Forty years after Spaniard Seve Ballesteros won his second Masters, countryman Jon Rahm continued his dominant play with a four-shot win at Augusta. The victory, Rahm’s second major title, was completed in dominant fashion, opening with a 7-under 65 first round, battling in tough conditions head-to-head with Brooks Koepka in the third round, and pulling away with a closing round of 3-under, four shots ahead of Koepka and Phil Mickelson, who finished tied for second at 8-under.
Given the weather that roared through Augusta on Saturday—and included falling trees that narrowly missed spectators—Rahm had to play 30 holes on Sunday, which was cool with swirling winds, typical of Augusta in April.
Here are five takeaways from this year’s Masters Tournament
Rahm returns to No. 1
He’s been battling with Scottie Scheffler for the top spot in golf’s World Rankings for most of the last six months. With his victory, Rahm reclaimed the top spot. He had three wins this season heading into Augusta, and the win is his second major after the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. With the Masters win, Rahm now has 11 victories on the PGA Tour. Rahm went into the final round trailing Koepka, who was trying for his fifth major championship. “Whatever Brooks does is whatever Brooks does,” Rahm said. But Koepka never looked like the player who shot 65-67 to open the tournament, recording a 75 in the final round to drop back. With back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14, Rahm pulled away and never really looked back.
Mickelson is ageless at Augusta
Phil Mickelson didn’t even play at The Masters last year, stinging from his remarks about the upstart LIV Golf tour. Mickelson would leave the PGA Tour for LIV, but as a three-time winner Phil returned to Augusta this year. In typical Phil fashion, he was all over the map all week, and then stunningly found his game during the final round. Playing alongside Jordan Spieth, Mickelson made five birdies on the back nine to shoot 65 and vault up the leaderboard. It wasn’t enough—he finished in second—but it was enough to put a charge in the patrons at Augusta and remind people that Mickelson at age 52 can still wow people. He became the oldest player to record a Top 5 finish at Augusta in the same week that Fred Couples, at 63, became the oldest to make the cut. “It just reaffirms that I knew I was close—I’ve been hitting quality shots,” Mickelson said. “This doesn’t feel like a fluke. It wasn’t like I hit shots I haven’t been hitting. I stayed present and didn’t make loose swings or those bad swings at an inopportune time. I stayed very present and calm throughout, then executed and had a blast.” What could Mickelson have done if he’d stuck around the PGA Tour after his PGA Championship win? Overall, LIV Golfers—Koepka, Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson all played the weekend.
Bennett’s time is near
For three rounds, Sam Bennett, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ, was right in the mix with the thought the 23-year old amateur might actually contend right up until the end. But after opening with two rounds of 4-under 68, he stumbled in the third round to a 4-over 76 when it appeared the magnitude of his position caught up with him. He finished in a tie for 16th, but impressed a lot of people along the way. Expect to see him in the mix on the PGA Tour later this year.
Wet Augusta too much for Woods
Tiger Woods doesn’t miss cuts at Augusta, and he made his way to the weekend once again, sneaking in right at the cut line. On Saturday, with rain pouring and the temperate dropping, Woods was clearly struggling and could be seen limping around the golf course. When it became clear he’d have to play two-and-a-half rounds on Sunday, Woods withdrew from the tournament. Will we see Woods, who is clearly still struggling to walk a golf course after his car accident from two years ago, back at The Masters next year?
Augusta wasn’t kind to Canucks
Four Canadians were in the field this week—Mike Weir, returning to the Masters 20 years after his victory, first-timer Adam Svensson, early favourite Corey Conners, and Dundas, Ont.’s Mackenzie Hughes. Weir had a decent first round, but stumbled in the second. Conners, who had three straight Top 10 finishes, had a tough week at Augusta, and Svensson never really got the feel for Augusta in his first Masters. That left Mackenzie Hughes, who had a wild final round that included a double bogey on 17 which looked great before it spun all the way back off the green and into the water. On the other hand, Hughes made eagle on the second hole—part of a classic up-and-down round. He finished in a tie for 29th with a final round of 70. “I think every time I go around this place I learn something different,” Hughes said.
Jon Rahm’s Masters winning set up
- Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver, 10.5-degree
- Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Fairway Wood, 16-degree
- Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Fairway Wood, 18-degree
- Callaway Apex TCB Irons, 4-PW
- Callaway Jaws Raw Wedges, 52-, 56-, 60-degree
- Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S Putter
- Callaway Chrome Soft X Golf Ball
- Callaway Tour Authentic Glove
- Cuater by TravisMathew “The Ringer” Shoes
Well written.