The Masters 2023 LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Jon Rahm wins first green jacket
Rahm outduelled Brooks Koepka and honoured the late Seve Ballesteros to triumph in style at Augusta
Jon Rahm produced a nerveless Sunday performance to claim his first Masters green jacket in dominant but emotional style at Augusta National, in the perfect tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros.
Forty years after golfing icon Ballesteros claimed his second green jacket, and on what would have been his 66th birthday, Rahm became the fourth Spanish winner after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
“This one is for Seve,” Rahm said after winning his second major crown. “I knew he would be up there helping and help he did.”
The fourth and final round of a wild week at Augusta looked set to be a shootout between Rahm and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
But as the American faded in the fourth round, his Spanish foe relentlessly marched on, adding to his 2021 US Open crown by carding a 69 to end on 12-under. Rahm secured a four-shot triumph over Koepka and a rejuvenated Phil Mickelson, who shot a magical Sunday 65 at the age of 52 to end in a tie for second at eight-under.
Follow the reaction to the final round below:
Spieth into third
Spieth -6 (14), Mickelson -5 (14)
He couldn’t, could he? Jordan Spieth doing Jordan Spieth things on the back nine at Augusta. No birdie at the 13th but a stupendous iron into the 14th green and he makes a simple putt to move to six under par and tied for third. Mickelson makes par and remains at five under.
Rahm leads the Masters
Koepka -9 (6), Rahm -10 (6)
Koepka up first...his bogey putt misses on the right side. That’s two bogeys in three holes and no birdies so far today for the American.
Rahm steps up. ICE cold. Right into the heart of the cup and he now leads the Masters.
Trouble on six for Koepka
Koepka -10 (5), Rahm -10 (5)
There is now a four-stroke lead between the final pair and the rest of the chasing pack but they’re both in trouble off the tee on six.
Rahm’s shot doesn’t have enough distance and trickles down the slope but his chip gives him a good look at par. Koepka flies the green and ends up in a similar spot to where Hovland was moments ago...and it’s a poor chip from the American that just clings on to the top ridge.
A tough par putt coming up for Koepka.
Mickelson -5 (13), Spieth -5 (13)
The two Americans are feeding off each other but what a tournament this is turning out to be for the veteran American. It’s a vintage seven iron into the par-five and a two-putt gives him his second successive birdie and moves him into a tie for sixth.
Spieth’s second ends up in the back bunker and he can’t make birdie after his wedge out and settles for par.
Double bogey for Hovland
Hovland -6 (6), Cantlay -5 (6)
Could that be it for Viktor? He flies the green with his tee shot into the par-three sixth and his chip onto the green leaves him with work to do. Hovland races the first putt past and the return catches the left edge and lips out. Double-bogey six and he’s now back with the pack.
Cantlay hits a fine iron into the green and merely has to tap in for a birdie to get himself back to five under.
Woodland with a poor bogey
Woodland -6 (9)
Woodland was short of the green in two and he tries a cute chip aiming to use the slopes. It’s creative but only if it works...which it does not. It stays up on the ridge and Woodland makes a bogey.
No change after five
Koepka -10 (5), Rahm -10 (5)
Our leaders find the fairways and greens in regulation. Neither with a particularly good look at birdie but they’ll take a solid two-putt. Rahm shows Koepka how it is done with a lovely lag putt as he knocks in for par. Koepka tidies up as well and it’s on to the sixth.
Another great par save for Hovland
Hovland -8 (5), Cantlay -4 (5)
Hovland made a crucial birdie save on the first and he makes another huge one on the fifth to remain two off the lead.
Cantlay gets himself in trouble off the tee and in the end, it’s a nice up and down to limit the damage to a bogey. He moves back to four under.
Scheffler into sixth
Scheffler -5 (9)
What a different week this could have been for Scottie. Tee to green he has been superb but his putter has been ice cold. He’s three under for the front nine but, even then, he’s missed opportunities from close range. A birdie on the ninth moves him into a tie for sixth.
Birdie for Woodland, bogey for Henley
Woodland -7 (8), Henley -6 (5)
Woodland and Henley are fourth and fifth respectively but they’ve just switched places after their latest holes. Woodland shows great finesse around the green to set up a birdie four on the par-five eighth while Henley gets in all sorts of bother of the tee and, in the end, does well to escape with just a bogey.
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