From a historic Masters triumph to a dominant Open Championship performance, the Major Championships have once again provided us with great intrigue in 2023.
Rahm wins to emulate hero Seve
The first Major of the season returned to Augusta National for the 87th edition of the Masters Tournament from April 6-9.
Jon Rahm followed in the footsteps of his hero Seve Ballesteros as he clinched Masters glory 40 years on from his countryman's second win at Augusta National Golf Club on what would have been his 66th birthday.
Despite starting the week by four-putting the first hole on Thursday, the Spaniard barely put a foot wrong from there, producing a relentless display of huge driving and nerveless putting.
Weather delays on Friday and Saturday meant Rahm – one of the pre-tournament favourites – had to complete 30 holes on Sunday as he started the final day four shots adrift of Brooks Koepka.
But by the time the pair had completed their delayed third rounds Rahm had cut the gap to two shots before he wiped out the deficit entirely inside four holes of the final round.
However, when the 2021 U.S. Open Champion reached the 15th tee, he held a four-shot lead and maintained that advantage through to the finish to seal his second Major triumph and first Green Jacket.
It was his fifth top-ten finish in seven visits to Augusta as he became the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters as he was met by his family – wife Kelley and two sons Kepa and Eneko – by the 18th green.
Before being presented with his Green Jacket by last year's winner Scottie Scheffler, Rahm said: "For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his win, his (Ballesteros’) birthday, on Easter Sunday, it's incredibly meaningful."
Koepka claims third US PGA title
A month later saw the second Major of the season – the PGA Championship – held at Oak Hill Country Club.
A three-under 67 in the final round saw Brooks Koepka hold off Viktor Hovland and a fast-finishing Scottie Scheffler to win his third US PGA Championship and fifth Major.
A birdie blitz across the second, third and fourth improved his overnight lead to four shots, but after finding the water off the tee on the sixth hole his lead was down to a single shot.
A fascinating duel ensued between the pair up until the 16th when Hovland struck his second shot into the face of a fairway bunker.
That cost him a double bogey while Koepka hit his approach shot close and holed out for a birdie and a four-stroke lead with two to play.
Meanwhile, Scheffler enjoyed a strong final day as five birdies in eight holes round the turn helped him into a share of second alongside Hovland, who holed a 16-foot birdie putt to record his best ever finish at a Major.
"I’m just so happy right now, I’m kind of at a loss for words,” said Koepka. “This is just the coolest thing.”
“To be with those names (winning five Majors) is incredible, I’m not even sure I dreamed of it as a kid.”
Clark writes remarkable LA story to win U.S. Open
Just 43 days after winning his first professional title at the Wells Fargo Championship, Wyndham Clark claimed his maiden Major Championship at the 123rd U.S. Open.
It was a remarkable rise to prominence for the American who entered the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in March, having been 313th last May.
Clark started the final round in a tie for the lead alongside Rickie Fowler – who along with Xander Schauffele had hit the lowest U.S. Open rounds ever registered with eight-under 62s on the opening day – but it soon became clear the tussle for the trophy was going to be between him and Rory McIlroy.
An opening birdie for the Northern Irishman boosted hopes he could end his nine-year wait for a fifth Major victory.
But on a day when he found the most greens in regulation over the field, McIlroy was unable to capitalize on challenging greens due to them being quick and dried out.
A bogey at the par-five 14th proved costly as Clark, playing in the group behind, made a two-putt birdie to open up a three-shot lead.
But back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th threatened to open the door ajar only for Clark to make a nerveless two-putt from distance on the 72nd hole to win his national championship.
Harman delivers Hoylake masterclass to secure Claret Jug
We didn’t have to wait long for another first-time Major winner as fellow American Brian Harman produce a fine display of links golf to win The 151st Open.
One stroke off the lead after the opening round, the 36-year-old seized control of the tournament with a six-under 64 that earned him a five-stroke advantage heading into the weekend.
Despite a stellar chasing group doing their best to bridge the gap, he maintained that advantage with a 69 on Saturday to put himself on the cusp of victory.
The final round was played in persistent rain but that didn’t dampen Harman’s spirits as he plotted his way round the links with aplomb, whose lead never dropped below three despite bogeys at the second and fifth.
Back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh and then later at the 14th and 15th helped him to post a 70 to secure a six-stroke victory.
Remarkably, he ended the week having only found two bunkers – one of which came at the 18th in the final round – while he only missed one putt inside ten feet all week.
"It’s pretty surreal,” he said. “It really hasn't sunk in yet. I’m not going to let (the Claret Jug) out of my sight for the time being.
"To win what I consider the greatest prize in golf is as good as it gets.”
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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