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:
Hovland in early trouble
Hovland -8, Patrick Cantlay -6
The penultimate pair tee off but Hovland stikes his drives way left into the patrons. Not the best start for the currently third-placed Norwegian. Cantlay finds the fairway with his drive but he doesn’t get it all the way up with his second and he’ll have an up and down for his par.
Opening bogey for Matsuyama
Matsuyama -4 (1), Henley -5 (1)
Hideki can’t get up and down from the front of the green and he drops one on the first. Henley lags his putt up and makes a par.
Lowry into the top five
Lowry -5 (2), Rose -4 (2)
Some beautiful displays of short-game magic from these two. Lowry is short and left, Rose long and right - both use the slopes on this second beautifully to create birdie chances....and both take them! Lovely stuff from the pair.
Fourth birdie for Theegala
Theegala -4 (8)
The flags on the pins are bowing gently in this wind but there are clearly scores to be had out there. Theegala’s eagle effort ends up short but he’s able to make the birdie putt to move into the congested pack at four under par.
Tidy work from Bennett
Morikawa -4 (1), Bennett (a) -4 (1)
The amateur’s second shot misses the green to the right but it’s a beautiful touch from off the green to ensure his par. Morikawa ends up short of the green and nearly makes birdie but his chip lips out of the hole and he has to settle for par.
Day makes birdie four
Woodland -4 (2), Day -4 (2)
There’s a congested bunch of eight golfers at four under par and Jason Day is the latest to reach that mark as he converts his birdie chance on the par-five second.
Matsuyama off the first
Matsuyama -5, Henley -5
2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is off now as we near the final pairings. He and Henley both find the fairway with their tee shots.
Scheffler moving up
Scheffler -3 (2)
It feels unusual that we have hardly mentioned the world number-one player these past couple of days. It’s unlikely he’ll defend his title but a nice birdie at the par-five second moves him just outside the top ten.
Morikawa and Bennett underway
Collin Morikawa -4, Sam Bennett (a) -4
We’re slowly getting toward h the players at the top of the leaderboard now. Morikawa and Bennett are the latest to tee off but neither manage to find the fairway - Bennett is behind the bunker on the right rough while Collin is in the pine straw up the left.
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