On the same day that his idol Severiano Ballesteros would have turned 66 years old, Jon Rahm paid him tribute by winning the Augusta Masters, beating Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson by four shots. With this title, the Spanish golfer regains the number one position in the world golf ranking, surpassing the American Scottie Scheffler and the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.
Jon Rahm wins the Green Jacket. #themasters pic.twitter.com/WZ2P2ehDP7
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2023
He is the fourth Spaniard in the history of golf to wear the green jacket. Severiano Ballesteros won two titles in 1980 and 1983. José María Olazábal won in 1994 and 1999 and Sergio García won in 2017. By winning the Augusta Masters, Rahm adds his second Majors (major men's golf tournament) to his list of honors - 2021 U.S. Open champion.
Spain has the second-highest number of Masters at Augusta, far behind the 63 victories of the USA. "The tenth major of Spain and the sixth jacket. It's hard for me to explain. Seeing Sergio win was incredible and that makes you, as a Spaniard, come and believe that there is something special here for Spaniards, that it is our destiny to be able to play well here. To have won it at such a young age is an honor, and hopefully I can win more," Rahm said at a press conference.
A Green Jacket for Jon Rahm. #themasters pic.twitter.com/9m0Z59P1qR
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2023
A historic milestone
The experts' predictions came true. Before the tournament began, Rahm was the favorite to win the Masters at Augusta and wear the green jacket. "I was told a lot of things about why this could be the year," said the Spanish golfer. "And I just didn't want to believe it too much."
Rahm will go down in history as the first European golfer to win the Masters at Augusta and the US Open:
I still don't believe that he is the first European to win the Masters and the US Open. I can tell you that. I find it hard to believe that I am the first. And the truth is, that's quite an honor.
A second major championship for Jon Rahm. #themasters pic.twitter.com/N46q3ptQxu
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2023
Rahm pockets the biggest prize in the history of the Masters
Rahm will not only take home the green jacket. The Spanish golfer also pocketed $3,240,000, the largest check awarded at the Augusta Masters. That's $634,000 more than Scottie Scheffler received last year.
In addition, Rahm is already the fourth-highest earning golfer in the history of the tournament. With $5,142,000, he is second only to Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
