I started with “first Basque” and then moved to “fourth Iberian,” before finally settling on the flag that most associate with Jon Rahm, supremely accurate or not. Now that geo-political elements are out of the way, it’s time to talk about the winner of the 2023 Masters tournament. You remember him: the guy who began Thursday with a double-bogey six, the way all champions like to begin a tournament.
Thursday was a normal round of golf, beyond everyone’s expectations. Rahm overcame the aforementioned, four-putt first green immediately, with birdies at the second and third holes. It reminded long-time followers of the manner in which Tiger Woods redeemed a first-nine holes of 40 with a second-nine of 30 in 1997, on the way to his first title. Rahm continued to play marvelous golf to the final hole, adding five birdies, and an eagle at the eighth. His 65 was tied with two other golfers for the top spot on the board. Even with him was the fellow who would spend an extraordinary amount of time at his side for the weekend, Brooks Koepka.
Friday saw the arrival of the rains, and the extraordinary fortune gifted to the PM/AM wave of golfers. Those who played early on day two, were able to complete the majority, if not all, of their round of golf. The AM/PM half of the field was extended to noon on Saturday, when the cut was established at three-over par. Koepka was one of the fortunate ones, and his second-round 67 brought him to twelve under par, and what appeared to be a massive lead. Masters winners will admit that if a halfway leader can add rounds of 70-70 to his total, he will earn a championship.
Rahm completed his second round on Saturday morning, and was able to overcome two bogies with five birdies. His 69 kept him within sight of Koepka, who was physically healthy for the first time in five years, and prepared to challenge for a fifth major title. Gone for the weekend were familiar names like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and former champions Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia, and Mike Weir. Tiger Woods made the cut on the number, but the hills, rain, and cool temperatures proved to be too much for the five-time champion, and he withdrew during the third round.
Saturday will forever be remembered for the toppling of three trees adjacent to the 17th tee at Augusta National. By grace, no one was injured, but the competition was again postponed. Golfers near the top of the leader board would play 25 holes on Sunday, and their endurance and mental fortitude would be examined to the greatest degree. Play was in threesomes for a third consecutive round, to guarantee that the leaders would be able to begin play a bit after two pm.
JON RAHM: I thought it was good. It’s not easy. Cold and windy, wet. Not the easiest. Obviously I started really good making those putts on 7, 8, 9 and the par putt on 10, and after that just couldn’t quite get it going. I wasn’t making bad swings, just a couple of bad wind gusts at the wrong time and ended up seeing myself in tough positions. But feeling good, playing good, swinging well, so hopefully can keep it going.
… with the wind we’re going to have today, the main thing is staying committed to whatever shot you pick. Have a clear picture and commit to it. It’s always going to be better to maybe have the lower percentage shot but commit to it than the higher percentage not and not committed. Should be a fun afternoon.
Koepka and Rahm each signed for a one-over round of 73, ensuring that they would again be paired in the final twosome. Birdies were at a premium during the third 18, with only three scores below 70 turned in among the 53 golfers who completed play. Viktor Hovland, the third golfer to shoot 65 on Thursday, remained in the chase until the final round, when a first-nine score of 39 pushed him away from the leaders. As Sunday drew to a close, a familiar name shot up the board, at the age of 52.
Phil Mickelson thrilled the golf world in 2021, when he defeated Koepka down the stretch to claim a second PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. Two years later, the lefthander turned in a round for the ages and the ageless, as he close with 65 at the Masters. Mickelson posted three birdies against one bogey on the first nine, but the three-time Masters winner turned electric on the second nine. Five birdies coming home brought him a 31 and moved him to eight-under par on the week. When he finished, Rahm and Koepka had just entered Amen Corner, where dreams may delight or dash in one swing. Phil Mickelson had to like his chances, knowing Augusta’s history.
JON RAHM: I thought 8 was a key birdie. I didn’t expect that bogey on 9. That was a couple of good swings I didn’t expect.
I had to get through Amen Corner even par. That’s what I was looking at. Obviously Phil and Jordan were making birdies and finishing strong, and they were finishing their round as we were finishing 10. Making sure I didn’t put myself in a difficult spot on 10, 11, 12 was the key, and then 13 with that right-to-left wind is when I could turn a little bit and get in the attack, and that’s what I did.
The gap between the leaders had evaporated, as Koepka played his first nine holes in plus-three figures. Rahm turned to the second nine in minus one, and for all the world, it looked like a two-man competition until Mickelson entered the picture. Brooks Koepka played through Amen Corner in even par figures, posting par at eleven, bogey at twelve, birdie at the newly-elongated thirteenth hole. He would not make another par until the 18th hole, recalling precisely what makes him an exciting golfer to follow.
It was Rahm who gave notice that he had what a Masters champion possesses. His two-putt par from forty feet distant at twelve advanced him three in front of Koepka, and his birdie at thirteen kept him there. At fourteen, the hole known as Chinese Fir, Rahm won the tournament. His drive was played up the right side, into the first cut. With a tree limb forcing a low play, Rahm hit a punch-cut to the perfect point on the putting surface, The ball turned right and eased its way within four feet of the hole. As close as his approach was, Rahm’s putt for birdie tried to say out. It moved right to left with enthusiasm, but caught enough open air to allow gravity to complete its work. The birdie moved Rahm to 12-under par. Koepka’s second bogey in three holes dropped him to third place, at seven-under par.
Brooks Koepka would not go quietly into the evening, however. He notched birdies at 15 and 16, regaining two lost shots and moving to within three strokes of Rahm, with two holes to play. At the 17th tee, Koepka’s patented fade did not materialize, and he found himself amid trees. He not only failed pick up a needed birdie, but lost another stroke to par, dropping back to minus eight. Rahm would start the 18th hole with a four-shot advantage and, for a moment, it seemed that he would need each of the quadrilateral. His tee shot went hard left, but was thrown rightward by the trees, leaving him a long way home, with a clear path.
Rahm punched a long iron up the fairway, leaving a pitch to the green. With the touch of a surgeon, he lofted a wedge over sand, to within five feet of the hole. His putt for par fell four inches down, and the 2021 US Open champion was now halfway to a career grand slam. As the green jacket was draped over his shoulders by 2022 champion Scottie Scheffler, Rahm’s thoughts were not on the menu for the 2024 Champions’ Dinner. Instead, he summoned an event that transpired in 1983, forty years back, before Rahm was born. He recalled the triumph of the first Spanish Masters champion, Seve Ballesteros, and waved to the heavens, thanking his predecessor for guiding him home, to victory.
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
