The Masters 2023 LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Jon Rahm wins first green jacket

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Jon Rahm produced a nerveless Sunday performance to claim his first Masters green jacket in dominant but emotional style at Augusta National, in the perfect tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros.

Forty years after golfing icon Ballesteros claimed his second green jacket, and on what would have been his 66th birthday, Rahm became the fourth Spanish winner after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

The fourth and final round of a wild week at Augusta looked set to be a shootout between Rahm and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka - who at one point had feared a knee injury would his chances of ever being competitive at majors again.

Fit once more, Koepka actually led by four shots heading into Sunday, after bad weather forced play to be abandoned midway through Saturday’s third round, but by the time that belated third round had concluded, his advantage over Rahm was down to two strokes.

And as the American headed backwards in the fourth round, his Spanish foe relentlessly marched on and claimed his second major title - adding to his 2021 US Open crown - by carding a 69 to end on 12-under, a four-shot triumph over Koepka and a rejuvenated Phil Mickelson, who shot a magical Sunday 65 at the age of 52 to end in a tie for second on -8.

Relive the action from the final round below:

The Masters 2023

  • Jon Rahm wins the 2023 Masters in style

  • The Spaniard finishes the week on -12, four shots clear of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson

  • FINAL LEADERBOARD: -12: Rahm. -8: Koepka, Mickelson. -7: Reed, Spieth, Henley. -6: Young, Hovland.

  • Tiger Woods withdraws from the 2023 Masters citing injury

  • Mickelson shoots the lowest round in Masters history by a player age 50 or older with superb 65

  • Amateur Sam Bennett closes with final-round 74, finishes on -2.

The winning moment

00:34 , Ben Fleming

Spain’s sixth green jacket and first since Sergio Garcia in 2017. Here’s the winning putt:

Final leaderboard

00:31 , Ben Fleming

Simply nerveless stuff from Rahm today who wins by four strokes in the end. Here’s how the final leaderboard stacked up.

-12 Jon Rahm

-8 Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka

-7 Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Russell Henley

-6 Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland

-5 Sahith Theegala

-4 Scottie Scheffler, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa

JON RAHM WINS THE MASTERS

00:27 , Ben Fleming

For the first time today, there’s an outpouring of emotion from Rahm. He heads off the green to embrace his wife, kids and parents who are all greenside. As he walks back to sign off his card, there’s an emotional embrace with Jose Maria Olazabal as the pair share words.

What a moment for the Spaniard on what would have been the great Seve Ballesteros’ 66th birthday.

JON RAHM WINS THE MASTERS

00:22 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (75), Rahm -12 (69)

Rahm salutes the patrons as he walks up to the green - he’ll have just four feet for his par.

Koepka’s birdie effort is a good one but it just misses on the right side. He taps in for a par and clears the stage.

Rahm steps up, sinks the putt and we have our 2023 Masters champion!!

Rahm lays up on the last

00:18 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)

Rahm’s ball came back so far off the tree that he didn’t even reach the fairway. This hole essentially becomes a par five for him now but he flights a gem of a wedge into the last green - it flies the bunker, takes two hops and stops on a dime. He’ll have a very makeable putt to seal the deal and win his second major.

Koepka finds the green in two with a look for birdie.

Up ahead on 18

00:16 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (74), Cantlay -3 (75)

The penultimate pairing knock in their par putts to sign off their rounds. It was always going to be a tough ask for Cantlay starting at six under but Hovland may well look back at this as another missed opportunity given where he was at the start of the day.

Rahm in trouble off the tee

00:14 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)

The Spaniard double-crosses himself and the ball heads way right off the driver. It smashes off a tree and bounces way back into play. That will be a long second shot for Rahm. Koepka’s drive goes straight down the middle - oh, how he would have wished for these kinds of results off the tee earlier in the day.

Henley finishes off

00:12 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -2 (75), Henley -7 (70)

It’s a nice par to finish for Russell Henley. A very tidy two-under round and he sits in a tie for fourth as things stand.

Matsuyama bogeys the last and finishes on two under par for the tournament.

Koepka bogeys 17, Rahm leads by four.

00:09 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (17), Rahm -12 (17)

Koepka’s drive goes way left and his second can only be hacked up to beyond the green on the left. The American can’t get up and down and it’s another shot given back to the course and his third bogey on this back nine.

