Rahm channels idol Ballesteros to win Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Rock-steady Jon Rahm, channelling Spanish great Seve Ballesteros on his late hero's birthday, survived a marathon day and scored an emotional Masters win at Augusta National on Sunday (Apr 9), denying LIV Golf a watershed victory.

Rahm, who started the day four off the lead, rallied behind a final round three-under 69 for a winning total of 12-under 276 and a decisive four-shot victory over LIV standard bearers Brooks Koepka and evergreen Phil Mickelson.

The win was Rahm's fourth this season, earning him a second career major to go along with his 2021 US Open title.

He also reclaims the number one world ranking from defending champion Scottie Scheffler.

"Never thought I was going to cry by winning a golf tournament, but I got very close on that 18th hole," said Rahm, who becomes the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

"A lot of pride, I am really proud of myself and what I did."

Koepka, who sat atop the leaderboard for three rounds, simply could not get in gear at the end, labouring to a three-over 75.

Winner of three Green Jackets, 52-year-old Mickelson turned back the clock and carded the round of the day with a sensational seven-under 65 - the lowest Masters round ever for a player over 50 - to join Koepka on eight-under 280.

Two former-Masters champions in Jordan Spieth (66) and Patrick Reed (68), along with Russell Henley (70), finished one shot further adrift in a tie for fourth.

Coming on what would have been Ballesteros's 66th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the Spanish talisman's second of two Green Jacket wins, Rahm soaked up a rousing ovation as he walked up the 18th fairway with a four-stroke cushion.

Fighting to keep his composure, the