For the second time in his golf career, Jon Rahm of Barrika, Spain, is a major champion. After winning the 2021 United States Open, the 28-year-old won the 2023 Masters by shooting a four-round score of -12.
In the process, Rahm returned to number one in the world. This is the sixth time he has been ranked first on the planet. Rahm was previously number one from July 19 to August 1, 2020, from August 9 to August 22, 2020, from June 20 to July 10 2021, from July 18, 2021 to March 26, 2022, and from February 19 to March 11, 2023.
In Augusta over the weekend, Rahm had the first round lead alongside Brooks Koepka of the United States and Viktor Hovland of Norway at -7. Rahm then improved to -10 in round two, but dropped down to second place, as he was two strokes back of Koepka. In round three, Koepka maintained his lead by two strokes over Rahm, as Koepka was at -11, and Rahm was at -9.
In the fourth round, Rahm shot a score of three-under par to improve to -12. He birdied the third, fourth, 13th and 14th holes, and bogeyed the ninth hole. Koepka meanwhile dropped to -8 after shooting a round of three-over-par 75. Also in second place was American Phil Mickelson, who had a spectacular round of seven-under-par 65.
Rahm becomes the third Spanish golfer to win multiple major titles. Seve Ballesteros of Pedrena, Spain won five major titles. He won the 1979, 1984, and 1988 British Open, and the 1980 and 1983 Masters. Jose Maria Olazabal of Hondarribia, Spain won two Masters as he was victorious in 1994 and 1999. The only other Spanish golfer to win a major title was Sergio Garcia of Borriol, who won the 2017 Masters.
