AUGUST | It was the battle that had been awaited for days and announced by the prophets. The clash between the PGA Tour’s big tenor and a star of the controversial LIV Golf Tour, which has rocked the sport for nearly a year. A fight that Jon Rahm won brilliantly to win the prestigious Masters tournament.
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The 28-year-old golfer celebrated a fifth Spanish victory on the fairways of Augusta National, 40 years after the great performance of the great Seve Ballesteros, who won his second jacket there.
In addition, Rahm realizes this dream on the day of the 66th birthday of one of his idols, who is considered one of the most talented that this sport has known. Ballesteros died of illness in May 2011.
Rahm is the fourth Spaniard to wear the coveted green jacket. He does so almost two years after his first major title at the United States Open in Torrey Pines. No other European golfer has achieved such a feat.
Wave of feelings before the final blow
“It’s hard for me to put into words what I’m going through right now,” said the champion an hour after his final putt that made history for this prestigious club.
“Of course we all dream of it. We try to imagine that victory, hoping to feel that emotion.
“As I approached the 18th flag, I knew my ball was close. A wave of emotions rolled over me. I never thought I would cry when I won a golf tournament, but this time I was on the verge of shedding a tear.”
For Seve
Rahm replaced those tears by roaring at the sky instead after completing his mission. He then snapped up his just-two-year-old son, Kepa Cahill, who was born on the eve of the 2021 edition of the Masters. And he gave a long hug to José Maria Olaybal, the 1999 champion.
“These emotions came to me because this win has great meaning for me and for Spanish golf. This is the 10th major title for a Spaniard and I am the fourth to make it here for my second Grand Slam title. It’s incredible,” said the man, who was also celebrating his fourth win in a six-month-old season.
Rahm dedicated this especially to Ballesteros. “He was up there trying to help me and he helped me.”
However, his angel had to play his part, because the golfer only made one mistake under pressure. That bogey at the 9th flag that allowed his closest pursuers, Koepka, Spieth and Mickelson to keep hope alive.
“Those were difficult conditions. Returning to the clubhouse with such a lead is difficult to explain, said the 30-hole Sunday runner, who completed his third round in the morning.
“I am very proud of what I have achieved.”
From double bogey to victory
Let’s not forget that the third golfer in the world started the tournament with a bad grade. He had four putts on the first green Thursday and committed a double bogey there. A misstep that didn’t make him flinch as he still had 71 holes to recover.
He sailed through the waves trying to keep up with Koepka despite the inclement weather that disrupted the second and third laps.
As the clouds cleared yesterday morning and the sun finally came out, the Spaniard hit the accelerator with six birdies on his final 30 holes. He bet a third card of 73 (+1) and added a final total of 69 (-3) to finish with a cumulative record of -12.
‘Rahmbo’ defeated the ‘Big, Bad, Brooks’ who couldn’t have had a worse time tangling his shoelaces as he threaded six bogeys en route to a 75(+3) final map.
After losing his four priority shots he had at sunrise, Koepka resisted until the 6th pennant when Rahm passed him before taking off in full possession of his funds. Wilder, it just eclipsed it.
Quiet and comfortable
“I was calm and never frustrated because I never felt like I was losing control,” said the winner, who looked at the tables several times. I was nervous, of course, because there is tension.
“We’re walking on that tension,” added the one who beat his rivals by four shots at the final table. Don’t panic, I’ve never done that. I was comfortable with my game, I had a game plan to execute and I followed it to the letter. With birdies coming back, I knew I was going to be hard to get hold of.”
In fact, the PGA Tour’s top golfer this season beat Phil Mickelson and Koepka for a tidy sum of $3.24 million on top of all the honors.
Behind them, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Russell Henley shared fourth place with -7. Cameron Young and Viktor Hovland ended up at -6. Sahith Theegala completed the top 10 at -5.
The next big meeting is getting closer. The PGA of America Championship will be held May 18-21 at Oak Hill Golf Club in Rochester, New York.