CNN
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Jon Rahm’s successful margin on the Masters of 4 photographs urged he had the whole lot his personal approach over the weekend.
However the hole between the Spaniard and his closest rivals, LIV Golf Collection duo Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, may need been even bigger if it wasn’t for a contribution from a Tremendous Bowl successful tight finish.
Regardless of being the embodiment of consistency in Sunday’s ultimate spherical to assert his first inexperienced jacket and second profession main at Augusta Nationwide, Rahm’s eventual title cost couldn’t have gotten off to a worse begin.
On the primary gap of his opening spherical, Rahm had some uncharacteristic struggles as he four-putted for a double bogey on the primary gap’s undulating inexperienced.
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Though he was capable of get well over the course of the weekend and finally declare his maiden Masters title, Rahm joked afterward that some textual content messages from Tremendous Bowl successful tight finish Zach Ertz jinxed his talents on the opening gap.
“For these individuals who consider in jinxing different gamers, folks or no matter it could be, Thursday morning once I was getting on my golf cart to get to this placing inexperienced. Ten minutes earlier than my tee time, I noticed a textual content from a great good friend of mine,” Rahm, wearing his newly acquired inexperienced jacket, defined to reporters.
“I’m going to call him as a result of he’s a Tremendous Bowl successful champion – Zach Ertz – he despatched the textual content: ‘That first inexperienced wanting like a stroll within the park,’ 10 minutes earlier than I four-putted the beginning of the match.”
With a smile, Rahm continued: “So, thanks Zach, don’t ever try this once more please.”
Ertz – who received Tremendous Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles and now performs for the Arizona Cardinals – acknowledged the texts and mentioned he had no regrets.
“I apologize for completely nothing!” he tweeted. “You’ll be able to anticipate these texts each main going ahead my good friend! Congratulations!”
Ertz’s former Cardinals teammate JJ Watt, who retired on the finish of the 2022 season, tweeted out screenshots of messages despatched to a bunch chat referred to as “Birdies and Infants” which included Rahm, Ertz and Watt which appeared to corroborate Rahm’s story with the caption: “Can affirm. I believe this implies you deserve a inexperienced jacket (Ertz).”
Ertz textual content the group saying “Let’s have a day Jon!! Begin quick!!” to which Watt replied: “Let’s go Jon!!! Fake you’re taking part in with Zach and I. You’ll set the course file!”
He adopted up with: “First gap inexperienced appears like a stroll within the park.”
Watt additionally included a screenshot of a personal textual content message trade with Ertz. The tight finish mentioned: “4 putt to start out the spherical… not very best.” Watt replied: “Horrendous. I mentioned faux you’re taking part in WITH us not like your taking part in LIKE us,” which Ertz responded with a pair of laughing emojis.
Regardless of the opening gap double bogey, Rahm wasn’t hampered for lengthy, grabbing birdies on the next two holes as he shot a formidable seven-under opening-round 65.
And he continued his regular stand up the leaderboard over the course of a disrupted 4 days, exhibiting exemplary consistency to win the 2023 Masters.
