The Spaniard closed the gap with Koepka on the postponed third day, two shots ahead of the last 18 holes
MADRID, 9 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish golfer Jon Rahm will start the last day of the Augusta Masters this Sunday, two strokes behind the lead held by the American Brooks Koepka, after closing the gap on the 12 holes that they also had to play this Sunday after the third day was postponed on Saturday. .
The first ‘major’ of the season is already pointing to its outcome, after rain, storm and trees blown down by the wind. From all this plus the demand of Augusta National, the green jacket seems to be among three: the American (-11), the one from Barrika (-9) and the Norwegian Viktor Hovland (-8).
Koepka gave up two shots to Rahm at the restart of the third day early this Sunday, despite the fact that the Spaniard missed two ‘bogeys’ in the last five holes. Thus, after a few hours of rest, at 8:33 p.m. peninsular time the recent champion of the LIV Golf in Orlando and a world number three Rahm and three-time PGA champion in 2023 will begin the stellar duel.
The Basque aspires to his second ‘Grand Slam’ after winning the US Open in 2021 and wearing what would be the sixth green jacket of Spanish golf, after those achieved by Severiano Ballesteros (1980 and 1983), Jose María Olazabal (1994 and 1999) and Sergio Garcia (2017).
On April 9, the genius of Pedreña was born, who would have turned 66 this Sunday. A pioneering Seve for European golf and an idol of many, including Rahm who is no stranger to the date and the special flavor that winning the Masters would have on this day. “Sometimes these things happen, you don’t know why,” Olazabal said Thursday.
On the other hand, before the start of the marathon this Sunday, Tiger Woods announced his withdrawal from the tournament, after making the cut for the 23rd consecutive year with an obvious limp and to the applause of the public. The cold and rain did not help the five-time champion in Augusta, unable to recover from the aftermath of his serious accident in 2021.