How Jon Rahm Won The 2023 Masters

Jon Rahm is the first of two LIV golfers who will be defending majors this year - next month it will be the turn of Brooks Koepka at the US PGA Championship.

Twelve months ago, Rahm held his nerve at Augusta National to win the Green Jacket for the first time. 

Rahm carded a three-under 69 to finish on 12 under and win by four shots as Koepka, who led by two going into the final round, struggled and limped home with a 75.

Koepka ended finishing joint second with another LIV defector, veteran Phil Mickelson, who shot a a stunning seven-under 65 to finish eight under. Former champions Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were a shot further back.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished in a group on four under, along with England's US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

Rahm became the fourth Spanish player to win the Masters and his victory came on what would have been the 66th birthday of the legendary two-time champion Seve Ballesteros, who won in 1980 and 1983.

"I wasn't sure how [the emotion] was going to come to me until I hit the third shot on the 18th," said Rahm, whose first major win came at the 2021 US Open.

"History of the game is a big reason why I play and Seve is a big part of that history. For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his second Masters win and on his birthday was incredibly meaningful."

Rahm was one of the pre-tournament favourites - alongside Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed the halfway cut, and world number one Scheffler - after an impressive year in the lead-up to the first men's major of the season.

With three wins on the PGA Tour in the build-up, plus four top-10 finishes in six previous Masters starts, Rahm had the form and pedigree to win at Augusta.

Remarkably, he started his bid in the opening round with a double bogey after a four-putt on the first hole. After that he barely put a foot wrong.

Rahm showed all facets of his outstanding all-round game - particularly his relentlessly long and straight driving and nerveless putting - to record an opening round of 65 and then posted scores of 69, 73 and 69.

Not only did Rahm win the iconic Green Jacket for the first time, he also returned to the top of the world rankings.

Leading by four shots with four holes left to play, he maintained that advantage going into the 18th hole and could even afford to hit his final drive into the trees.

The ball ended up bouncing back into play and landing 150 yards from the tee, but he retained composure to lay up and knock a sublime chip to within a few feet for an unorthodox par.

"It was a very unusual par, very much a Seve par - it was in a non purposeful way, a testament to him. I know he was pulling for me and it was a great Sunday. This one is for Seve. I knew he would be up there helping and help he did."