Rahm, as he has been all day, is steady - finding the green in regulation. It’s a nervy first putt but his second just catches enough of the hole and drops in. There’s the first sign of emotion for Rahm with a big fist pump. He knows that was important.

The Spaniard now goes up the last with a four-shot lead.

Birdie for Hovland

00:01 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (17), Cantlay -3 (17)

It’s not been his day today but Hovland pours in a birdie effort from 34 feet to move back to six under par and into a tie for seventh. Cantlay makes par to remain at three under par.

Amateur Bennett rounds off superb week

23:57 , Ben Fleming

Morikawa -4 (72), Bennett (a) -2 (74)

Bennett finds himself just off the green at the last but begins to make the hallowed walk with the sun setting upon him. The patrons stand and applaud everything that this fine young amateur has achieved this week and a smile breaks out across the golfer’s face - you suspect this will all take some time to sink in.

He can’t get up and down so it’s a bogey to finish but, regardless, it’s still a fantastic week for the US Amateur champion who ends on two under par.

Morikawa knocks in for his par putt and ends his week with a steady even-par round.

Rahm’s lead cut to three

23:53 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (16), Rahm -12 (16)

Koepka goes first and that’s right into the heart of the cup - he couldn’t, could he? Back-to-back birdies for Brooks now. Rahm’s putt is a tricky customer down the slope and it ends up just short. He taps in for a par and heads to the 17th tee.

Safely aboard the 16th green for Rahm

23:49 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (15), Rahm -12 (15)

Koepka goes first on the 16th and finds the back of the green. Rahm takes an aggressive line and it lands pin high. It feeds down the hill and he’ll have a 12-foot putt for another birdie.

More misery for Cantlay

23:46 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -5 (16), Cantlay -3 (16)

Cantlay’s tee shot into the 16th is not enough and he’s got a lot of work to do for his par. His first putt comes up well short and it’s a three-putt in the end for the American. Six bogeys for the day and three over for the day - you suspect he just fancies getting in and putting his legs up now.

Hovland saves par to remain at five under par.

Reed finishes up

23:43 , Ben Fleming

Reed -7 (68)

The LIV golfer knocks in a birdie effort at the last to complete a very respectable round of 68. It’s currently good enough for a tie for fourth.

23:39 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (15), Rahm -12 (15)

Rahm’s tee shot leaves him with no other option but to lay up but it’s exquisite touch to fly his wedge to just 11 feet. Koepka takes on the green in two and makes it but his lengthy eagle effort comes up short and he has to settle for birdie - just his second of the round as he moves back into a tie for second.

Rahm lines up his birdie effort up the slope...not to be and it drifts off to the right. An easy enough par for the Spaniard and he maintains his four-shot lead.

Hovland finds the water on 15

23:33 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -5 (15), Cantlay -4 (15)

The pair bogeyed 14 and 15 gets no better. Cantlay can only make par while Hovland’s second falls back into the water hazard. He does well to get up and down to save his par and remains on five under par.

Bogey for Reed

23:29 , Ben Fleming

Reed -6 (17)

Patrick finds himself in the bunker after his second shot and is unable to get up and down to save his par. He drops back to six under and his extremely faint chances are now gone.

Henley pars 15

23:28 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -4 (15), Henley -7 (15)

Henley misses a good look at birdie on the par-five 15 and has to settle at par. He’s had a bogey-free back-nine but that’s also yet to include a birdie. Just three holes left for him to try and get near to Rahm. Matsuyama makes par and remains one-over-par for his round.

Rahm leads by four with back-to-back birdies

23:23 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -7 (14), Rahm -12 (14)

Koepka goes first with his long-range effort...and he really gives it a go. It flies past the hole and he has work to do to make par. He can’t find the return putt and it’s another bogey for Koepka - what a disaster of a final round this has been from him.

The same can’t be said of Jon Rahm. His birdie effort catches the left edge and drops in at the last moment. The Spaniard moves to 12 under and he now leads by FOUR. Commanding stuff.

Glorious shot from Rahm on 14

23:17 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (13), Rahm -11 (13)

Both Koepka and Rahm find themselves in the rough after their drives. Koepka goes first and probably thinks he’s done quite well to chase on up to the back of the green. Rahm, albeit with a better lie, flies a superb iron to the back-left portion of the green. It works its way down towards the hole beautifully and that is a great look for birdie for Rahm.

