Spanish golfer Jon Rahm wins the Augusta Masters

(CNN) — Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters on Sunday and earned his first green jacket. It is the second “major” of his career with an imperturbable performance at Augusta National.

The Spaniard executed a consistency clinic to pull off a four-shot victory ahead of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

After two days of bad weather that forced multiple suspensions of play at the 87th edition of the historic tournament, it was only fitting that blue skies and sunlight serve as the backdrop for the crowning glory of Rahm, whose victory sees him overtake reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as the No. 1 ranking world champion.

He began his tournament with a four-putt double bogey, but Rahm rallied immediately and never looked back.

On the birthday of the late Spanish golf icon Seve Ballesteros, champion in 1980 and 1983, Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to win the green jacket and the first European golfer to win both The Masters and the US Open, following victory at Torrey Pines in 2021.

Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio García were the only three of Rahm’s compatriots to have donned the green jacket before, and Olazábal was one of the first to embrace the new champion on the 18th green.

“The story of the game is a big part of why I play and one of the reasons I play, Seve being one of them,” said Rahm.

“If it wasn’t for the Ryder Cup in ’97, my dad and I talk about it all the time, we wouldn’t know where I would be or where we would be as a family.

“For me to do it on the 40th anniversary of his victory, his birthday on Easter Sunday, is incredibly meaningful… I know he was rooting for me today.”

Rahm quickly capitalized on the two-shot lead taken in the final round with Koepka, who slipped to a frustrating 3 of 75. The American had held at least a portion of the lead since the end of the first round, but saw how his dreams of a first green jacket and a fifth major of his career were quickly fading amid Rahm’s relentless afternoon onslaught.

Mickelson looked back on his best years at 65, the best final round, to become the oldest golfer to finish in the top five at the tournament. A three-time green jacket winner, the 52-year-old was all smiles as he turned Augusta around for eight birdies.

It marks the lowest round ever recorded by a player aged 50 and over, one day after Fred Couples became the oldest player to make the cut at the tournament.

“I’m hoping this catapults me into playing the rest of the year the way I think I’m playing,” Mickelson told reporters.

“I really worked hard in the off-season to get ready. I’ve thrown some really low scores at home, and today I let it happen instead of trying to force it, I had a really good day and made some noise.

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough, but it was really a lot of fun for me to play at this level again, and it’s encouraging for me to keep going for the rest of the year.”

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth shot nine birdies in a blistering closing 66 to finish at seven under par. The 2015 champion finished at seven under par to tie with Russell Henley and Patrick Reed.

A title defense seemed unlikely from the moment Scheffler endured a frustrating second round 75, the American finishing eight shots behind Rahm, tied for 10th.

Fan standout Sam Bennett won hearts and applause after an excellent week in Augusta. The 23-year-old Texan, who has a tattoo of his late father’s last advice inscribed on his wrist, shot 76 to finish tied for 16th in his Masters debut.