Rahm Celebrates Seve’s Birthday Becoming Fourth Spaniard To Win The Masters

3 years ago by Comments Off on Rahm Celebrates Seve’s Birthday Becoming Fourth Spaniard To Win The Masters

Jon Rahm has emotionally celebrated the late Seve Ballesteros’ birthday, becoming the fourth Spanish-born winner of the Masters.

Rahm, 28, came from two shots behind American Brooks Koepka to draw level after just six final round holes and from thereon was never headed in posting a closing round of 69 to win by four shots at 12-under.

In an 87th hosting of the Masters dogged by rain delays, Rahm stroke proudly up the final hole in glorious Spring sunshine, also celebrating Easter Sunday with an emphatic maiden Masters victory.

Spaniard Jon Rahm No, 1 – Becoming the fourth Spaniard to win The Masters

“The history of the game is a big part of why I play golf and Seve is being one of them,” said Rahm.

“It was for my parents taking me to the Ryder Cup in ’97, and my dad and I talk about it all the time, as I would know where I would be.

“So for me to get it down on the anniversary of his win, the anniversary of his birthday and it being Easter Sunday.  It’s just incredible, and to finish it off in the way I did with an unusal par.  Very much a Seve par.  In a non-purposeful way it was testament to him.

“I know Seve was pulling for me today and he was great for me today”.

Among the first to greet Rahm, aside from his wife and children, was fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.

In being fitted with an Augusta National members jacket Rahm joins Ballesteros (1980 & 1983), Jose Maria Olazabal (1994 & 1999) and Sergio Garcia (2017) as Spanish-born winners of the Masters.

Rahm’s second major championship success also comes two months shy in capturing the 2021 US Open, and in winning the US Open/Masters victory double he now joins 17 players have won the Masters and the U.S. Open; two have done so in the last 10 years: Jordan Spieth (2015 Masters, 2015 U.S. Open) and Dustin Johnson (2016 U.S. Open, 2020 Masters).

Victory is Rahm’s sixth in his past 14 events since capturing the 2022 Spanish Open exactly six months to the day, while his Masters victory is a 20th victory toast of his pro career since his 2017 Farmers Insurance Open triumph at Torrey Pines.

Rahm also returns to World No. 1 while he pockets the biggest first pay cheque of his career, a whopping $US 3.4m from the Augusta record prize purse of $US 18m.

The final day’s play was somewhat rocked at 7am local time when five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods announced on-going issues with his heel had forced him to withdraw, rather than face walking 29 holes given he still had 11 holes of his third round to complete ahead of a closing 18.

It’s the first time Woods has ever withdrawn from the Masters and with concern now whether or not the 47-year-old may call it quits on his career.

Rahm and Koepka faced one more hole than Woods with the third round ending similar to round two with Koepka in front by two shots at 11-under to Rahm at nine-under, and each shooting 73s.

And while Rahm drew level with Koepka after six holes, following bogeys at four and six by Koepka, the turning point in their head-to-head, Ryder Cup Sunday Singles-like showdown, came at the par-5 13th.  At the time, Rahm was two shots clear of clubhouse leader Phil Mickelson.  The three-time Augusta champion ;efty rolled back the clock setting the clubhouse target with a 65 for an eight-under tally, and in the process became, at age 52, the first 50-years plus Masters competitor to shoot seven-under.

After Koepka holed a great birdie putt at 13, and his first for the round, moments before Rahm stepped-up to also birdie the hole and in the process break three shots clear of this rivals, and that was soon four clear when he birdied the 14th at 12-under par.

It was a simply matter of how many shots Rahm would win by how many.

In fairness to Koepka he birdied both 15 and 16, overhauling Mickelson to move into second place at nine-under but gave the gain back in dropping a fifth shot of his round at the 17th on route to an eventual score of 76 for a share of second at eight-under with Mickelson.

Defending Masters champ Scottie Scheffler signed for a closing round of 71 to share 10th place at four-under.

 

 

 



Comments are closed.