REED WINS MASTERS

The world number 24, who had been ahead since the second round, led Rory McIlroy by three shots overnight.

McIlroy, chasing his first Green Jacket to complete the Grand Slam, faded with a two-over 74, while Reed parred the last to shoot 71 and win on 15 under.

Fowler (67) ended second, one ahead of Spieth, who had nine birdies in a 64.

"Any time trying to close off a golf tournament is really hard but to close off my first major at a place that's so close to me, being where I went to college, means so much.

Tiger Woods

Woods will captain the US team at the 2019 Presidents Cup "I knew the lead would shrink and grow - it's just the flows of golf, you have to know how to handle it and the way I could get that done was to make sure the putter was working.

"Just to make par on the last and to watch the ball go in the hole and know that I've won my first major - to finish off that drought - meant so much to me."

The scene was set for a classic duel between the final pair, Reed and McIlroy, with expectations for a repeat of their epic match at the 2016 Ryder Cup, which the American shaded by one hole.

But the 28-year-old Northern Irishman, who surged into contention with a bogey-free 65 on Saturday, cut a disconsolate figure and he was the only one of the top 16 to return an over-par final round.

"I played probably some of the best golf I've ever played here - it just wasn't meant to be," said McIlroy, who has won four majors, the last of them the 2014 PGA Championship.

"I think 100% I can come back and win here. I've played in two final groups in the last seven years, I've had five top-10s, I play this golf course well. I just haven't played it well enough at the right times."

Although it was not the collapse of 2011 when he squandered a four-shot lead with a final round of 80, McIlroy was unable to produce his sparkling best and made only one birdie in the closing 14 holes.

Reed is the ninth first-time major winner in the past 12 Masters and all four major championships are now held by Americans - all of whom are aged 27 or under.

Spieth won last year's Open, Brooks Koepka the US Open and Justin Thomas the US PGA Championship.

Both Reed and McIlroy hit errant drives at the opening hole but, while Reed dropped a shot, McIlroy saved his par.

They could have been level at the second when McIlroy hit a majestic second to four feet at the par five and Reed found the bunker.

But McIlroy missed his eagle chance and then missed the green at the third to drop a shot, while Reed rattled in a putt from the fringes of the green for a birdie to regain his three-shot advantage.

Another imperious iron shot from McIlroy to three feet set up a birdie at the par three fourth but he missed another short putt at the next to fall three shots back again.

Twice Reed followed bogeys with birdies as he combated the challenge of the world number seven.

However, there were challenges coming from further down the leaderboard.