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:
Out on the course
Theegala -1 (1), Hatton +1 (2*) *denotes 10th tee start
We still have over 90 minutes till the leaders are back out but play has resumed for some down the leaderboard. Sahith Theegala, who is competing in his first Masters, rolls one in on the first to move into the red.
Hatton has started on the tenth but he misses a short par putt and drops back to one onver par.
Koepka speaks to Sky Sports
“I’d like that putt on 17 back - just difficult with the conditions but overall it wasn’t bad. I feel I’m pretty in control of my game. I felt pretty good.
“Hopefully the sun comes out and even dries it up a little more - that would be nice. The greens - I saw 17 was getting a little dried out so hopefully a few of these greens can make it interesting.
“[I’ll] just keep doing what I’m doing. I’ve played good and it got me this far. Just got to rest up now and get back to it in a little bit.”
Rahm the chaser
Rahm has not always been the frontrunner during his victories. In half of his 10 PGA Tour victories, Rahm entered the final round at least two shots behind the lead. Brooks Koepka is superb when leading from the front but if anyone can chase him down, it’s Rahm.
Round three recap
Brooks Koepka remained the man to catch as the 87th Masters got back on schedule without the presence of Tiger Woods at Augusta National.
Koepka completed a third round of 73 to finish 11 under par, two shots clear of playing partner Jon Rahm, who also returned a 73 in testing conditions.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland was three shots off the lead following an eventful 70, with Patrick Cantlay another stroke back.
Brooks Koepka leads the way heading into final round at the Masters
The American holds a two-shot lead over Jon Rahm after the third round
Rahm speaks to Sky Sports
“To win would obviously mean a lot. It would be a true honour to join the Spaniards but there is a lot to be done. I am just trying to reset before I go back out.
“I’d like to think Seve is up there watching. If anyone has enough charisma to have any influence it would be someone like him.”
Final round pairings
And they are here. Here are the key pairings for the final round:
7:05 pm BST - Collin Morikawa, Sam Bennett (a)
7:14 pm BST - Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley
7:24 pm BST - Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay
7:33 pm BST Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm
Plenty of work for Koepka still to do
Koepka -11
He may lead by two but this year’s Masters is anything but a forgone conclusion - history shows us that. Less than half of the nine previous golfers who had a two-shot lead heading into the final round went on to win.
Final round pin positions
There are few things more certain in life than Sunday pins at The Masters. All the classics are in there and plenty to get at.
Round three leaderboard
We mentioned the chasing pack, here’s how the leaderboard looks including some of those behind the top two.
-11 Koepa
-9 Rahm
-8 Hovland
-6 Cantlay
-5 Henley, Matsuyama
-4 Morikawa, Bennett (a)
-3 Schauffele, Lowry, Rose, Woodland, Day, Reed
Koepka leads by two
We’ll wait for the release of the tee times for when exactly the final pairings will go off but we do know it will be pairings and not three-balls like it was with round three. There will still be the use of split-tees so some of those down the leaderboard will start their rounds on ten to allow play to finish before the loss of light.
You would still have to fancy the winner to be one of Koepka or Rahm but it’s certainly closer than what many thought it might be. Koepka didn’t look at his best for most of that back nine and with the wind picking up, conditions will stay difficult and that may help Rahm and the rest of the chasing back.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments