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Dean Bilton and Jon Healy

Jon Rahm wins Masters green jacket, holding off Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson in final round at Augusta

Jon Rahm celebrates his Masters triumph in the green jacket. (Getty Images: Ross Kinnaird)

Jon Rahm has become the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters, outlasting playing partner Brooks Koepka and seeing off a surprise late charge from Phil Mickelson to win his second major.

Adding to his 2021 US Open win, Rahm joined Sergio Garcia (2017), José María Olazábal (1994, 1999) and Seve Ballesteros (1980, 1983) as the only other Spaniards to wear the green jacket at Augusta.

Rahm hugged Olazábal as he came off the green on the late Ballesteros's birthday and the 40th anniversary of his second win at Augusta.

"If you had of given us 10 more seconds I think we both would've started crying," Rahm said of his embrace with Olazábal.

Koepka led Rahm by two strokes heading into the final day's play, but that was gone after Rahm birdied the par-four third and Koepka bogeyed the fourth out of the bunker.

Tied for the lead at 10-under, Rahm found himself all alone at the top when his American rival drove over the back of the sixth green and carded another bogey.

Koepka was 4-over for the day before he found his first birdie of the round on 13, but gave that shot straight back with another bogey on 14. Meanwhile, Rahm kept him at arm's length with a 1-under front nine and birdies on 13 and 14.

Jon Rahm (right) ate into Brooks Koepka's (left) overnight lead almost immediately. (Getty Images: Christian Petersen)

The up-and-down day for four-time major winner Koepka allowed Jordan Spieth and veteran Phil Mickelson to catch up to him, with their hot finishes of 6-under and 7-under respectively.

As the American carded his sixth bogey of the day to drop into a tie for second with Mickelson at 8-under, Rahm carried on his merry way before he finally had a hiccup at the worst possible time.

The 2021 US Open champion shanked his tee shot on the 18th and final hole, but ended up with a decent lie and, with a four-stroke buffer to his nearest rival, expertly laid up and saved par for a four-stroke win.

Jon Rahm is a two-time major winner after adding the Masters to his victory in the 2021 US Open. (Getty Images: Christian Petersen)

Look back at the final day at Augusta as it happened and check out the full leaderboard.

Key events

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Congratulations Jon Rahm, Masters champion

By Dean Bilton

(Getty Images)

In the race for the honour of best player in the world, Jon Rahm has taken another significant step forward. Already enjoying an outrageous year, this triumph - the greatest of his career - confirms what we already knew about Jon Rahm. A special talent, destined for yet more major glory.

The Masters is the one he wanted most, and on the anniversary of his hero's second win at Augusta Jon Rahm has reached the pinnacle. It may not be for the last time.

That's where we'll leave the blog for this morning. Thanks for joining me, and I hope to see you again when we fire it up for the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in May.

Jon Rahm to receive his green jacket in Butler Cabin

By Dean Bilton

Before we get to the full ceremony outside, last year's champion Scottie Scheffler has presented an emotional Jon Rahm with his green jacket inside Butler Cabin.

Here's Rahm on his hero, Seve Ballesteros:

"I wasn't sure how it was going to come to me until I hit my third shot on 18. History is a big part of why I play, and Seve is a big part of it. If it wasn't for the 1977 Ryder Cup, I don't know where I'd be."

"To get this done on the 40th anniversary of his win, on his birthday, it's incredible. And I got it done with a 'Seve par' on 18, I know he was cheering me on today."

Rahm and Olazabal embrace

By Dean Bilton

This is the hug I was talking about. I wish I spoke Spanish right about now.

Spain's fourth Masters champion

By Dean Bilton

Forty years after the great Seve Ballesteros's 1983, Rahm joins Seve, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia as Spain's green jacket winners.

There was a hug with Olazabal just off the 18th green that will be replayed a few times, I'd say.

Jon Rahm's moment to remember

By Dean Bilton

Jon Rahm has won the Masters!

By Dean Bilton

Key Event

The Spaniard seals the deal!

He completes his par on the 18th to secure a final round 69, a -12 finish for the tournament and a four-shot win. The green jacket belongs to Jon Rahm in 2023!

Koepka for birdie and solo second

By Dean Bilton

This to go one clear of Phil Mickelson... it slips just by.

A par to finish for Koepka, a great week ends in a tie for second with Mickelson at -8.

There are tears in Jon Rahm's eyes

By Dean Bilton

His wife and kids are just off the green ready to embrace him. His moment has almost arrived.

Rahm's approach at 18

By Dean Bilton

He's got a wedge in hand and will just be looking to give himself a putt.

And just for the fun of it, he picks one to about three feet! He's a master, this guy. And with that shot it appears as if he's letting the moment and the significance of his achievement sink in.

(Getty Images)

Rahm's second on the 18th

By Dean Bilton

So Jon Rahm is effectively laying up with his second shot here, because his first came back towards the tee box so far.

Tell you what, if this was even remotely close things would be getting seriously squeaky around here. Instead Rahm is able to cruise that shot up short of the greenside bunkers and try to get up and down for par.

Meanwhile Koepka's second is very tidy, finds the middle of the green and feeds back down to pin high.

Looks like Rahm's tee shot hit a tree

By Dean Bilton

And has bounced halfway back to the tee box. But it's in the second cut, and it's in play, and everything is fine.

A stroke of good fortune for Jon Rahm who will be able to play his original ball. Not sure if he'll have much of a play on the green, but with a four-shot lead that isn't really important.

Rahm and Koepka on the 18th tee

By Dean Bilton

Jon Rahm is a couple of good swings away here, and then all the tension will be released.

But that is a rotten drive. Pulled left and heading further left. That's in the lap of the gods, could have ended up anywhere.

And as Koepka smokes his into the fairway, Rahm is going to hit a provisional!

The provisional finds the fairway - reminder he can play that second ball if he can't find the first one. If that's the case, he will be lying three in the middle of the fairway.

Rahm and Koepka have par putts at 17

By Dean Bilton

Brooks will be up first. There is half a chance he could pull this back to a two-shot defecit with a hole to play.

But Koepka misses. Another bogey. And that should just about formally kill off any hopes of a miracle.

Rahm makes no mistake! And there was a subtle fist pump after that one dropped. He has been emotionless all round, but it might be about to start seeping out of Spaniard Jon Rahm.

Rahm for birdie at the 17th

By Dean Bilton

Is there time for one more highlight to add to Jon Rahm's reel? This would take a special putt.

Hmm, not great. Very short and with work to do for par. Maybe the first nervous-looking thing we've seen from Rahm today.

Koepka chipping from off 17th green

By Dean Bilton

The green is elevated so he has to skip it up and get it to spin sharply.

Good enough, but still a fairly lengthy par putt to come. Not been his day.

Rahm attacking the green at 17

By Dean Bilton

He has been living in the middle of greens this entire back nine, and this is no different. Nicely weighted, perfect line. An uphill putt for birdie coming up.

(Getty Images)

Koepka from the trees on the left of 17th

By Dean Bilton

He's tried to hit a low punchy draw, but it has flown out a little too straight and has rolled into the feet of the patrons to the right of the green.

That's not too bad really, can get up and down from there.

An 18th ovation for the low-am

By Dean Bilton

Koepka and Rahm at the 17th tee

By Dean Bilton

Brooks is back to second place on his own. Could he hit a couple of good ones to make Rahm a little nervous?

Ahh, nope. He's blown that miles left, not for the first time in this round. He'll have a shot, but that's not good.

Rahm now. It's another delicious little cut down the centre of the fairway. He's three good swings and a few putts away from the Masters now.

(Getty Images)
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