Reed saves par on 16

23:14 , Ben Fleming

Reed -7 (16)

Patrick Reed is now three back off Rahm but he makes a good par save from the sand on 16 to follow up the birdie he made on 15.

You have to think he needs two birdies coming in to stand a chance, however.

Rahm leads by three

23:10 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (13), Rahm -11 (13)

Koepka’s lie isn’t as bad as it first looked but he races by the chip initially. However, it’s a great return putt and a much-needed birdie for Koepka - his first of the day.

Rahm shows great touch to nurse his chip down to just five feet and he knocks it in for a birdie. Massive putt for the Spaniard - he now leads Koepka and Mickelson by three.

The defending champion signs off

23:07 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -4 (68)

Scottie Scheffler taps in for a par on the last and the defending champion’s reign will last just a few more hours. A week where the putter was completely stone cold for the world number one and so to end up just outside the top ten speaks to the level of his ball striking this week.

They’ll be plenty more majors that he will contend in, that’s for sure.

Tough break for Koepka

23:04 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -7 (12), Rahm -10 (12)

Koepka bombs his drive down the middle - a sight we haven’t seen in a while - but he’s in trouble after his second. It carries the water but the ball comes to rest near the bunker and Brooks will probably have to place his feet inside the bunker as he chips down the slope.

Rahm follows up and also goes for the par five in two. He carries the water and also the green and his ball comes to a rest in the valley in front of the bunker.

Hovland birdies 13

23:02 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (13), Cantlay -5 (13)

Hovland has had a disappointing day to this point but he’s able to make a birdie four at the par-five 13th. He moves back to six under par while Cantlay remains at five under.

Young bogeys the last

22:59 , Ben Fleming

Young -6 (68)

Cam Young’s second shot gets him into trouble on the last and he is unable to get up and down to save his par. He probably needed a birdie there to be in with any shout but it’s another impressive showing for the young American at this tournament - he sits in a tie for sixth as thing stands.

Mickelson speaks to Sky Sports

22:57 , Ben Fleming

On his round of 65 today: “This been a really fun day for me. I'm grateful that we get to be here and play compete and be a part of the great championship. And then, to play, like I did today was extra special.

“I do want to shoot low scores and continue. I’m playing at a high level, and I have a unique opportunity given that I'm physically not having any issues and I’m able to play compete and swing the club the way I want to.

“I had a great offseason - three, four months off to really get ready for this upcoming season and take advantage of this unique opportunity that I have and to try to do some special things in the game.”

On being back at Augutsa: “We're all really appreciative to be a part of this and I think that It's great for the championship to have all the best players in the world here, playing and competing. It's fun for me as a past champion to be able to be part of this and continue to be a part of this great championship.”

 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Koepka drops another shot with bogey at 12

22:50 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -7 (12), Rahm -10 (12)

Rahm goes first off the tee at 12 and fires right into the heart of the green - no risks taken there. It’s a great lag putt and he’ll be more than happy to walk off with a par.

Koepka’s iron goes just over the back and he gets his chip horribly wrong. He’s still off the green putting for par and he flies it past the hole. Work now to limit the damage to just a bogey...but he makes it. A bogey four and Koepka drops back to seven under.

Rahm now leads Mickelson by two - now that’s a sentence I didn’t think I would write a few hours ago.

Couple of pars on 11

22:38 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (11), Rahm -10 (11)

Back to 11 with our leaders who both find the tricky 11th green in regulation. Rahm up first and that is a great putt from range that threatens to go in but just runs out of speed at the end. A tidy par for the Spaniard.

Brooks lines up his birdie effort but it drifts to the left - not his finest effort and that will be a par.

On to the par-three 12th they go...

Another birdie for Young

22:34 , Ben Fleming

Young -7 (17)

He’s missed out on the par-five 15th but he makes no mistake on the 17th with a cracking putt for birdie. He now joins the group at seven under par.

Reed sneaking into fourth

22:31 , Ben Fleming

Reed -7 (13)

With the chaos from Mickelson and Spieth’s finish subsiding, a few others are now making moves. One of them is 2018 champion Patrick Reed who sinks a long-range effort on the par-three 12 before following it up on 13 with another birdie.

He’s now up to a tie for fourth.

