Masters results 2014: Bubba Watson wins, Jordan Spieth, Jonas Blixt runners-up

For the second time in three years, Bubba Watson is the Masters champion. Watson began the final round tied for the lead with Jordan Spieth, but outdueled the 20-year old, finishing at 8-under and winning by three strokes.

Like he did during the first two rounds, Watson played extremely well and seemed to hit the big shots and make the big putts when he needed to. He made his big charge on the front nine, carding four birdies on his final six holes before making the turn. A birdie at No. 13 just about sealed the tournament. Spieth had a golden opportunity to cut into the lead at the 15th, but missed his birdie try. Watson continued his steady play coming in and took the drama out with five straight pars to win the tournament.

Early on it appeared everything was going to go Spieth's way. He made a birdie at No. 2, then hit the shot of his round at No. 4. Spieth's tee shot into the very difficult par-3 fourth hole found a bunker. Getting up and down with a difficult Sunday pin would be a challenge. Spieth did even better than that par, holing out from the bunker for the improbable birdie.

The tournament took a major swing at the eighth hole. Spieth was standing over his third shot on the par-5 at 8-under, leading by two strokes. He hit a poor chip, which eventually led to a three-putt bogey. While Spieth dropped a shot, Watson picked one up with a birdie at No. 8. There was another two-shot swing at No. 9 with Spieth carding a second-straight bogey and Watson closing the front nine with another birdie. Just like that in two holes, and in the span of about 20 minutes, Spieth went from leading Watson by two to trailing Watson by two.

At Augusta National, the difference between a great shot and a bad one can be a matter of inches. Spieth found out the hard way on No. 12 when his tee shot landed about a yard short of being great, but instead caught the front slope and rolled back into the water. Spieth went on to salvage a bogey, but the dropped shot put him two behind Watson with six to play.

Watson solidified his grip on the top of the leaderboard on the next hole when, after a monster drive, he hit a wedge into the par-5 and two-putted for a birdie to move to 8-under. Spieth's drive found the pine straw but he was in good position after punching out and hitting a good approach. His birdie try just ran out of pace and he tapped in for par. Spieth likely needed a birdie or better at No. 15 to even have a chance. His second shot into the par-5 went too far to the right, eliminating any chance at an eagle. Leading by three, Watson could have chosen to lay up, but in typical Bubba fashion, he took a chance, hitting a stinger through the trees and to the back of the green. He left the door open with a relatively poor chip, but once again Spieth was unable to capitalize. For the second time in a few holes, his birdie putt burned the edge, forcing him to settle for par.

The Masters

Bubba Watson walks off No. 18 after winning the Masters. (Harry How/Getty Images)

• Watson joins golf lore as 2-time winner
• Watch Watson don green jacket
• Full results: Spieth, Blixt runners-up
• Payouts: Winning share $1.62 million
• Why some were rooting against Bubba
• More from Sunday’s final round

With a three-stroke lead and just three holes to play, Watson only needed to avoid a meltdown to win his second green jacket. He did just that and is now a two-time Masters champion.

More than a dozen players began the final round within five strokes of the lead, but the rest of the field struggled to mount a charge. Matt Kuchar started strong with two early birdies, but quickly gave those strokes back with a four-putt double bogey at No. 4. He hung around at 4-under for much of the day, unable to make up enough ground to threaten. He finished at 2-under. Rickie Fowler began the day at 3-under, and made the turn at even par. A pair of early bogeys on the back nine took him out of contention. Jonas Blixt's scorecard was loaded with pars, but a pair of birdies was good enough to shoot a 71 and finish tied for second at 5-under.