Subconsciously, or consciously, everyone wanted a fight between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Tour on the back nine of the Masters Tournament. The good guys against the bad guys. The heroes against the villains. As in a classic of intergalactic cinema. Like the greatest films, the light side of the force prevailed, thanks to the magic of Jon Rahm.
Rahm’s story was not on the main posters of the 87e edition of the tournament, at the beginning of the week. And yet, he had won three of the first five tournaments of the year, he was the best purser, in addition to occupying the third world rank.
However, other accounts have overshadowed his. Equally captivating storylines. The possible defense of the title of Scottie Scheffler, the eventual grand slam of Rory McIlroy, the return of Tiger Woods and, above all, this fight to finish between the two rival circuits of professional golf: the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf series.
Unprecedented animosity. The two clans had agreed to meet at the most significant tournament of all. Where history meets prestige. Where champions never die. Where legends are born and where reality becomes mythical.
The deserters had every intention of spoiling the party. And it almost happened.
At the end of the third round on Sunday morning, Brooks Koepka, winner of the last tournament on the Saudi circuit, had a two-stroke lead over Rahm. The Spaniard represented the best hope of the PGA Tour.
Koepka, golf’s enfant terrible, had a good game. He had been flawless in the first three rounds. He had, however, been lucky playing the second round on Friday morning, as he was able to be spared the rain and unforeseen schedule changes. However, we must recognize the excellence of his game, despite everything.
Especially since before experiencing successive injuries to the left knee, right knee and hips and leaving for the other circuit, Koepka was the most terrifying player to face. Determined and addicted to victory, he was the best player in the world between 2017 and 2019, winning four major titles. He was untouchable. Especially in major tournaments and even more when he was ahead. He had never lost when he was in the lead after three rounds. In health, he is still one of the best players in the world.
As there is a first for everything, Rahm made him pay for his irregularity in the final round. The flame that lit the American in the first three rounds has gone out. It is true, after all, that on the LIV Golf circuit, players are used to playing only 54 holes.
Rahm therefore took advantage of the drifts of his playing partner to advance and surf in calm water until the 18the hole.
When he stalled his 276e shot of the tournament, good for a cumulative -12, he rested his putter on his left thigh and raised his arms in the air. As if he had just torn the tape ending a race. Because in reality, this Masters Tournament was like a marathon in every way.
“I didn’t know how to react until my third shot at 18e “, revealed the champion just before being given the green jacket by Scottie Scheffler.
Making history is his greatest satisfaction: “That’s why I play golf. »
Rahm: faultless
Three stoppages of play, early morning starts, capricious weather, collapsing trees and rounds interrupted by the night.
This edition of the Masters Tournament was special from start to finish. By its environment, its context and its development.
PHOTO CHARLIE RIEDEL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scottie Scheffler, winner of the tournament last year, hands the green jacket to Jon Rahm.
In the final round, however, everything was perfect. Like the Augusta National site. The sun set on the triumph of a thrilled, but exhausted, conquistador back to world No. 1.
From the third hole, Rahm used his weapon of choice to widen the gap between him and Koepka. He sent a left-right putt deep in the cup to complete the birdie, drop to -10 and close within a shot of the header.
The string began to land at the next hole for Koepka. He dropped his tee shot to the right, and it ended with a bogey. There was then a tie at the top. Everything was allowed. Like what no lead is enough in this tournament.
For the rest of the round, Rahm wasn’t great, but he was smart, patient and efficient. Seeing that Koepka was sabotaging himself, the 28-year-old chose caution.
Meanwhile, Koepka was misjudging his approaches, in addition to being imprecise on his putting strokes. However, these two phases of the game have been his bread and butter in the last few days. “I just played in a very average way, he specified, débiné after the final round. I was not lucky. […] I hit some good shots, but I wasn’t landing in the right spots. I don’t feel like I played badly, but it just wasn’t enough. »
When Koepka collapsed, Rahm stood up. Like in the sixth. The American overshot the cut by several yards with his wedge. The Spaniard stalled a long putt for par. In the eighth, Koepka made an erratic tee shot down the left. Rahm placed his approach inches from the pennant. At 14e, the LIV player stubbornly forced the note. The PGA Tour representative placed a strike from the spruce trees a short distance from the hole.
“I felt the birdie in the eighth was a key moment. […] I mostly wanted to get out of the Amen Corner with a par,” Rahm explained.
Eventually, he took six punches back on Koepka in the space of an afternoon. A true demonstration of strength and character. He gave up a card of four birdies and a single bogey for 69 (-3) and a cumulative -12, four shots ahead of Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka.
This is Rahm’s second major title after the American Open won in 2021. He also becomes the fourth Spaniard to put on the green jacket. This statistic also made him happy, since he won the Masters Tournament exactly 40 years after his idol and compatriot Seve Ballesteros, whose birthday it would have been on Sunday. “It’s incredibly meaningful. And to finish the tournament as I did, with a par at La Seve, it was a way of paying tribute to him and I knew he was with me today. »
A constant battle
The PGA Tour is looking good. He emerged victorious from this first real battle against the Saudi circuit.
Players in the league helmed by Greg Norman, however, looked good. Phil Mickelson, one of the neuralgic members of the LIV, climbed to second position thanks to an anthology round.
He became, at 52, the oldest participant to finish in the top 5.
The man with the ostentatious sunglasses didn’t even appear on the main leader board in the early afternoon, at -1.
PHOTO BRIAN SNYDER, REUTERS
Phil Mickelson (left) and Jordan Spieth on the pitch at Augusta
He and his partner Jordan Spieth fought like mad to not be forgotten. Both former champions played inspired. They were exquisite on the greens, never missing an opportunity to get the crowd going.
Mickelson, still thumbs up as a thank you, gave a card of 65 (-7), including playing five strokes under par on the back nine. Jordan Spieth, just as flamboyant and efficient, was also driven by the desire to be talked about. Unlike his playing partner, he only cracked on the last hole. He ended his day with a card of 66 (-6), in fourth position.
Two unlikely rounds, but certainly more entertaining than those offered by Viktor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay. This duo played just before the leading group, but they were never a real threat.
While the two-man wrestling took all the attention, no one in the contender’s chart wanted to be intruded upon.
By mid-round, Scottie Scheffler, Spieth, Sahith Theegala, Russell Henley, Gary Woodland, Cameron Young and Mickelson were all -6, within a few strokes of the leaders. And as we have already witnessed monumental scrambles in the Amen Corner, in particular, Rahm and Koepka were not immune to being overtaken by all these hungry sharks.
It will not have been the case, but this Easter Sunday will have lived up to the expectations forged with regard to what a major tournament should be, especially at Augusta National.
Ultimately, the good guys had the best, but the bad guys didn’t say their last word. The sequel, because there will be one, three actually by the end of the season, will attract many curious people.