Huge par save for Koepka

22:26 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (10), Rahm -10 (10)

Koepka elects for the driving iron off the tee but it goes right and into the pine straw. He hacks out but finds himself above the bunker on the right-hand side. However, it’s a great up and down - finished off with a nine feet putt - to save par.

A more regulation par for Rahm who finds the green in regulation and two-putts from range for his four.

Record-breaking round by Mickelson

22:21 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -7 (66), Mickelson -8 (65)

What on earth have we just witnessed from Phil - simply jaw-dropping stuff. He looked devoid of confidence heading into the week but he’s just rattled off five birdies in his last seven holes to close out a round of 65 and move up into a tie for second!

That ties his lowest-ever Masters round and is the lowest round in Masters history by a player age 50 or older - nobody saw that coming today.

Spieth gets in trouble off the tee and misses a long putt for par. A bogey drops him to seven under but still a hugely impressive finish from him as well.

Bogey for Cantlay

22:16 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -5 (10), Cantlay -5 (10)

Cantlay finds the 10th in regulation but it’s a disappointing three-putt up the slope and he makes a bogey five. The American drops back to five under alongside Hovland who also makes par.

Running out of holes for the penultimate pairing.

Great day for Theegala

22:12 , Ben Fleming

Theegala -5 (67)

It’s a par save on the last after a lovely shot out of the bunker and it rounds off a superb day for the Masters debutant. He’s currently in the clubhouse tied for ninth - a superb day and a superb tournament for the 25-year-old.

I hope he’s now going to spend the rest of the evening watching that chip on 16 over and over again.

Bogeys for Rahm and Koepka

22:08 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -8 (9), Rahm -10 (9)

Koepka goes first and he’s got a rapid putt down the slope which just doesn’t stop - it flies past the hole and Brooks has got work to do for par.

He goes again before Rahm and it misses on the right side. His third bogey of the front nine and the wheels are falling off for the American at the minute.

Can Rahm take a three-shot lead onto the back nine? He can’t as he races it past the right edge. He taps in for a bogey and he keeps a two-shot lead after a one-under-par front nine.

Double delight for Spieth and Mickelson

22:03 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -8 (17), Mickelson -7 (17)

It just gets better and better for these two. A pair of gorgeous irons into the 17th green and they both take advantage and make their birdies. Spieth up to eight under now and Mickelson just one back on seven under.

Work to do for Rahm

22:01 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (8), Rahm -11 (8)

Both of the final pair are safely on the fairway on this ninth. Rahm goes first and it’s inches from perfection. But it grips and rolls back too far and it falls off the front of the green. That’s a tricky up and down now for par. Koepka finds the green and he’ll have a long-range turning putt for a birdie.

Bogey for Hovland

21:59 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -5 (9), Cantlay -6 (9)

Whilst everyone else makes their moves, Hovland’s round has stalled completely. Another bogey on nine means a three-over-par front nine and he drops further back from the lead. Cantlay makes par and remains at six under.

Henley up to third

21:56 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -5 (9), Henley -7 (9)

Watch out for Henley. Just one bogey today and a dart into the ninth green sets up an easy birdie for the American. He’s now tied for third. Matsuyama remains level par for the day.

Par save by Spieth on 16

21:53 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -7 (16), Mickelson -6 (16)

Spieth is all over his tee shot on 16 in the air...but it comes up short in the bunker. He responds very well, though, to get up and down and make par. Mickelson does the same and the pair stay as they were.

Up ahead on 17 and Theegala finds himself in some trouble. He makes a bogey five and drops back to six under but remains five under for the day.

Birdie for Lowry on 11

21:51 , Ben Fleming

Lowry -5 (11), Rose -2 (11)

Mixed fortunes on the 11th for these two. Lowry yells at his ball to go...and go it does. It lands seven feet from the hole and he makes birdie to move to five under par. With par-fives coming up, he could make a run at it. Rose makes a bogey five and he is now back on two under.

Rahm leads by two

21:48 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (8), Rahm -11 (8)

Rahm taps in for his birdie and he moves to 11 under. Koepka in response holds firm - it’s a commendable lag putt and he knocks in for a par. The lead grows, however, and Rahm now leads by two.

Magic from Rahm

21:47 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (7), Rahm -10 (7)

Koepka gets under the trees and is forced to hack out onto the fairway. He fires in a long-range iron and he is on the green in regulation - impressive stuff.

