The first bird is coming soon
Jon Rahm clinched his first green jacket of his career this Sunday, securing a second major personal milestone after the US Open. He stood out on the final day at Augusta, edging out Brooks Koepka of LIV Golf, with veterans like Phil Mickelson finishing at eight under and attempting a late challenge but arriving too late to matter.
Rahm completed the tournament with a total of 276 strokes, twelve under par, in a day characterized by sun and gusty wind. It was a stark contrast to Saturday, when rain and wind forced a stoppage after a tree fell. The victory grants Rahm a continued invitation to Augusta as long as he remains active and competitive. Despite Barrika’s quality, further titles at Augusta seem within easy reach for him.
He, a Basque player, approached the course with the full awareness that the outcome would be decided in the closing stretch rather than in a rapid start. He knew he could hold his own against Koepka in the opening nine holes, even though he began two shots behind.
The first bird is coming soon
Rahm started strong, making a birdie on the third hole to shrink the gap to one stroke. A bogey from Koepka on the following hole brought Rahm back into a co-lead position. The Spaniard’s momentum continued through the sixth, as he faced par but Koepka faltered again, allowing Rahm to take a single‑digit lead at minus ten. This was a pivotal moment, yet not the final verdict.
Bask pressed from behind, converting five of eight chances to trim the deficit to two, while Koepka recovered from the previous slip. Through the first nine holes, Rahm led at minus ten while Mickelson, already finishing his round at the Club House, stood at minus eight, awaiting the final nine where the tournament would likely be decided.
Rahm then reached the most challenging stretch, known as Amin Corner, and capped it with a superb birdie on the 13th, pushing the lead to three strokes. Koepka also registered a birdie on that hole. Half the job was done, yet the Spaniard had to maintain composure and add more birds to the finish while keeping rivals in sight.
The Spaniard pushed the score to minus twelve with a birdie on the 14th as Koepka bogeyed, increasing the cushion. The gap grew to four strokes as Mickelson’s chances faded. At 52 years old, Mickelson became the second oldest player ever to contend at Augusta, but the crown remained with Rahm. The final work was complete and Spanish golf celebrated its sixth green jacket, with more titles seemingly on the horizon.
I couldn’t get close to Koepka
The final rounds proved challenging for Koepka. Rahm faced a tough morning but recovered after a late surge on Saturday, when he birdied the 7th and 8th to build confidence for the second nine.
From the 10th hole onward, Koepka’s accuracy wavered, saving several doubles but giving Rahm space. He finished with a round of 73, five over par for the second nine, signifying a total of minus nine. The Spaniard’s convincing performance over the weekend showed Koepka’s streak faltering at key moments, while Rahm refused to allow any late surge. In the 87th Masters, Rahm demonstrated clear superiority, leaving little doubt about his status as the tournament’s best performer this year. The victory reinforced Rahm’s standing as a dominant figure in global golf and a point of pride for Spanish sport. [Attribution: Official Masters records]