AUGUSTA, GA — Jon Rahm got hooked on golf because of Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros.
Jon Rahm always had game and is well known Worldwide in the golf universe. Another Masters is underway as you step on one of golf’s holy grounds.
Starting on Thursday, when competition begins, the first hole butterflies can impact the best of the best in the world of golf. This year was no different for Rahm. The excitement of competing at Augusta is a tradition like no other as you approach the first tee.
On the first hole on Thursday, Rahm starts with a four-putt, which is a less than desirable start with your putter. The good news however is that there was 71 holes to go. With birdies at 2 and 3 it’s like nothing ever happened. Even through 3 looks way better than +2 through 3.
The true jumpstart may have been on the par five 8th where a brilliant fairway would gets within 3 feet of the hole for a tap-in Eagle which would help towards a round of 65. The elements of Mother Nature tested all abilities inside the golfer from skill levels in tournament settings, especially the majors where you’re going up against the worlds best.
The delays pushed Friday afternoon play into Saturday. Saturday morning with the rain and cooler weather was nothing new for Rahm as golf in Europe is known for those conditions leading to a 69 in his second round as fellow competitors were posting higher scores due to tougher conditions.
The delay from Saturday into Sunday may have been just the reset that Rahm needed as he came off of back to back bogeys shortly before play was suspended for the rest of the day on Saturday. April 9th happens to be a big day for Spanish golf, as that’s the day Ballesteros was born.
Many great Spanish golfers have since followed Seve such as Jose Maria Olazábal and Sergio Garcia.
All three of these Spanish golfers have achieved one of golf’s pinnacle’s with at least one green jacket of their own. The last Spaniard to win the green jacket was Sergio Garcia, who ironically won his on Seve’s birthday on 4/9/2017.
As Rahm prepared to play 30 holes on Easter Sunday, Rahm was on one of Golf’s holy grounds ready to take the major task one hole at a time, one shot at a time. At the conclusion of the third round, Rahm was within striking distance of Brooks Koepka only two shots back after 54 holes.
Brooks Koepka has not given up a 54 hole lead in his previous 4 opportunities. With 18 holes to go the spirit of Seve Ballesteros was alive, as this year was the 40th anniversary of Seve’s second Green Jacket.
As the day progressed, and fellow competitors make their moves, the biggest one came from Phil Mickelson, who shot a final round 65 to set the clubhouse lead at -8. Coming off 9 with bogey by no means was a two shot lead safe with 9 to go especially on the back 9 at Augusta.
Rahm was hitting smart shots making smart decisions however the shot of the tournament may have been on 14 where Rahm had to cut around the trees after finding trouble. Seve has always been known for hitting those type of shots which make you think how’d he do that?
The shot on 14 ended up less than 5 feet away for back to back birdies which took him to -12 and a 4 shot lead with 5 to play.
As Rahm approaches 18 with the chills of putting on the green jacket are within reach, Rahm does the unthinkable and hits his tee-shot in the trees on the left. Somehow the ball stays in play and finishes short of 18 fairway.
Another major break for Rahm however he still has work to do.
Finishing with a Seve-esque par, the Spirit of Seve Ballesteros helped guide another fellow countryman to another storied green jacket for Spain. With this win, Rahm is the only European-born golfer to win both the US Open and the Masters.
For Rahm, celebrating Easter Sunday with that spirit, will continue as he is now a Masters champion for the rest of his life.