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:
Masters 2023: Rahm bogeys 13 after three putt
Rahm hits his putt up the hill and six feet past the hole, and he will face a bone-trembling putt back down the slope for par. Koepka is closer and he rolls his birdie putt up and around to the back door, and taps in for his par. Bennett bogeys, three-putting from a similar spot to Rahm. Now, will this be Rahm’s first mistake of this Easter Sunday? It is, the ball touching the lip and staying out. A bogey, and Rahm slips back to 10 under par.
-12 Koepka (13)
-10 Rahm (13)
-7 Hovland (14)
-6 Cantlay [68]
-5 Bennett (a) (13), Henley (16) Matsuyama (17)
Masters 2023
A misjudgement by Rahm, undercooking his pitch into the 13th green to leave himself a long uphill putt for birdie, though Koepka doesn’t take full advantage of the opening and both will have work to do.
Masters 2023
Rahm’s drive is a little straight on the par-five 13 but safe enough, and he opts to lay up down the right side - the route to the green in two has been made much trickier by the wet conditions and the lack of distance on the tee shot compared to round one. Koepka follows a similar route and they will have similar pitches next.
Masters 2023: Koepka bogeys the par-three 12th
Koepka doesn’t quite hit his putt and it pulls up short! That’s a bogey. Rahm taps in, as does Bennett, and an overnight lead of four strokes has been reduced to one in 90 minutes.
-12 Koepka (12)
-11 Rahm (12)
-6 Cantlay (17), Bennett (a) (12), Hovland (13)
-5 Matsuyama (16)
Masters 2023
A mistake by Koepka, who may be regretting his choice of putter as he watches his ball fly eight feet past the flag. Unpeturbed by his rival, Rahm putts too from off the green but his is well judged, and he should turn that into a par. Could the gap be about to reduce to just one stroke?
Masters 2023
Rahm, Koepka and Bennett cross the Hogan Bridge to the 12th green and all three will be satisfied with their teeshots. Bennett went closest and left himself a good birdie chance, while Rahm was left smiling after missing the green and getting a lucky break with his ball bouncing back towards the flag. Koepka faces a long putt from the fringe.
Masters 2023
Rahm, Bennett and Koepka all put away pars at 11, while Cantlay bogeys 17 to slip back to -6.
13 Koepka (11)
-11 Rahm (11)
-6 Cantlay (17)
-6 Bennett (a) (11)
-5 Matsuyama (15), Hovland (12)
Masters 2023
Rahm flirts with the water beside the 11th green after slightly overdrawing his approach, but it bounces safely on the fringe. Koepka takes a better line but comes up just short of the green.
Masters 2023
Viktor Hovland misses the green on 12, then chips in for birdie to move back to five under par. Jason Day putts in nicely too, and he’s back to -4.
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