With an unflappable performance at Augusta National, Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters on Sunday, earning his first green jacket and second major of his career.
After two days of bad weather, Rahm was crowned against a backdrop of clear skies and sunshine, moving ahead of Scottie Scheffler, the current Masters champion, to claim the top spot in the world rankings.
Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to wear the green jacket and the first golfer from Europe to win both The Masters and the US Open on the late Seve Ballesteros’ birthday.
He quickly eliminated Koepka’s two-shot lead, which he had carried into the final round before slipping to a discouraging three-over 75.
The most significant statistics are that Sam Bennett shot 76 to tie for 16th place, Jordan Spieth hit nine birdies in a final 66 to finish on seven-under, and Jordan Scheffler finished eight strokes behind Rahm.
The event avoided the first Monday finish at the major since 1983 thanks to brilliant blue skies that finally broke over Augusta National on Sunday after two days of poor weather and stop-start activity.
A few hours before play on Sunday resumed, Tiger Woods withdrew due to an injury. After both players shot one-over 72s in the third round, Rahm closed the gap on Koepka to two strokes as the two players made their last approach to the first tee.
At the third hole, when Rahm scored his first birdie of the day, Koepka made bogeys.
Koepka was fading, losing two more strokes by the 12th hole while Rahm raced, tapping in for a birdie at the eighth to pull two ahead.
Koepka’s slip propelled Mickelson into a solo second place after Mickelson and Spieth abandoned their charges too late to claim the championship.
Reed and Henley were out of time to make a challenge when Rahm calmly rolled home for a birdie at the 13th hole.
Rahm briefly feared the worst when his tee shot sailed towards the trees, but the ball rebounded back onto the fairway.
