Rahm wins Masters crown to reclaim World No 1 spot

Jon Rahm delivered tension-packed clutch shots down the stretch on Sunday to win the 87th Masters, capturing his second major title to reclaim the world number one ranking.

The 28-year-old Spaniard held firm when 54-hole leader Brooks Koepka fell apart, playing iron-solid and mistake-free golf until the final hole to methodically fend off Koepka and Phil Mickelson, foiled in his bid at age 52 for a seventh major victory.

Rahm fired a three-under par 69 to finish 72 holes at Augusta National on 12-under 276 to defeat Koepka and Mickelson by four strokes.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and Russell Henley were in an all-American pack sharing fourth on 281.

Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion, won the green jacket and took a record top prize of $3.24 million from a record $18 million purse.

Ten-under and two ahead of Mickelson as he began the back nine, Rahm never faltered, producing precision shotmaking on a bogey-free back nine.

Rahm chipped to five feet to set up a birdie at the par-5 13th and landed his approach to four feet ahead of a birdie at 14 then parred his way in, the only sign of championship pressure being a poor tee shot at 18, where he still rescued par, then thrust his arms into the air to celebrate.

Rahm, with three other PGA Tour triumphs this year, won on what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, who won the Masters 40 years ago.

"I'd like to think he's up there watching and pulling for me," Rahm said before the final round. "If there's somebody who would have enough charisma to give me any help, it would be him."

The moments when a dream becomes reality. #themasters pic.twitter.com/A0uBDsIrdz

The feeling of becoming a Masters champion.