Jon Rahm overhauls Brooks Koepka to win Masters on dramatic final day

Jokes about LIV golfers and their inability to keep pace in 72-hole competition would be appropriate had Phil Mickelson not emerged as such a threat to Jon Rahm.

As Brooks Koepka collapsed in Rahm’s shadow, his fellow LIV rebel Mickelson rolled back the years. But Rahm would not be denied. It felt like Spanish stars aligning as he sampled victory on what would have been the 66th birthday of Seve Ballesteros. Rahm’s second major title comes 40 years after Ballesteros collected Green Jacket number two.

It seemed extraordinary to recall Rahm’s Masters opened with a four-putt, double-bogey six. By close of play he had raced to 12 under par. Victory was by four shots. Olé, olé, olé.

Koepka is the alpha male whose game turned stale. A final round of 75 belied his confidence. From early in proceedings Koepka wilted to a level that visibly inspired Rahm. A tie for second with Mickelson will provide scant consolation.

Mickelson’s final round of 65 suggests tales of his golfing demise have been hugely exaggerated. His previously sparkling reputation has undoubtedly been dulled by various LIV matters. Still, his majors record had also been pretty dismal from the point of sensational victory at the 2021 US PGA Championship until now. There may be further life in the 52-year-old “Lefty” yet. As if to prove Georgia golf crowds care little about dalliances with Saudi Arabians bearing dollars, Mickelson was roared from hole to hole over his closing stretch.

“This doesn’t feel like a fluke,” said Mickelson, the spring in his step fully restored. “Hopefully it’s a stepping stone. I know I’ve been playing really well. I’ve been shooting low scores back home. I’ve been playing consistently well. When I’ve been competing, I have not been