John Rahm wins the Masters in Augusta

The Spaniard again took the lead in the world rankings. Sepp Streca played a weak final round.

Spaniard John Rahm won the Masters title in Augusta for the first time in his career, preventing a pro from the controversial LIV Tour from winning. The 28-year-old golfer needed a total of 276 strokes (twelve strokes less) and thus slipped into the legendary green jacket. On the other hand, the Viennese Sepp Straka completely failed his last round on Sunday in the 72nd session with an average of 78 and fell to 46th place with a total of seven over par.

In the end, Straka had seven bogeys with only one bird. So the 29-year-old couldn’t improve on his 30th-place finish on his Masters debut last year. “I had some bad swings in the first few holes. It wasn’t the Sunday I wanted,” Straka said on Sky. The red-white-red character will kick off at RBC Heritage in South Carolina and then take a two-week break.

Meanwhile, Ram landed two pros who were playing the much-criticised Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Tour to share second place by four strokes: Americans Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka. For Ram, it was the fourth win of the season and his second major after the US Open. Ram took over the top spot in the world rankings from reigning champion Augusta Scotty Scheffler.

“This was for Saif”

“I never thought I would cry when I won a golf tournament. But I was so close to the 18th hole,” said Ram, who is the fourth Spaniard to do so after Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olzabal and Sergio Garcia of the Masters. . “I am very proud of myself and what I have achieved.”

In the final round, Kopka lost a one-stroke lead over Ram and ended the tournament with a round of 75. Three-time Masters champion Mickelson came in with a round of 65. At the moment of success, Ram thought of his idol, Ballesteros. “This was for Saif. He was there and helped, and he really did,” Rahm said of Ballesteros, who died of a brain tumor in 2011. “To be able to do it on the 40th anniversary of his victory, on his birthday and on Easter Sunday is incredibly meaningful.”

Tiger Woods retired after seven holes of the third round due to a sore foot. The star had previously made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time in Augusta, setting a record. Due to weather-related interruptions, Augusta’s regular schedule has been thrown into disarray. The pros only finished the third round on Sunday morning.

(Apa / dpa / Reuters)