Rahm drills his second down the middle and it ends up just short of the green. But then it is pure magic from the Spaniard with the wedge in hand. He takes the spin of it and just lets it feed down to the hole. That’s a tap-in birdie for the leader.

Eagle for Young, double bogey for Scheffler

21:44 , Ben Fleming

Young -6 (13), Scheffler -4 (12)

Cam Young has been bubbling under the surface but springs into life with a monster putt on the par-five 13th. As mentioned earlier, Scheffler got in all sorts of bother on the 12th after a wild tee shot - he misses his bogey effort and any chances of a miraculous comeback are off with that double bogey.

Birdie misses at 8 for Hovland and Cantlay

21:41 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (8), Cantlay -6 (8)

Everywhere on the course, people are making birdies but the penultimate pair miss out on the par-five eights. Two birdie putts go missing and they remain at six under.

Birdies for Spieth and Mickelson

21:38 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -7 (15), Mickelson -6 (15)

Can everyone just calm down - everything is kicking off out there. Spieth and Mickelson find the green in two and both come away with birdies after leaving their eagle efforts short. Spieth into solo third, Mickelson into a tie for fourth.

More trouble for Brooks

21:36 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (7), Rahm -10 (7)

We’re only on the eighth hole but this is fast getting away from Koepka. As he did on the first, the American double crosses and sends it way left into the patrons on the par-five eighth. Rahm sends his drive down the middle in response, meanwhile. Pressure on.

Magic on 16 from Theegala

21:31 , Ben Fleming

Theegala -6 (16)

Oh my word! That’s is simply majestic from Thegala on the par-three 16th...Tiger Woods 2005-esque! He’s beyond the green, but uses the slopes to perfection to guide it down and into the hole - now he’s also in a tie for fourth.

Any description would fail to do it justice, so take a look:

Scottie’s on a run...or is he?

21:29 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -6 (10)

Where has this Scheffler been all week - a huge 40 feet putt across the hole at the 11th and he makes a massive birdie to move to six under. But straight away on the tee shot at 12, he flies the green and is in the hedges - he could well give one back straight away.

Back-to-back birdies for Cantlay

21:26 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (7), Cantlay -6 (7)

Hovland can't do anything with his tricky downhill putt as it comes up short of the hole. Cantlay, though, responds to his dropped shots earlier in emphatic style with another superb approach shot and his second successive birdie. Back into a tie for third for him.

Missed opportunity for Rahm

21:24 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (7), Rahm -10 (7)

Koepka gives his putt a good look for birdie but it flies by. The door is open for Rahm to extend his lead to two...but it’s a poor putt. Full of nerves from the Spaniard and you rarely can say that about him.

Koepka knocks in for par, as does Rahm, and we stay as we were.

Birdie chance for Rahm at 7

21:21 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (6), Rahm -10 (6)

Rahm is beginning to exert all kinds of pressure on Koepka right now. The American’s second shot into the seventh is good, nothing special and he’ll have just under 30 feet for a birdie. Rahm senses his chance and flies a beauty of a wedge to just eight feet - huge chance for a birdie.

Spieth into third

21:18 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -6 (14), Mickelson -5 (14)

He couldn’t, could he? Jordan Spieth doing Jordan Spieth things on the back nine at Augusta. No birdie at the 13th but a stupendous iron into the 14th green and he makes a simple putt to move to six under par and tied for third. Mickelson makes par and remains at five under.

Rahm leads the Masters

21:12 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -9 (6), Rahm -10 (6)

Koepka up first...his bogey putt misses on the right side. That’s two bogeys in three holes and no birdies so far today for the American.

Rahm steps up. ICE cold. Right into the heart of the cup and he now leads the Masters.

Trouble on six for Koepka

21:10 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -10 (5), Rahm -10 (5)

There is now a four-stroke lead between the final pair and the rest of the chasing pack but they’re both in trouble off the tee on six.

Rahm’s shot doesn’t have enough distance and trickles down the slope but his chip gives him a good look at par. Koepka flies the green and ends up in a similar spot to where Hovland was moments ago...and it’s a poor chip from the American that just clings on to the top ridge.

A tough par putt coming up for Koepka.

21:07 , Ben Fleming

Mickelson -5 (13), Spieth -5 (13)

The two Americans are feeding off each other but what a tournament this is turning out to be for the veteran American. It’s a vintage seven iron into the par-five and a two-putt gives him his second successive birdie and moves him into a tie for sixth.

