The Masters tournament took place last weekend (April 6th - 9th), showcasing some of the best golf talent from around the globe. After an intense three-day competition, Jon Rahm emerged as the winner, donning the coveted green jacket and cementing his status as the world's best golfer. With five Americans trailing behind him on the scoreboard, Rahm has become the fourth Spaniard to win the Masters tournament since 2017, when Sergio Garcia claimed the title.
Rahm's impressive performance at Augusta National has solidified his position as a top player, a status he has been demonstrating since his time at Arizona State. His coach, Tim Mickelson, who is the brother of Phil Mickelson, recognized his potential during his college years.
Throughout the weekend, some players struggled to maintain their composure, resulting in a negative impact on their overall scores. Rahm started off the tournament on Friday with a double bogey, leading some to believe that he would rank poorly. However, he remained focused and true to his strengths, ultimately surpassing his competition. His biggest rivals, Brooks Kopeka and Phil Mickelson, were humbled following their decision to leave the PGA for LIV golf in June 2022. Some PGA fans have expressed their disapproval of this move, advocating for players to follow the traditions upheld by the PGA. Rahm's victory at the Masters highlights the impact the PGA has on both players and the crowd.
The PGA recently filed a lawsuit against LIV golf, claiming that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and LIV golf improperly interfered with the PGA's business by offering PGA players millions of dollars to break their contracts. This led to the suspension of several players, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who then filed antitrust lawsuits against the PGA.
Despite this legal battle between the two leagues, the Masters, which is organized by the PGA, remains the tournament that determines the world's best player. Jon Rahm's win at the Masters will undoubtedly go down in history as a shining example of PGA excellence.
Cited:
Wolken, Dan. "Jon Rahm takes his place as the best golfer in the world with Masters win at Augusta." USA Today, 9 Apr. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/columnist/dan-wolken/2023/04/09/jon-rahm-masters-win-augusta-best-golfer-world-now/.
Sky Sports. "Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson among players suspended from PGA Tour over LIV Golf involvement." Sky Sports, 10 Apr. 2023, https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12630733/phil-mickelson-and-dustin-johnson-among-players-suspended-from-pga-tour-over-liv-golf-involvement.