MADRID, 9 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 in spectacular fashion at Augusta National, after four days of suspensions, storms and trees that were blown by 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’.
On the fourth hole, with ‘bogey’ from the American, the stellar match was tied. Rahm had calmed his nerves with a previous ‘birdie’ and Koepka’s game felt much more forced, in tow to save the guy but without avoiding giving up the lead with another ‘bogey’ on the sixth hole. The Basque made a ‘birdie’ at 8.
With rent blows, Barrika’s lion was able to go carefully in the Amen Corner and, from the 13th, launch the final attack. Two ‘birdies’ in a row, with a second shot to the Seve on the 14th hole, did not take away the serious and concentrated look of a Rahm who did not clench his fist until the par of 17 and did not smile until the 18th, when he saw it come true his dream on April 9, in memory of his idol and as Sergio García also did in 2017.
After playing in the worst possible conditions, the greatest exponent of the PGA circuit this season struck down a Koepka who was waving the flag of LIV Golf, recent winner in Orlando. Rahm’s victory is also celebrated by the traditional circuits, at war with the Saudi born last year, money without the history that the Spanish golfer is writing.
