Jon said Super Bowl winner Ertz had a negative affect on his Masters campaign

Jonkman, Jose Mara, and the Oldest Player at the Top-Five at the LIV Golf Course in the History of the Major

After two days of mostly miserable weather at the 87th edition of the historic major, blue skies and sunshine set the scene for the crowning of Jonkman as world number 1 after his victory at the Safeway Open.

As the pair approached the first tee for the final time, they had both carded one-over 72s in the previous round and were now two strokes off the lead.

Only three of the new champion’s countrymen have donned the green jacket previously, and one of them was Jose Mara Olazbal.

“For me to get it done on the 40th anniversary of his win, his birthday, on Easter Sunday, it’s incredibly meaningful … I know he was pulling for me today.”

Mickelson rolled back the years with a final round-best 65 to become the oldest golfer ever to finish inside the top-five at the major. The three-time green jacket winners, the 52 year old was all smiles after he racked up eight pins on his scorecard.

The round is the lowest ever posted by a player 50 years of age or older, coming a day after Fred Couples became the oldest player to ever make the cut at a major.

Jordan shot a closing 66 to finish at seven-under. The LIV Golf players made it three inside the top four because they all finished level with the champion.

A defense of the title looked unlikely when Scheffler finished tied for 10th, eight shots off the pace.

Sam Bennett woke up to the green light of Augusta National after a bad day in Augusta. His two-horsepower nailed through the ninth hole

Sam Bennett was hailed as one of the top amateur athletes after a great week at Augusta. The 23-year-old Texan – who has a tattoo of his late father’s final piece of advice inscribed on his wrist – shot 76 to finish tied for 16th on his Masters debut.

After two days of miserable conditions and stop-start action, clear blue skies finally broke above Augusta National on Sunday, prompting the green light for the race to escape a first Monday finish at the major since 1983.

A battle to beat the clock had already ensued Saturday after bad weather Friday – featuring winds strong enough to fell three large pine trees – had suspended play overnight and left several players needing to finish their second rounds.

That group included Rahm, who cut Koepka’s lead to two before the duo paired with Bennett to trudge through six holes of a rain-soaked third round Saturday. The horn sounded after play was suspended, and the Americans regained their four-stroke cushion by weathering the storm well while their Spanish rival lost ground.

The bright weather on Sunday brought a familiar feel to the picturesque terrain of Augusta National but there was no appearance of Tiger Woods. Despite visibly struggling with movement throughout the weekend, the 15-time major champion had battled to a record-equaling 23rd cut, only to announce his withdrawal due to injury hours before play resumed on Sunday.

Pictures of the 47-year old hobbling towards his golf bag during his final hole of the weekend will only intensify doubts about whether he will ever play a competitive round of golf.

Koepka’s opening drive found the fairway: the ninth fairway. Yet the American recovered superbly from his wild opening hook, planting his follow-up onto the green before saving par.

The LIV Golf star was in a bad spot, so those behind had gathered strength. Even though it was too late to snatch victory, the slide of Koepka jump-starting Lefty went up into solo second.

It was a fitting conclusion to the day when bothered at the 13th after 22 holes without a single par and then identically made their first birdie of the afternoon on the 14th.

What had looked set to be an enthralling two-horse race had turned into a canter. Reed and Henley were running out of time to battle, and even a pair of pars by Koepka at the 15th and 16th only made it a three-man race.

It was a four shot lead into the last hole, and there was a brief scare for Jonkman as his tee shot sailed towards the trees.

It made for scenes reminiscent of a year ago, when runaway leader Scheffler made a wobbly finish, four-putting to close. Yet, once again, the outcome was the same – Rahm hit a provisional only to later find his original ball had bounced back onto the fairway.

If it wasn’t for a Super Bowl winning tight end, Spain’s gap with his rivals would have been even bigger.

Although he was able to recover over the course of the weekend and eventually claim his maiden Masters title, Rahm joked afterward that some text messages from Super Bowl winning tight end Zach Ertz jinxed his abilities on the opening hole.

“I’m going to name him because he is a Super Bowl winning champion – Zach Ertz – he sent the text: ‘That first green looking like a walk in the park,’ 10 minutes before I four-putted the start of the tournament.”

Ertz, who won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, conceded the texts and said he had no regrets.

Ertz’s former Cardinals teammate JJ Watt, who retired at the end of the 2022 season, tweeted out screenshots of messages sent to a group chat called “Birdies and Babies” which included Rahm, Ertz and Watt which seemed to corroborate Rahm’s story with the caption: “Can confirm. I think this means you deserve a green jacket (Ertz).”

Watt included the private text message exchange with Ertz. The tight end said: “4 putt to start the round… not ideal.” Watt replied, “Horrendous.” I said pretend you’re playing WITH us not like your playing LIKE us,” which Ertz responded with a pair of laughing emojis.