Spieth’s second ends up in the back bunker and he can’t make birdie after his wedge out and settles for par.

Double bogey for Hovland

21:05 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -6 (6), Cantlay -5 (6)

Could that be it for Viktor? He flies the green with his tee shot into the par-three sixth and his chip onto the green leaves him with work to do. Hovland races the first putt past and the return catches the left edge and lips out. Double-bogey six and he’s now back with the pack.

Cantlay hits a fine iron into the green and merely has to tap in for a birdie to get himself back to five under.

Woodland with a poor bogey

21:02 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -6 (9)

Woodland was short of the green in two and he tries a cute chip aiming to use the slopes. It’s creative but only if it works...which it does not. It stays up on the ridge and Woodland makes a bogey.

No change after five

21:01 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -10 (5), Rahm -10 (5)

Our leaders find the fairways and greens in regulation. Neither with a particularly good look at birdie but they’ll take a solid two-putt. Rahm shows Koepka how it is done with a lovely lag putt as he knocks in for par. Koepka tidies up as well and it’s on to the sixth.

Another great par save for Hovland

20:54 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8 (5), Cantlay -4 (5)

Hovland made a crucial birdie save on the first and he makes another huge one on the fifth to remain two off the lead.

Cantlay gets himself in trouble off the tee and in the end, it’s a nice up and down to limit the damage to a bogey. He moves back to four under.

Scheffler into sixth

20:50 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -5 (9)

What a different week this could have been for Scottie. Tee to green he has been superb but his putter has been ice cold. He’s three under for the front nine but, even then, he’s missed opportunities from close range. A birdie on the ninth moves him into a tie for sixth.

Birdie for Woodland, bogey for Henley

20:47 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -7 (8), Henley -6 (5)

Woodland and Henley are fourth and fifth respectively but they’ve just switched places after their latest holes. Woodland shows great finesse around the green to set up a birdie four on the par-five eighth while Henley gets in all sorts of bother of the tee and, in the end, does well to escape with just a bogey.

Tied at the top

20:42 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -10 (4), Rahm -10 (4)

Rahm goes first with his birdie effort...but it runs out of steam towards the end. Solid par for Rahm.

Koepka looks to save his par after a good touch from the bunker but it’s a nervy downhill putt and it drifts past the left edge.

Bogey for Brooks and we are all square at the top.

Koepka in the sand on four

20:38 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (3), Rahm -10 (3)

I’m telling you right now, Koepka is not having it his own way right now. He wasn’t at his best this morning and he’s not found it again this afternoon so far. His tee shot flies into the bunker in front of the green and that will be a tough up and down for par. Rahm is safely on the middle of the green with just under 25 feet for a birdie.

Bogey for Cantlay

20:36 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8 (4), Cantlay -5 (4)

Hovland gets a bit unluck with his tee shot which takes a sharp bounce off the bank and flies past the hole. He does well, however, to get down in two. The same can’t be said of Cantlay as his par putt misses on the right side - back to five under for him.

Rahm moves within one

20:28 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (3), Rahm -10 (3)

Koepka steps up first for his birdie attempt. It has the line...but not the pace and it stops short of the hole.

Rahm smells his opportunity and makes no mistake with his effort - first blood goes to the Spaniard and he is just one back of Koepka now.

Birdie looks for the final pair on three

20:25 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (2), Jon Rahm -9 (2)

This third hole is a real tricky one with the second shot but both Koepka and Rahm give themselves a chance at birdie with some decent pitch shots. You have to feel one of these two will make a move sooner rather than later.

Woodland into fifth

20:23 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -6 (7), Day -3 (7)

Day has stayed at level par but Gary Woodland is on the charge. It’s a well-judged iron into this getable seventh and he knocks in for his third birdie of the day to move into a tie for fifth.

Pair of pars for Hovland and Cantlay

20:21 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8 (3), Patrick Cantlay -6 (3)

With Rahm and Koepka starting slowly, is there an opportunity for these two? They sure have great looks on the third but both miss out with their birdie chances. Pars instead.

Rahm and Koepka miss birdie chances

20:17 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (2), Rahm -9 (2)

Rahm catches a good break with his drive and can launch one out of the pine straw. It ends up in the left bunker. Koepka’s second finds its way into the right sand trap.

