JUSTIN Rose missed out on winning the US Masters in a play-off to Spain's Sergio Garcia at Augusta.

Both players started the final round as joint leaders on six under and after 18 holes in the final round they finished on nine under.

This forced the first all European play-off in Masters' history.

Rose teed off first on the 18th, pushing his drive right into the trees, while Garcia hit his drive down the fairway nearly 300 yards.

The Englishman for his second shot could only punch his ball onto the fairway and the Spaniard put his ball 12 feet from the hole.

Rose then fired to 15 feet from the flag, but then missed his par putt.

This gave Garcia two chances to win the Masters, and he did at the first attempt.

Rose said: "It is disappointing to come so close. I felt in control until the end.

"But I'm really happy for Sergio. I'd love to be wearing the Green Jacket but if it wasn't me then I'm glad it is him."

Earlier in the day, an intense battle between the two good friends took place, as the lead swapped hands between them.

Garcia started the better with birdies on the first and third and after Rose bogeyed the fifth, the Spaniard led by three shots.

The Englishman hit back with three straight birdies to tie things at the turn.

The former Robert May's School pupil then took the lead after the tenth increasing it to two shots on the next hole.

Rose then fired his tee shot on 13 into the trees. This forced him to take a one shot penalty after an unplayable lie, but he still managed to get down in par.

Garcia then pulled a shot back on the 14th with birdie and then struck an eagle on the following hole, while Rose collected a birdie which saw them tied with three holes to play.

The Englishman hit another birdie on the 16th and then bogeyed the 17th to leave them level with just the 18th to play.

Both players missed birdie putts on the last and so the title was decided by a play-off.