The Top-Two Players of the LIV Golf Tournament: Tom Woods, Patrick Koepka, and Matt Fitzpatrick in the Final Four
The second round of the game began an hour earlier to allow some people to finish their rounds after bad weather forced the suspension of Friday’s action. The tournament organizers said no one was hurt.
Having narrowly secured his passage to the third round, Woods endured a torrid afternoon. His nine-over par after seven holes marked the worst score of the day by three strokes.
Amid a sea of umbrellas, four-time major winner Koepka was one of just 11 golfers to shoot under par as cold, wet, and windy conditions dampened many players’ hopes of rising up the leaderboard before the horn blew at 3:15 p.m. ET.
To make matters worse for the LIV Golf star, those behind had gathered momentum. Lefty, already back in the room, jumped into second place, thanks to an unfortunate slide by Koepka, who took him out of the picture.
With 12 holes remaining for the lead group, it looks set to be a grueling day of Sunday action if The Masters is to avoid just the sixth Monday finish in the major’s history.
Aside from Koepka, Patrick Cantlay and Matt Fitzpatrick returned to the clubhouse as the winners of the day. As scores tumbled around them, the duo shot a round-best three-under par to move into the quartet tied for fourth, world No. 4 Cantlay making it through 13 holes while reigning US Open champion Fitzpatrick managed 11.
After two days of miserable weather had seen multiple suspensions of play at the 87th edition of the historic major, it was fitting that blue skies and sunshine set the backdrop for the crowning of Rahm, whose victory sees him leapfrog reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as world No. 1.
After starting the final round with a double bogey, he recovered quickly and went on to card a three-under 69.
The other three Spaniards who have donned the green jacket previously were Ballesteros, a former champion, Jose Mara Ovilgabal, and an ex champion,Sergio garcia.
It was meaningful for me to get it done on his birthday, 40 years later, and I knew he was with me today.
The oldest golfer ever to finish in the top-five at a major is Phil Mickelson, who finished inside the top five with a final round of 65. A three-time green jacket winner, he was all smiles as he breezed through Augusta with a number of scores.
It marks the lowest round ever posted by a player aged 50 or above, coming a day after Fred Couples became the oldest player to ever make the cut at the major.
Jordan shot a six-under 66 on the final day to finish at seven-under. The 2015 champion finished level with Russell Henley and Patrick Reed, who made it three LIV Golf players inside the top four.
Even though the American finished tied for 10th, a defense of the title looked unlikely after he dropped eight shots on the back nine of the second round.
Sam Bennett’s final hole at the Masters in Augusta, California, had he beaten Koepka, or might he ever play again?
Leading amateur Sam Bennett won hearts and plaudits after a superb week at Augusta. A Texan with a tattoo of his late father’s final piece of advice shot 76 to finish tied for 16th on his Masters debut.
The green light for the final round of the major was given on Sunday after the skies cleared over Augusta National.
A battle to beat the clock had already ensued Saturday after bad weather Friday – featuring winds strong enough to fell three large pine trees – had suspended play overnight and left several players needing to finish their second rounds.
His relief didn’t last long. After Rahm sunk his first birdie of the day at the third, Koepka made bogeys at four and six. A new leader emerged at the summit for the first time since Friday.
Sunday’s bright weather brought a more familiar feel to the picturesque terrain of Augusta National, but there was no familiar sight of Tiger Woods’ classic Sunday red. Despite struggling throughout the weekend, the 15-time major champion had battled to a record-equaling 23rd cut only to withdraw due to injury hours before play resumed on Sunday.
The fact that the 47-year-old hobbling towards his golf bag in the final holes of the weekend is related to the fact that he admitted to being in constant pain after his first round will only intensify questions of whether he will ever play again.
Koepka’s opening drive found the fairway: the ninth fairway. The American recovered superbly after his opening hook, planting his follow-up onto the green before saving par.
It was fitting encapsulation of the day that when a frustrated Koepka finally converted his first birdie of the afternoon at the 13th – snapping a 22 hole streak without one – Rahm matched his effort mere seconds later.
What had looked set to be an enthralling two-horse race had turned into a canter. Up ahead, American duo Reed and Henley were running out of time to challenge, and even back-to-back birdies for Koepka at the 15th and 16th only cut the gap to three.
Carrying a four shot lead into the final hole, there was a momentary scare for Rahm – perhaps his first genuine fright of the day – as his tee drive went sailing towards the trees.
A phenomenal approach onto the green allowed Rahm to fully bask in a champion’s ovation from the Augusta patrons. The ball barely made it to the bottom of the cup before the champion dropped his putter and flew to the sky to celebrate his victory.