Jon Rahm is the new Augusta Masters champion and already has the coveted green jacket

Jon Rahm did an incredible two for one yesterday at the Augustan Masters. Not only did he get his first grand champion’s green jacket of the season, but he also regained the No. 1 in men’s golf. It was all the fruit of a spectacular last day that ended with 12 shots under par. The Spaniard, who adds his 11th PGA title and his second Grand Slam title, had started the day four strokes clear but, after a marathon 30-hole course, finished crowned with a four stroke lead over local Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

Rahm is the fourth Spaniard to win this emblematic tournament since Sergio García, José María Olazábal and the late Severiano Ballesteroshis great childhood idol, born on April 9th.

Completing his last hole and securing his most coveted title, Rahm covered his face with his hands in excitement and rolled his eyes as thousands of fans cheered. Augusta National Golf Club. This triumph brings him back to the top of the world ranking, which he had lost on March 12 to the American Scottie Scheffler, who finished 10th in this tournament which he won in 2022.

Rahm, who had already been the first Spaniard to win the US Open in 2021, has written another page of history in one of the most demanding editions of recent years.

The 28-year-old from Barrika withstood the storms that hit the Augusta National Golf Club and even felled several trees, causing Friday and Saturday to be suspended. Early yesterday, Rahm was four strokes behind then leader Koepka, when both were yet to play 12 holes in the third round and 18 in the latter.

Rahmbo, who had won half of his 10 trophies by coming from behind at least two pitches on the deciding day, got to work and cut half the lead by completing the third lap, making use of the speed on the wet course. After a couple of hours of rest, the Spaniard and the American picked up the pace playing together in the last group. Rahm was quick to pressure with two birdies and Koepka went down with three bogeys on the front nine.S. With his comfortable edge, Rahm had the luxury of enjoying a second half of the course where he was honored on every hole by spectators.

The Spaniard is a much loved player in the United States, where he moved a decade ago when he won a scholarship to train and compete at the prestigious Arizona State University. There he also met his wife, Kelley Cahillcollege athlete, to whom he proposed in 2018 on golf course, Torrey Pines, where in 2021 he lifted his first Grand Slam trophy at the US Open.

Several figures have tried to catch up with Rahm. Among them was the American Phil Mickelsonthree-time winner in Augusta, who shared second place with Koepka at 52 with a cumulative -8 and a fabulous final round with eight birdies and a bogey.

Both Mickelson and Koepka, who has been pursuing a fifth Grand Slam title since 2019, they remained without obtaining a victory which would have been very symbolic for the bitter struggle between the new LIV Golf circuit, to which they both belong, and the traditional PGA.

Sunday began with an injury that forced Tiger Woods to retire for the first time in a Masters, a tournament he won five times. “I am disappointed to have to withdraw this morning due to a new aggravation of my plantar fasciitis,” he said. Due to the same injury, Woods was unable to participate in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in November. The 47-year-old Californian competes with physical limitations and pain in his right leg due to his car accident in 2021.

Tiger narrowly avoided elimination on Saturday and equaled his record of 23 consecutive Masters by clearing the qualifying cut. At the beginning of the third round, however, he collapsed and was in 54th place, last of the players still in the game, with a cumulative +9.

Source: agencies