Spain’s Jon Rahm kept his nerve and patience to win his first Masters, edging out American Brooks Koepka on a thrilling final day.
Rahm, 28, carded a three-under 69 to finish at 12 under and win by four shots as Koepka, who led by two going into the final round, carded a 75.
Koepka tied for second with veteran Phil Mickelson, who shot a stunning seven-under 65 to finish eight under.
Former champions Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were one shot further back.
Defending champion Scotty Scheffler finished in a group four under with US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England, the top finisher from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Rahm became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters and his victory came as legendary two-time champion Seo Ballesteros, who won in 1980 and 1983, celebrated his 66th birthday.
“I wasn’t sure how [the emotion] would come to me until I hit the third shot on 18,” said Rahm, whose first major win came at the 2021 US Open.
“The history of the game is a big reason why I play and Sev is a big part of that history.
“It was incredibly meaningful for me to do this on the 40th anniversary of his second Masters win and on his birthday.”
How Rahm took control to win Green Jacket
Rahm was one of the pre-tournament favorites – along with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who missed the halfway cut, and world number one Scheffler – after an impressive year leading into the season’s first men’s major.
With three wins on the PGA Tour this year, plus four top-10 finishes in six previous Masters starts, Rahm had the form and pedigree to win at Augusta — and he delivered right away. .
Notably, he began his bid on Thursday with a double-bogey on the first hole after a four-putt. He barely made a wrong move after that.
Rahm showed all aspects of his outstanding all-around game – especially his consistently great driving and fearless putting – to record an opening round of 65 and then post scores of 69, 73 and 69.
Not only did Rahm win the prestigious green jacket for the first time, he also returned to the world number one ranking.
Leading by four shots with four holes to play, he held the advantage going into the 18th hole and could afford to hit his final drive into the trees.
The ball bounced back into play and landed 150 yards off the tee, but he held on to lay and knock in a superb chip within a few feet for an unorthodox par.
The 28-year-old added: “It was a very unusual par, very save par – in a non-objective way. I know he was pulling for me and it was a great Sunday.”
After sinking his last putt, Rahm shook his clenched fists, looking up at the sky.
His family – along with wife Kelly, two sons Kepa and Eniko – quickly joined him on the 18th green before he was further congratulated by friends and family.
Among them was compatriot Jose Maria Olazbal, a one-time and two-time Masters champion and Rahm’s mentor.
Koepka fades as LIV denied victory
What appeared to be a two-way battle between Rahm and Koepka ended as a controlled and clinical victory for the Spaniard.
Along with Rahim’s impressive performance, Koepka’s poor final round competition was a factor.
Koepka was bidding for a fifth major title – and first since 2019 – despite playing just 72 holes in recent months after deciding to go on the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.
LIV tournaments are played over 54 holes, although Koepka has hit form at the Masters and won last week’s event in Miami where his $4m (£3.2m) prize, the record $3.24m, surpassed Rahm’s first. Major would take home the win. year.
But his driving became erratic early in the final round and once he shifted the momentum to Rahm, Koepka could not recover.
Asked by Sky Sports how he was feeling after failing to hold on to his lead, Koepka said: “Like ho-hum. I didn’t play that well. I hit some good shots and just some. Finished in terrible spots. Stop trying to make birdie when he’s ahead – it’s hard.
“The other one isn’t much fun so that’s motivation in itself.”
Mickelson and Spieth rolled back the years.
