At 28, the Basque won his first Masters. In the last round, he knocked out American Brooks Koepka and never flinched before putting on the green jacket.
Par
Laurent Louet
Posted update
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From our special correspondent in Augusta (Georgia, USA),
Highly anticipated due to the participation of eighteen players from the LIV Golf Series, the 87th edition of the Masters Tournament kept all its promises. No doubt, the best players in the world were there. And despite weather conditions that forced the organizers to sound the horn three times at Augusta National Golf, the level of play was still exceptional in Georgia.
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In this Easter weekend and after the deluge of the last two days, Sunday gave rise to a storm of blue sky. What feed some regrets in Tiger Woods, forced to give up in the morning due to pain amplified by the climatic conditions of the previous days. Perfect for the daybreak photo of Jon Rahm lifting his trophy, after donning the first green jacket loaned by a venerable member.
Premier Masters
At 28, the Spaniard won his first Masters as if it couldn’t be otherwise. Second on the leaderboard on the morning of the last lap, Rahm (3e world) signed a last card composed with four birdies and a single bogey to win after a solid week (65-69-73-69). He leads the Americans Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka (-8) by four strokes, while Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Russell Henley are five lengths (-7).
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« I wasn’t sure how this was all going to turn out until I hit my third shot on the green on the 18th… “, he explained to American television in front of the chairman of the tournament Fred Riley. The televiewers, them, knew for a long time that that which one nicknamed Mercy was going to win, as its power had occupied all the space on their screens. More than a match against Brooks Koepka in the last part, it was a real boxing fight that the native of Barrika (on the Basque coast north of Bilbao) delivered during the first nine holes of the final round. Going blow for blow, the two heavyweights of world golf – one on the PGA Tour, the other on the LIV – played with their strengths of the day. A clash of titans between Rahm, 1.88m for 100 kg, and Koepka, 1.83m for 93 kg. Before the second bends. “ My birdie on hole 8 was a key moment Rahm explained afterwards.
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After an observation time on the first two holes, Jon Rahm stuffed a 3-meter putt sloping left-right on the green from 3 for birdie. Moments earlier, Koepka had remained 50 centimeters too short. The Spaniard, his gaze burning towards his opponent, then went to -10, the gap is now only one shot over his American opponent (-11). On the next hole, Koepka missed the green and then his 2.50 meter putt. Bogey. Rahm signed the par to return to equality.
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On hole 6, Jon Rahm took the leadership of the tournament with a par quietly concluded by a putt of 2.5 meters. He remained at -10 when Koepka fell to -9, after another bogey. Full of serenity, the Spaniard came out of the green to loud applause from the public. While in the front part, Hovland signed an ugly double bogey which made him fall back with Woodland and Henley (-6). At the third of the course, it seemed written that the victory was going to be decided between Rahm and Koepka. There was hole n°8, a par 5 of 320 meters named Yellow Jasmine, which was to give rise to a demonstration by Rahm, author of a powerful birdie with a very long face-off then a fairway wood of school before a rolling chip to the hole to stop twenty centimeters away. Stunned, Koepka bowed with the par in front of Rahm (-11). Victory had chosen its side.
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Heroic Charge
Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, customary to the fact, signed a heroic charge on Sunday. At 17, he slammed the ninth birdie of his day, a third bogey somewhat tarnishing his card (66) at 18. As for veteran Phil Mickelson (52), author of eight birdies too, for a single small bogey, he positioned himself alone in 2e position of the leaderboard at this moment, thanks to his 65, best card of the day. In the morning, he was ten strokes behind Koepka!
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After managing his lead without shaking, Jon Rahm gave himself a final fright by slightly unscrewing his drive from 18, forcing himself to play a provisional ball. Without consequence, the Basque went up the fairway of 18, letting his emotion show for the first time, his lips pursed. On a final par, the winner of the US Open 2021 became the second Spanish player, after Severiano Ballesteros, to win two different Majors.
