When Jon Rahm won the U.S. Open three years ago at Torrey Pines, the location of his marriage proposal, it seemed like magic.
the quick, arcing putts he made on the last two holes to seal the win? Without a doubt, magic.
Rahm won the Masters on Sunday, the best tournament of them all, and he did so on Seve Ballesteros‘ birthday, the greatest player Spain—and Europe—ever produced. Maybe at least up until this point. If brain cancer hadn’t snatched Seve too soon 12 years ago, he would now be 66 years old.
You have the option of reinstating your disbelief in magic. But two significant works and two miraculous occurrences? Seve’s preferred Ryder Cup partner and two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal participated in a practice round with Rahm and fellow Spaniard and fellow Masters champion Sergio Garcia on Tuesday at Augusta National.
Although being the most recent in a line of Ballesteros’ descendants, Rahm’s game was largely unSeve-like. Greens and fairways. shotgun blasts. Under the hole, turn left to approach. And perhaps a little Seve-like on the greens, where his short game and putting made the difference in his victory over Brooks Koepka in a 30-hole Sunday duel.
Rahm had just one bogey and shot a respectable 69. Koepka finished with a score of 75 and five bogeys. He shared second place, four strokes back, with Phil Mickelson, who shot 65 with eight birdies.
Jon played outstanding golf, according to Olazabal. But that’s what we’ve come to expect from him. I was most struck by how composed and composed he was. He never made a poor gesture and never hurried.
Rahm battled in the third round’s back nine, which was a part of the 30-hole marathon duel he won over Koepka, who had started the round with a scorching 65-67. After six holes, with Koepka two holes ahead, rain called an end to Saturday’s third round. Rahm had control over his strokes on Sunday. Koepka wasn’t. Rahm shot 34 on the back nine of the final round while playing conservatively because he had a two-shot lead at the turn.
He increased his lead to three when Koepka missed his own birdie putt on the par-5 13th hole and he made a clutch putt from the swale behind the green to make par. He then made a birdie on the 14th hole using what may
It was a particular type of triumph. Rahm made a double bogey on the first hole of the competition after making a four-putt. There were still 71 holes to play, but the result was spectacular. The only player to make double bogey on the first hole and win the Masters was Sam Snead. 71 years ago, in 1952, that occurred. So, this is not a common occurrence.
When you win the U.S. Open, you become a hero. You pretty much become a legend if you win the U.S. Open AND the Masters. especially if you’re the first player from Europe to achieve that goal. Before hearing about it at the post-round press conference on Sunday, Rahm was unaware of the record.
Rahm grinned in shock, “I can’t believe I’m the first. “The majors are a fairly solid pair. I began to believe that I would never again win a major championship unless it occurred at Torrey Pines. It’s difficult to think of anything better than making history. It’s difficult to think I’m the first player to do what so many other great players have done before me. It is a very humble experience. I can’t help but feel appreciative.
