Sir Alex Ferguson tells Danny Willett his Masters victory cost him £8,000 because he'd bet on Jordan Spieth at Augusta 

Sir Alex Ferguson had wagered £8,000 on Jordan Spieth to win the Masters - but was happy to lose the money after Danny Willett claimed the green jacket.

The legendary Manchester United manager was at Augusta and offered his warm congratulations to the new champion after revealing the lost bet.

Ferguson watched all four days of the Masters and was on hand to meet Willett - a Liverpool fan - following his stunning victory on Sunday night.

Legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed to Masters champion Danny Willett he bet £8,000 on Jordan Spieth to win the Augusta Major

The revelation caused Willett, a Liverpool supporter, to laugh and apologise 

But Ferguson was happy to lose the bet as Willett had become the first British winner at Augusta since Sir Nick Faldo back in 1996

Ferguson and Willett met at one of the events after Sunday's final round at Augusta

Willett rebuked Ferguson, saying 'You need to know where to put your money!' 

But the Scot was warm in his congratulations of the new Masters champion following a thrilling finish

As the pair shook hands, Ferguson said: 'I had £8,000 on Spieth!' prompting Willett to jokingly apologise.

But the Scot then adds: 'I'm so delighted. I'm so delighted honestly. Happy to throw it away.'

Willett then replies: 'You need to know where to put your money!'

Ferguson's bet was looking a shrewd one as American Spieth, the defending champion, sat top of the leaderboard midway through the final round.

But bogies at the 10th and 11th, followed by an agonising seven at the par-three 12th, saw the Texan's round disintegrate as his five-shot lead evaporated.

Danny Willett acknowledges the crowd after winning the Masters thanks to a stunning final round

Jordan Spieth, the defending champion, helps Willett into his green jacket following his win

WILLETT'S FINAL ROUND SCORECARD

It allowed Willett, the 28-year-old from Sheffield, to storm to the top of the leaderboard and win by three shots, becoming the first British golfer to wear the green jacket since Sir Nick Faldo in 1996.

However, despite seeing his £8,000 stake disappear down the drain, Ferguson was clearly delighted for Willett, with the moment picked up by the BBC cameras. 

Speaking later on, Ferguson spoke of the moment when Willett would have realised he could claim the title.

He said: 'The excitement today; I was at the 15th when there was a rumble and the scoreboard went up and Spieth's [lead went from] five to one and the excitement was unbelievable.

'I looked at Danny Willett, who was on the 16th tee, and he went to the toilet - unbelievable. It was a fantastic moment because he has his own thoughts and at that very moment he goes to the toilet and he is on his own. What was he thinking about?' 

Willett tees off on the 18th and final hole at Augusta as he closes in on victory

Since retirement, Ferguson has taken the opportunity to watch sporting events around the world and even gave a pep talk to the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles in 2014.

He added: 'Taking away the football side, because my excitement of winning European Cups and all the rest, it's my industry.

'If you can experience something like that in a golf situation, the Ryder Cup or tonight, they are special moments, you can't beat that.

'I'm very fortunate in my life to be able to retire and go and see that. If I had been manager of Man United, I wouldn't have been here.

'If I had been manager of Man United, I wouldn't have been at the Ryder Cup. Simply because my job was more important.

'But I'm privileged, having retired and done this today, it's fantastic.'