The Masters 2023 LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Jon Rahm wins first green jacket
Rahm outduelled Brooks Koepka and honoured the late Seve Ballesteros to triumph in style at Augusta
Jon Rahm produced a nerveless Sunday performance to claim his first Masters green jacket in dominant but emotional style at Augusta National, in the perfect tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros.
Forty years after golfing icon Ballesteros claimed his second green jacket, and on what would have been his 66th birthday, Rahm became the fourth Spanish winner after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
“This one is for Seve,” Rahm said after winning his second major crown. “I knew he would be up there helping and help he did.”
The fourth and final round of a wild week at Augusta looked set to be a shootout between Rahm and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.
But as the American faded in the fourth round, his Spanish foe relentlessly marched on, adding to his 2021 US Open crown by carding a 69 to end on 12-under. Rahm secured a four-shot triumph over Koepka and a rejuvenated Phil Mickelson, who shot a magical Sunday 65 at the age of 52 to end in a tie for second at eight-under.
Follow the reaction to the final round below:
Next up on the PGA Tour...
It’s been a fine PGA Tour season so far and the action is set to continue with just over a month until the next major. After the RBC Heritage this week are stops in New Orleans, Mexico, North Carolina and Texas, before the USPGA Championship is held at Oak Hill in upstate New York from 18-21 May.
How much does Jon Rahm earn for Masters win?
Our 2023 Masters champion takes a cool $3,240,000 (£2,606,094) away from Augusta after securing victory. Handy.
Here’s a full prize money breakdown for the top ten:
Total purse: $18 million
1st: $3,240,000 -- Jon Rahm
2nd: $1,944,000 -- Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka ($1.594 million each)
3rd: $1,224,000
4th: $864,000 -- Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Russell Henley ($744,000 each)
5th: $720,000
6th: $648,000
7th: $603,000 -- Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland ($580,500 each)
8th: $558,000
9th: $522,000 -- Sahith Theegala
10th: $486,000 -- Scottie Scheffler, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa ($432,000 each)
Spain draws level with the United Kingdom on six Masters wins
Depending on how you group Masters wins, Rahm may have made a little more Spanish history than he might first have realised. His means the green jacket has been put on Spanish shoulders for a sixth time, drawing the nation level with the United Kingdom for Masters titles as the second most successful country in Masters history - though Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam may prefer their titles are attributed to Scotland and Wales respectively.
In that case, Spain now have second place outright, one ahead of South Africa.
Watch Jon Rahm seal Masters victory
It must be a wonderful feeling - within a few feet of the hole, with several strokes in hand, knowing a green jacket is yours. He could have taken several putts, but Jon Rahm needed only one.
Rory McIlroy and the Masters cut no one saw coming
Among the many Masters losers licking their wounds this Monday morning is Rory McIlroy, who came in with great expectations that this, finally, would be his year. McIlroy is likely to be back on the fairways later this week at the RBC Heritage, held about three hours to the southeast of Augusta.
Jamie Braidwood on the weekend that wasn’t for the Northern Irishman:
Rory McIlroy and the Masters cut no one saw coming
McIlroy is set to miss the Masters cut after a torrid round of 77 at Augusta
Masters TV coverage in the spotlight as outdated model criticised
Of course, few were able to watch every moment of this year’s Masters as limited television coverage was again criticised. Augusta National has never been afraid to do things differently, and the total, all-round package available to consumers via the Masters app is outstanding, but in this era of comprehensive coverage it does feel anachronistic to not be able to watch every shot on TV.
Jack Rathborn wonders if tradition has gone too far...
Masters TV debacle leaves fans disgruntled - has tradition gone too far?
Augusta National has been hit with a sustained downfall throughout Saturday
Phil Mickelson finds unexpected form
Who saw that final round 65 coming from Phil Mickelson? The leftie had shown precious few signs of top form on the LIV Series since his controversial defection to the Saudi-backed breakaway tour, but looked in superb touch as he and Jordan Spieth charged up the leaderboard on Sunday. Mickelson’s Augusta knowhow cannot be doubted, but it certainly felt like the big stage brought the best out of the 52-year-old, who has toiled on the course over the last 18 months after so much focus on his comments away from the game.
Brooks Koepka says it is ‘tough to see the positives’ after final round disappointment
The final margin of victory was larger than anticipated at Augusta, with Jon Rahm holding his nerve as Brooks Koepka lost his way on Sunday. It was an out-of-character collapse from the four-time major winner, normally so steady when in position to win, and the runner-up admitted he was struggling to take the positives.
“Give it a week, and I’ll start to see some positives out of it and carry this over to the PGA (Championship), the U.S. Open and The (British) Open,” Koepka said. “But right now, it’s kind of tough to see, if I’m honest, probably for the next few hours and the next few days.
“I think I proved [I can still contend] this week, no? I’ve known this for a while, but I guess it was just a matter of going out and doing it. I led for three rounds, and just didn’t do it on the last day, that’s it. Plain and simple.”
Brooks Koepka hits out at ‘brutally slow’ Masters rival
Yes, Rahm’s triumph is rightly dominating the headlines today after sealing a fitting, richly deserved first Augusta victory. But one of the other stories of a final round that at times seemed to progress at glacial pace was the speed of play of a number of competitors, with Patrick Cantlay particularly in the firing line.
Brooks Koepka has hit out at his fellow American...
Brooks Koepka aims thinly veiled attack at ‘brutally slow’ Masters rival
American kept waiting for another major triumph as Jon Rahm comes from behind
Until next time
With the green jacket officially handed over to Jon Rahm, that ends The Masters for another year. Despite the wind and the rain, we were given a fantastic tournament which culminated in the crowning of a more than worthy champion.
Thank you all for tuning in - see you next time!
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