2023 The Masters Recap
Through 28 holes of golf on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club, Jon Rahm did what he had done so many times—namely at the 2021 U.S. Open and this year’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. He charged past the leader—Brooks Koepka in this instance—on his way to victory. This time, it was at The Masters for his fourth win of 2023 and the second major title of the 28-year-old’s career. Here’s 2023 The Master’s Recap.
After starting the day four shots behind Koepka, the LIV golfer’s lead sat at two strokes going into the final round. By the turn, Rahm led by two more due to Koepka going +3 in the front nine rather than Rahm’s -1 over that span. The Spaniard stayed clean on the back nine, birdieing 13 and 14 to go four shots ahead and never looking back, winning by that margin with a 3-under 69 for the day and 12-under 276 for the tournament.
“Hard to put it into words,” Rahm said. “Still really hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m looking at the scores, and I still think I have a couple more holes left to win. Can’t really say anything else. This one was for Seve [Ballesteros]. He was up there helping, and help he did.”
Rahm Cements Legacy With Sunday Comeback and Victory at The Masters
Jon Rahm becomes the first golfer born in Europe to win both a Masters and a U.S. Open. He’s the fourth Spaniard to win a green jacket, joining Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal, and Sergio Garcia.
What will make Rahm’s 2023 win here so legendary is that he started off the tournament with a double bogey after a four-putt on the first hole. Despite that, he was the co-leader at -7 after play wrapped up on Thursday.
“If you’re going to make a double or four-putt or anything,” said Rahm, “it might as well be the first hole.”
Koepka led the LIV Golf contingent that was a presence on the final leaderboard. After at least sharing the lead after all three rounds, his 3-over 75 on Sunday led to a runner-up finish at -8, missing out what would have been a fifth major title.
“Just some days you have it, some days you don’t, and today wasn’t one of those,” Koepka said. “I know if I’m healthy, I know I can compete. I feel good and expected to be there for the other three majors.”
After winning the PGA Championship in 2021, Phil Mickelson had not recorded a top-five finish on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf in the nearly two years since. But after powering to a 65 on Sunday—his best-ever final round at Augusta—that was punctuated by a birdie on 18, Mickelson ended up tied with Koepka for second place. Adding to his record of being the oldest major winner at 50, the 52-year-old is now the oldest player to record a top-five finish at the Masters.
Jordan Spieth also had an excellent final round, shooting a 66 that left him at -7 and a tie for fourth place with Patrick Reed and Russell Henley. Viktor Hovland and Cameron Young tied for seventh, and Sahith Theegala was ninth after holing out on 18 to save par.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished at 4-under par and tied for 10th with Matthew Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa.
Up Next
The PGA Tour heads just a bit north to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. Jordan Spieth is the defending champ after beating Patrick Cantlay in a playoff a year ago. Rahm, Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy—who missed the cut at Augusta—will be among the top-tier players in the event since the RBC Heritage is a Designated Event on the PGA Tour this year.
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