delightfully nipped wedge off a tight lie almost spun back into the hole and Rose saved his par with a putt that performed a wall of death around the hole. With Spieth leaking a shot, the advantage was back to three again but the narrative continued in a familiar vein as the leader kept on responding with courage and conviction. His birdie on the eighth was his 25th of the tournament and tied the Masters record set by Mickelson in 2001. When he bounced off the 10th with another birdie, he'd set a new one as he marched to the title. Rose performed wonderfully but he fell to an irrepressible talent.

"16 was a key moment," said Rose of that hole where Spieth saved par and he missed his birdie chance. "I thought if I make my putt and he misses, I'm two back with two to play. He buried his in the middle and mine slid by." Mickelson, meanwhile, had done all he could. "I would have taken 14-under at the start of the week and I would have thought that would have won," said the Californian, who posted a 69 for his 274 tally. "Jordan's 18-under score was just outstanding. He played some amazing golf."

McIlroy, who came into the week aiming for the career grand slam, was a distant observer for much of the day but, with the focus elsewhere, the world No 1 quietly clambered up the order as his neatly assembled 66 for a 12-under 276 gave him a top-five finish. His time will surely come. "Jordan is far more mature than I was when I was 21 years of age," said McIlroy has he heaped praise on Spieth's character.

The fact that Tiger Woods was perched in the upper reaches after 54-holes was an encouraging sign and an indication that he can be a golfing force once more. During an eventful third round on Saturday there was a sense that the roars were that bit louder, the interest in the event that bit greater with the Tiger prowling around. The 14-time major winner toiled yesterday and a painful encounter with a tree root on the ninth caused a fair bit of wincing and cursing on his way to a 73 and a five-under aggregate. Over the course of the four days, though, there were heartening glimpses of the Tiger of old, instead of just old Tiger.

Spieth, meanwhile, is the new kid on the major block.