Brooks Koepka set the early pace. Jordan Spieth charged up the leaderboard. Phil Mickelson turned back the clock.
In the end, none of it mattered.
Jon Rahm, the 28-year-old from Basque Country, in Spain, with more talent than just about any golfer of his generation, erased a four-shot Sunday deficit to win the green jacket at Augusta National. Rahm posted a final-round 69 to beat runners-up Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson by four strokes for his second major title.
The Spaniard’s win comes 29 years after fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal’s first title at Augusta National, and on the 40th anniversary of his late hero, Seve Ballesteros, winning in 1983. Rahm’s victory also falls on what would have been Ballesteros’ 66th birthday.
“It’s incredibly meaningful,” Rahm said. “I’m at a loss for words.”
Spain now has four green-jacket winners, with Sergio Garcia also prevailing in 2017.
When Rahm arrived at the course Sunday morning, Koepka held a four-shot advantage. Nasty weather on Friday and Saturday delayed the action for much of the second and third rounds, washing out much of those rounds. With sunshine in the Sunday forecast, it was all but certain there would be no Monday finish, but there still was plenty of golf to play. Rahm and Koepka — in the final pairing — had a 29-hole marathon ahead.
It didn’t take long for Rahm to seize the momentum. With his first putt of the day — in the third round — Rahm poured in a birdie on the 7th green. When Koepka couldn’t hole his lengthy par putt, the lead was cut in half. The remainder of Round 3 was a slog for both players (neither made a birdie on the back nine), and when they broke for lunch between the third and fourth round, Koepka’s lead was two.
Koepka remained in neutral to begin the final round, while Rahm made two birdies and one bogey, making the turn in 35. Koepka posted an untidy 39 to fall two back.
“I just kind of played average,” Koepka said. “There’s some days you have it, and some days you don’t. Today just wasn’t one of those. I feel good and expect to be there in the other three [majors].”
Elsewhere on the course, the roars were abundant.
In the 12:49 p.m. pairing, Mickelson and Jordan Spieth caught fire. Spieth, who was even par through 50 holes for the week, found his swagger late in the morning, and by the time he walked off the 18th green, he was seven under. Mickelson mounted a similarly electric charge. The 52-year-old carded eight birdies and one bogey alongside Spieth, posting the clubhouse lead as the final pairing turned to the back nine.
In the end, none of it mattered.
Despite having to chase down Koepka — the baddest major competitor of the last decade — and being pursued by two green jacket winners, Rahm never flinched. His back nine was a clinic in course management when protecting a lead — especially at Augusta — and his advantage never slipped below two. By the time Rahm made the final walk up the hill on No. 18, Rahm had extended his lead to four.
On the home hole, Rahm embarked on a stroll he’ll never forget. Despite pulling his drive into the trees and needing to hit a provisional, the result was never in doubt. Doing his best impression of Ballesteros, Spain’s greatest major champion, Rahm got up and down to save par.
“It was a Seve par,” Rahm said. “In a not purposeful way, it was a testament to him. I know he was pulling for me today. It was a great Sunday.”
When he holed the final putt, Rahm triumphantly raised his arms over his head and then buried his face in his hands.
Spain has its next great major champion.