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:
Nice start for Lowry
Lowry -4 (1), Rose -3 (1)
There are birdies to be made at this first and plenty are taking advantage. Lowry is the next to do so as he taps in following a delightful approach into the first green. Rose’s effort somehow misses on the left side and he makes par.
Back-to-back birdies for Young
Young -4 (2), Niemann -3 (2)
Cam Young has flattered to deceive since his hugely impressive first round on Thursday. He’s started well in this fourth round with birdies on one and two, however. His playing partner, LIV Golf’s Niemann, also birdies the first to move up to three under.
Monster putt on the first for Woodland
Woodland -4 (1), Day -3 (1)
Gary Woodland is underway with Jason Day and the former US Open champion starts in topsy-turvy fashion. His drive ends up in the pine straw and he chases one up to the green. 46 feet for birdie? No problem - what a putt down the slope! He moves to four under - Day remains at -3 with a par.
Plenty for amateur Bennett to play for
7:05 pm BST - Collin Morikawa (-4), Sam Bennett (a) (-4)
Amateur Sam Bennett has been one of the stories of this week. The US Amateur champion played the first two rounds alongside Max Homa and defending champion Scottie Scheffler. Consecutive rounds of 68 left him at eight under after two rounds. He’s dropped back to -4 after the third but there’s still plenty for him to play for - he’s tied for 7th and will earn an invite back for next year with a 12th-place finish or better.
He tees off with Collin Morikawa in 15 minutes.
Tough start for Fleetwood
Fleetwood +4 (3*) *denotes 10th tee start
Tommy is someone whose game you would fancy to do well around Augusta. He made the cut under par but his final round has not started well. Three bogeys on his opening three holes and he drops back to four over par.
More birdies for Spieth and Theegala
Spieth -3 (2), Theegala -3 (4)
Could this be a sign of what’s to come? Still early days but these two are showing that there are birdies to be made out there right now. Theegala hits a dart into the par-three fourth - it flies the bunker and rolls back to five feet and he converts.
Spieth makes the most of the par-five second and taps in for a birdie after his eagle putt rolls past the hole
English and Irish interest
6:46 pm BST: Justin Rose (-3), Shane Lowry (-3)
Rose and Lowry are both tied for ninth but sit a distant eight shots back from the lead. They represent England and Ireland’s best hopes today but it would take something quite spectacular for either of them to finish atop the leaderboard by the end of the day.
The pair get underway in about 25 minutes.
Early birdie for Spieth
Spieth -2 (1)
Spieth’s third round played him out of contention but he’s started the fourth round in true Spieth style. His drive just misses the fairway but it’s a sumptuous iron into the green that bounces, checks and spins back to three feet. A tap-in birdie and up to two under for the American.
Back-to-back birdies for Theegala
Theegala -2 (2)
Sahith is making moves early in his final round. He’s in the bunker after his tee shot but it’s a delightful chip that flies all the way back to this pin on the par-five second. He makes the short putt for birdie and is up to two under.
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