America's Bubba Watson has won the 76th Masters after a dramatic playoff win over South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen at the Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia.

Both players finished on 10-under-par to force the sudden-death contest.

The American's challenge was based around five consecutive birdies on the back nine which put him on 10-under going into the final hole.

Meanwhile, Oosthuizen got off to an audacious start on the front nine when he hit an albatross on the par-five second to put him on 10-under. He dropped a shot on four and 10, but saved shots on 13 and 15 got him back to 10-under going into the 18th with Watson.

Both players managed to keep their nerve and save par on the last hole to force the playoff.

Elsewhere, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Peter Hanson all felt short despite valiant charges for the top of the leaderboard. The trio were joined by Matt Kuchar on eight-under as Oosthuizen and Watson emerged as the contenders for the green jacket.

As both players went to the par-four 18th for their first playoff hole, Oosthuizen gave Watson a chance to win it when he rolled his put marginally wide of the pin before making par. Watson went for the birdie, but he overcooked his shot on the way to par.

The pair both hit wayward tee shots on the 10th, but it was Watson who recovered better as he bent the ball around the pines and onto the green with what was one of the most spectacular shots of the day.

Oosthuizen then bogeyed the hole to give Watson two shots to win the competition. After missing his first attempt, the American made no mistake with the second as he made par to earn the coveted green jacket.

Final Leaderboard:

-10 Watson, Oosthuizen (Watson wins playoff)
-8 Mickelson, Kuchar, Westwood, Hanson
-5 Poulter
-4 Scott, Rose, Harrington