Jonkman, Mickelson and the Super-Galaxy Golfer – The Last 72 Days at the 89th Major
After two days of poor weather at the 89th Major, blue skies and sunshine provided the perfect backdrop for the crowning of Jonkman, who leapfrogs Scottie Scheffler as the world’s top-ranked golfer.
It wasn’t until after his green jacket was secured that the title charge got off to a worse start because of the consistency in his final round.
On the birthday of 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.
I know that he was pulling for me today because he was so happy to see me do it on the 40th anniversary of his win.
Mickelson rolled back the years with a final round-best 65 to become the oldest golfer ever to finish inside the top-five at the major. The five-time green jacket winner, 52, was all smiles as he strolled through the Augusta greens, scoring eight goals.
It is the lowest round ever posted by a player aged 50 or older, coming just a day after Fred Couples became the oldest player to ever make the cut at a major.
Jordan shot a closing 66 and finished at seven-under. The 2015 champion finished level with Russell Henley and Patrick Reed, who made it three LIV Golf players inside the top four.
The chance of a defense of the title looking likely was lost when the American struggled in the second round and finished eight shots back of the leader.
Sam Bennett’s final golf outburst in Augusta National greeted by Kurt Koepka and a smiling Rahm
Sam Bennett won hearts after a wonderful week at Augusta. The 23-year-old Texan – who has a tattoo of his late father’s final piece of advice inscribed on his wrist – shot 76 to finish tied for 16th on his Masters debut.
The green light for the race to escape a first Monday finish since 1983 was given after clear blue skies finally broke over Augusta National on Sunday.
A battle to beat the clock had already ensued Saturday after bad weather Friday – featuring winds strong enough to fell three large pine trees – had suspended play overnight and left several players needing to finish their second rounds.
His relief dissipated very quickly. After two bogeys at the fourth and sixth, there was a brief respite as Rahm sunk a putter at the third. There was a new outright leader at the summit, for the first time since Friday.
There was a more familiar feeling to the picturesque terrain of Augusta National on Sunday, but there was no sight of Tiger Woods. Despite visibly struggling with movement throughout the weekend, the 15-time major champion had battled to a record-equaling 23rd cut, only to announce his withdrawal due to injury hours before play resumed on Sunday.
The pictures of him hobbling towards his golf bag as he finished his final hole at the Masters will only intensify the questions about whether he will ever play again.
Koepka’s opening drive found the fairway: the ninth fairway. Yet the American recovered superbly from his wild opening hook, planting his follow-up onto the green before saving par.
To make matters worse for the LIV Golf star, those behind had gathered momentum. Though Mickelson and Spieth ultimately left their charges too late to snatch victory, Koepka’s slide jumped Mickelson – already back in the clubhouse – up into solo second.
It was fitting encapsulation of the day that when a frustrated Koepka finally converted his first birdie of the afternoon at the 13th – snapping a 22 hole streak without one – Rahm matched his effort mere seconds later.
The two-horse race that had looked to be an exciting event was turned into a canter. Up ahead, American duo Reed and Henley were running out of time to challenge, and even back-to-back birdies for Koepka at the 15th and 16th only cut the gap to three.
Carrying a four shot lead into the final hole, there was a momentary scare for Rahm – perhaps his first genuine fright of the day – as his tee drive went sailing towards the trees.
It was similar to a year ago, when the runaway leader made a shaky finish, four-putting to close. It was the same thing as before, and this time it was a ball bouncing back onto the fairway after Rahm hit a provisional.
If it weren’t for a Super Bowl winning tight end, the gap between Spaniard and his closest competitors would have been even larger.
Although he was able to recover over the course of the weekend and eventually claim his maiden Masters title, Rahm joked afterward that some text messages from Super Bowl winning tight end Zach Ertz jinxed his abilities on the opening hole.
“I’m going to name him because he is a Super Bowl winning champion – Zach Ertz – he sent the text: ‘That first green looking like a walk in the park,’ 10 minutes before I four-putted the start of the tournament.”
Ertz – who won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles and now plays for the Arizona Cardinals – acknowledged the texts and said he had no regrets.
The group chat that Ertz and Watt were in was referred to as “Birdies and Babies”, and there were some images of Ertz, Watt, and Rahm in it. I think this means you deserve a green jacket (Ertz).”
Watt also included a screenshot of a private text message exchange with Ertz. The tight end was not happy about the 4 putt to start the round. Watt replied: “Horrendous. I said pretend you’re playing WITH us not like your playing LIKE us,” which Ertz responded with a pair of laughing emojis.