MADRID, 10 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish golfer Jon Rahm lifted the Augusta Masters this Sunday, his second ‘major’ after the 2021 US Open, by winning in its 87th edition with a 4-stroke advantage over the American Brooks Koepka, the sixth green jacket for Spanish golf on the day that Severiano Ballesteros would have turned 66.
The 28-year-old ‘Barrika’s lion’ crowned himself spectacularly at Augusta National, after four days of suspensions, storms and trees that gave way from the wind. The Basque, who returns to number one in the world, demonstrated his spectacular form with his fourth victory so far in 2023.
The anniversary of an idol like Seve, 40 years after the second Masters of the Pedreña genius, put Rahm in an intractable mode, against all odds, when he resumed the postponed third day four strokes behind Koepka this Sunday morning. Facing the last 18 holes, the outcome pointed to three bands: the American (-11), Barrika’s (-9) and the Norwegian Viktor Hovland (-8).
The wind was the last element to cause some war on the course in Georgia (United States), in addition to the water that left the ‘greens’ heavier and slower than normal. It was nit-picking and, after what we’ve seen this season, with Rahm excelling at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The American Express and the Genesis Invitational, the end result cannot be called a surprise.
The Basque handled the decisive round with his head, also seeing that Koepka was not left over, and pressed when he smelled blood. Rahm moved into the lead on the sixth hole and did not neglect an illustrious victory, focused until he enjoyed glory on the 18th green on a designated date. The Americans Phil Mickelson (-8), Jordan Spieth (-7) and Patrick Reed (-7) completed the ‘Top 5’.