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:
Rahm lays up on the last
Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)
Rahm’s ball came back so far off the tree that he didn’t even reach the fairway. This hole essentially becomes a par five for him now but he flights a gem of a wedge into the last green - it flies the bunker, takes two hops and stops on a dime. He’ll have a very makeable putt to seal the deal and win his second major.
Koepka finds the green in two with a look for birdie.
Up ahead on 18
Hovland -6 (74), Cantlay -3 (75)
The penultimate pairing knock in their par putts to sign off their rounds. It was always going to be a tough ask for Cantlay starting at six under but Hovland may well look back at this as another missed opportunity given where he was at the start of the day.
Rahm in trouble off the tee
Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)
The Spaniard double-crosses himself and the ball heads way right off the driver. It smashes off a tree and bounces way back into play. That will be a long second shot for Rahm. Koepka’s drive goes straight down the middle - oh, how he would have wished for these kinds of results off the tee earlier in the day.
Henley finishes off
Matsuyama -2 (75), Henley -7 (70)
It’s a nice par to finish for Russell Henley. A very tidy two-under round and he sits in a tie for fourth as things stand.
Matsuyama bogeys the last and finishes on two under par for the tournament.
Koepka bogeys 17, Rahm leads by four.
Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)
Koepka’s drive goes way left and his second can only be hacked up to beyond the green on the left. The American can’t get up and down and it’s another shot given back to the course and his third bogey on this back nine.
Rahm, as he has been all day, is steady - finding the green in regulation. It’s a nervy first putt but his second just catches enough of the hole and drops in. There’s the first sign of emotion for Rahm with a big fist pump. He knows that was important.
The Spaniard now goes up the last with a four-shot lead.
Birdie for Hovland
Hovland -6 (17), Cantlay -3 (17)
It’s not been his day today but Hovland pours in a birdie effort from 34 feet to move back to six under par and into a tie for seventh. Cantlay makes par to remain at three under par.
Amateur Bennett rounds off superb week
Morikawa -4 (72), Bennett (a) -2 (74)
Bennett finds himself just off the green at the last but begins to make the hallowed walk with the sun setting upon him. The patrons stand and applaud everything that this fine young amateur has achieved this week and a smile breaks out across the golfer’s face - you suspect this will all take some time to sink in.
He can’t get up and down so it’s a bogey to finish but, regardless, it’s still a fantastic week for the US Amateur champion who ends on two under par.
Morikawa knocks in for his par putt and ends his week with a steady even-par round.
Rahm’s lead cut to three
Koepka -9 (16), Rahm -12 (16)
Koepka goes first and that’s right into the heart of the cup - he couldn’t, could he? Back-to-back birdies for Brooks now. Rahm’s putt is a tricky customer down the slope and it ends up just short. He taps in for a par and heads to the 17th tee.
Safely aboard the 16th green for Rahm
Koepka -8 (15), Rahm -12 (15)
Koepka goes first on the 16th and finds the back of the green. Rahm takes an aggressive line and it lands pin high. It feeds down the hill and he’ll have a 12-foot putt for another birdie.
More misery for Cantlay
Hovland -5 (16), Cantlay -3 (16)
Cantlay’s tee shot into the 16th is not enough and he’s got a lot of work to do for his par. His first putt comes up well short and it’s a three-putt in the end for the American. Six bogeys for the day and three over for the day - you suspect he just fancies getting in and putting his legs up now.
Hovland saves par to remain at five under par.
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