Rahm goes first from the sand but his doesn’t release down as much as he would like - still plenty of work to do for a birdie. Koepka’s shot is easier and he plays it well to give him a good look at birdie.

The Spaniard steps up first...he doesn’t hit it. A poor effort and just a par from the par five. Koepka’s turn...and it lips out! Not enough pace and it doesn’t hang on. A very slow start from the final pair.

Three in a row for Spieth

20:12 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -5 (10)

It’s clear skies above but it’s raining birdies on the greens. Spieth makes the turn onto the back nine but pours one in on the tenth to go with birdies on eight and nine. Tied for 6th place now for the former champion.

Back-to-back birdies for Henley

20:10 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -5 (3), Henley -6 (3)

No sooner had he got to six under, the American drains one on the third to get to seven under - he’s now only four back of Brooks Koepka. Matsuyama makes another par.

Schauffele making a move

20:09 , Ben Fleming

Schauffele -5 (4)

A beautiful tee shot into the fourth from Xander and he knocks in for his second birdie of the day. He moves to five under par.

Hovland misses birdie chance

20:07 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8 (2), Patrick Cantlay -6 (2)

Hovland hits a superb fairway metal into the second green but the damp greens mean it doesn’t release down to the hole. From long range, he fails to get down in two and that is a real missed opportunity. Cantlay, though, makes no mistake and he immediately bounces back to six under.

Koepka down the middle on two

20:02 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (1), Jon Rahm -9 (1)

You have to feel that these two will be eyeing up a birdie at the minimum on this par-five the way it’s playing today. Koepka smokes his drive way down the fairway but Rahm’s floats out to the right - in a similar manner to his drive on the first - and his ball ends up among the patrons.

Henley into solo fourth

19:59 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -5 (2), Henley -6 (2)

We’re seeing all kinds of delightful displays of short-game prowess on this second hole and it continues with this pair. Henley uses the contours beautifully to set up his birdie while Matsuyama executes a delicate up and down from the front bunker to make his birdie.

Henley into fourth on his own while Hideki gets back the shot he dropped at the first.

Birdie for Morikawa

19:50 , Ben Fleming

Morikawa -5 (2), Bennett (a) -4 (2)

Bennett misses his opportunity for a birdie four at the par-five second but Morikawa makes no mistake despite being in the greenside bunker after his second. He moves into a tie for fourth at five under par.

Good par save by Rahm

19:47 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11 (1), Jon Rahm -9 (1)

Off the tee, it looked like Koepka would be the one fighting to save par. Instead, it is Rahm with 10 feet left after his chip...but he makes no mistake. He needed that.

Koepka nurses his putt across the green expertly and knocks in for his par. One down, 17 to go...

Tremendous recovery from Koepka

19:42 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11, Jon Rahm -9

Koepka was so far right that he ended up on the ninth fairway but it’s a fantastic shot back over the trees and he catches a piece of the left side of the green. Still some work to be done to get down in two from there.

Rahm’s second leaks out to the right and he’ll have to get up and down from just off the green.

Hovland saves par on the first

19:39 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8 (1), Patrick Cantlay -5 (1)

Well played, Viktor. He could easily have dropped one there but it’s a super par save from 12 feet to stay at eight under. The same can’t be said of Cantlay who lets his effort dribble past the left edge. Not the start he would have been looking for.

Cam Young into fifth

19:37 , Ben Fleming

Young -5 (5)

A fast start for the American who follows up his birdies on one and two with another at five after a pin-point iron into the green. Is he too far back?

Strap in folks...

19:35 , Ben Fleming

Koepka -11, Jon Rahm -9

Here we go. Koepka and Rahm are on the tee and this Masters final round is underway. But, wow that’s way left from Brooks off the tee. A nasty double cross from the American and he’ll be in a similar spot to where Hovland hit his second just moments ago.

Rahm senses the opportunity and flies his straight down the middle of the fairway.

Hovland in early trouble

19:32 , Ben Fleming

Hovland -8, Patrick Cantlay -6

The penultimate pair tee off but Hovland stikes his drives way left into the patrons. Not the best start for the currently third-placed Norwegian. Cantlay finds the fairway with his drive but he doesn’t get it all the way up with his second and he’ll have an up and down for his par.

Opening bogey for Matsuyama

19:29 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -4 (1), Henley -5 (1)

Hideki can’t get up and down from the front of the green and he drops one on the first. Henley lags his putt up and makes a par.

