became the main character of the ‘Green Jacket’ for the first time in his life. As Rahm of the American Professional Golf (PGA) Tour won the Masters, the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, the PGA Tour won the battle of pride against the LIV series sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s capital. 안전놀이터
In the final 4 rounds of the 87th Masters Tournament (total prize money of 18 million dollars) held at Augusta National Golf Club (par 72, 7545 yards) in Augusta, Georgia, USA on the 10th, Ram hit 3 under par 69 with 4 birdies and 1 bogey. Ram, who recorded a final total of 12 under par 276 strokes, comfortably beat Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka (above USA), who were tied for second place, by 4 strokes, and took the championship prize money of 3.24 million dollars (approximately 4.27 billion won).
Ram’s major championship victory is the second after the 2021 US Open. The Spanish player has won the Masters for the first time in six years, following Sergio Garcia in 2017. Ram became the fourth Spanish national to win the Masters after Seve Ballesteros (1980/1983), Jose Maria Olasabal (1994/1999), and Garcia.
Rahm, who is having the best year of his life by winning 3 times on the PGA Tour only in January and February of this year, increased his career winning streak to 11 with this victory. Rahm, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world, regained the No. 1 spot in the world with his Masters victory. Ram rose to world No. 1 in February this year, but lost the No. 1 spot to Scotty Scheffler (USA) in mid-March.
In the global golf world, the conflict between the LIV series, which was launched with enormous capital in June of last year, and the PGA Tour is intensifying. In this Masters, which was held for the first time since the launch of the LIV Series, the focus was on which side of the LIV Series and the PGA Tour would produce the winner. With Tiger Woods (USA), the symbol of the PGA Tour, withdrawing from the third round and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) missing the cut, Rahm almost gave up the championship to LIV’s Koepka or Mickelson. He became the hero of the PGA Tour by blocking it.
Ram’s victory was a great match achieved in a forced march of 30 holes a day. As the game was suspended during the third round due to bad weather, the players had to play a total of 30 holes on the last day, including the remainder of the third round (12 holes) and the fourth round of 18 holes.
Ram started the fourth round in second place, two strokes behind Koepka. Ram chased after by one stroke with a birdie on the 3rd hole, and Koepka made a bogey on the 4th hole, making it a tie. Koepka also made a bogey on the 6th hole, giving Ram the lead. Ram increased the gap with Koepka to two strokes with a birdie on the 8th hole. Afterwards, Koepka continued to lose strokes in holes 9 and 12, and Ram’s solo system was established as the gap widened to 3 strokes.
Ram made a series of birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, virtually booking the championship. Koepka also chased Ram by 3 strokes again with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, but on the 17th hole, Ram par and Koepka missed by bogey. Ram made a par save on the 18th hole and confirmed the championship by 4 strokes.
Koepka, who held the lead until the third round, was aiming for his first major win as a player from LIV, but was caught in the fourth round of hunting. This is the first time that Koepka, who has won four majors in his career by winning the 2017/2018 US Open and the 2018/2019 PGA Championship, failed to win a major tournament where he led until the third round. Mickelson, born in 1970, who hit 7 under par only on the last day, tied for second place with Koepka, becoming the oldest player ever to be in the top five at the Masters.
Among Korean players, Lim Seong-jae (25, CJ Logistics) and Kim Joo-hyung (21, CJ Logistics) tied for 16th with a 2-under-par 286 strokes, Lee Gyeong-hoon (32, CJ Logistics) tied for 23rd with a 1-under 287, and Kim Si-woo ( 28 CJ Logistics) finished the tournament in a tie for 29th with a 1-over par of 289 strokes.
Woods, who succeeded in passing the 23rd consecutive cut at the Masters, withdrew after completing 7 holes in the 3rd round, citing pain in the soles of his feet. Woods’ withdrawal from the Masters is the first time in history. Last year’s winner and world number one Scotty Scheffler (USA) tied for 10th with a 4-under par of 284 strokes.