Lowry into the top five

19:27 , Ben Fleming

Lowry -5 (2), Rose -4 (2)

Some beautiful displays of short-game magic from these two. Lowry is short and left, Rose long and right - both use the slopes on this second beautifully to create birdie chances....and both take them! Lovely stuff from the pair.

Fourth birdie for Theegala

19:23 , Ben Fleming

Theegala -4 (8)

The flags on the pins are bowing gently in this wind but there are clearly scores to be had out there. Theegala’s eagle effort ends up short but he’s able to make the birdie putt to move into the congested pack at four under par.

Tidy work from Bennett

19:20 , Ben Fleming

Morikawa -4 (1), Bennett (a) -4 (1)

The amateur’s second shot misses the green to the right but it’s a beautiful touch from off the green to ensure his par. Morikawa ends up short of the green and nearly makes birdie but his chip lips out of the hole and he has to settle for par.

Day makes birdie four

19:18 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -4 (2), Day -4 (2)

There’s a congested bunch of eight golfers at four under par and Jason Day is the latest to reach that mark as he converts his birdie chance on the par-five second.

Matsuyama off the first

19:16 , Ben Fleming

Matsuyama -5, Henley -5

2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama is off now as we near the final pairings. He and Henley both find the fairway with their tee shots.

Scheffler moving up

19:10 , Ben Fleming

Scheffler -3 (2)

It feels unusual that we have hardly mentioned the world number-one player these past couple of days. It’s unlikely he’ll defend his title but a nice birdie at the par-five second moves him just outside the top ten.

Morikawa and Bennett underway

19:07 , Ben Fleming

Collin Morikawa -4, Sam Bennett (a) -4

We’re slowly getting toward h the players at the top of the leaderboard now. Morikawa and Bennett are the latest to tee off but neither manage to find the fairway - Bennett is behind the bunker on the right rough while Collin is in the pine straw up the left.

Spieth birdies 5

19:03 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -3 (5)

A disappointing bogey at the fourth but the American responds in style at the following hole as he makes a good putt down the hill to move back to three under.

Nice start for Lowry

19:01 , Ben Fleming

Lowry -4 (1), Rose -3 (1)

There are birdies to be made at this first and plenty are taking advantage. Lowry is the next to do so as he taps in following a delightful approach into the first green. Rose’s effort somehow misses on the left side and he makes par.

Back-to-back birdies for Young

18:59 , Ben Fleming

Young -4 (2), Niemann -3 (2)

Cam Young has flattered to deceive since his hugely impressive first round on Thursday. He’s started well in this fourth round with birdies on one and two, however. His playing partner, LIV Golf’s Niemann, also birdies the first to move up to three under.

Monster putt on the first for Woodland

18:54 , Ben Fleming

Woodland -4 (1), Day -3 (1)

Gary Woodland is underway with Jason Day and the former US Open champion starts in topsy-turvy fashion. His drive ends up in the pine straw and he chases one up to the green. 46 feet for birdie? No problem - what a putt down the slope! He moves to four under - Day remains at -3 with a par.

Plenty for amateur Bennett to play for

18:50 , Ben Fleming

7:05 pm BST - Collin Morikawa (-4), Sam Bennett (a) (-4)

Amateur Sam Bennett has been one of the stories of this week. The US Amateur champion played the first two rounds alongside Max Homa and defending champion Scottie Scheffler. Consecutive rounds of 68 left him at eight under after two rounds. He’s dropped back to -4 after the third but there’s still plenty for him to play for - he’s tied for 7th and will earn an invite back for next year with a 12th-place finish or better.

He tees off with Collin Morikawa in 15 minutes.

Tough start for Fleetwood

18:37 , Ben Fleming

Fleetwood +4 (3*) *denotes 10th tee start

Tommy is someone whose game you would fancy to do well around Augusta. He made the cut under par but his final round has not started well. Three bogeys on his opening three holes and he drops back to four over par.

More birdies for Spieth and Theegala

18:27 , Ben Fleming

Spieth -3 (2), Theegala -3 (4)

Could this be a sign of what’s to come? Still early days but these two are showing that there are birdies to be made out there right now. Theegala hits a dart into the par-three fourth - it flies the bunker and rolls back to five feet and he converts.

Spieth makes the most of the par-five second and taps in for a birdie after his eagle putt rolls past the hole

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