week ago00: 29 Stuart Ballard
Jon Rahm is The Masters champion!He’s done it!
Jon Rahm is The Masters 2023 champion!
What a ride from scoring a double bogey on his very first hole to pulling on the green jacket on Sunday.
A brilliant display from Rahm for what was also his fourth win of 2023 already.
A very special moment for an even more special player.
Jon Rahm WINS The Masters (Image: GETTY)
week ago00: 15 Stuart Ballard
Still time for some drama on 18Jon Rahm must have had his heart in his mouth when his tee shot on the 18th fired into the woods on the left.
Incredibly, the ball bounced straight back into the fairway, albeit far shorter than he would have wanted it to be.
A provisional was hit – seemingly unaware his first ball was back in play – but Rahm would have certainly calmed back down when he walked up to his ball.
week ago23: 42 Stuart Ballard
Three holes remainingIt’s looking more and more likely Jon Rahm will pull on the green jacket after coming through the tricky 15th hole unscathed.
Brooks Koepka pulled one back to put him four-under for the tournament.
But he needs a huge swing to go in his favour in the final three holes.
There’s a bit of a delay on the tee for the final pairing with slow play ahead.
Only adding to the drama…
Jon Rahm four out in front with three to play (Image: USATODAY)
week ago23: 06 Stuart Ballard
Jon Rahm leads by threeJon Rahm looks locked and loaded at the moment.
A birdie at the 13th puts him three shots ahead of the chasing pack.
Brooks Koepka also makes a strong birdie after an awkward chip off the green.
It might take a miracle now though for Rahm to drop this from here…
Jon Rahm leads by three (Image: GETTY)
Mickelson from nowhere!Oh wow!
Rahm has managed to put a shimmer of daylight between himself and his rival Koepka after holding tight at -10 while Koepka dropped shots to fall back to -8.
…But he now finds himself there with none other than veteran star and controverisal fellow LIV defector Phil Mickelson, who has had the final 18 holes of his life here at Augusta National!
Phil Mickelson is now in second place on the final day of the Masters (Image: )
Rahm reels in KoepkaBrooks Koepka is leaking shots in the leading pack after coming into trouble on the short par 3 4th.
The current leaderboard as it stands on the final day of the Masters.
The Masters leaderboard final round (Image: )
week ago19: 51 Stuart Ballard
Finely poisedAn excellent save from Brooks Koepka after getting fortunate his drive missed so far left that it left him with a decent shot back onto the green to take a par from the first.
Jon Rahm also showed his nerve with a strong putt from 10 feet to save par.
There are plenty of birdies going down around the course though so this final pairing will have to watch their backs!
week ago19: 34 Stuart Ballard
The man everyone is chasingAll pairings are now underway and Brooks Koepka is the man everyone is looking to beat.
Not the best start from the American after sending his driver way left off the tee with Jon Rahm sending his down the middle of the fairway.
Game on at Augusta!
Brooks Koepka holds a two-shot lead (Image: GETTY)
week ago19: 21 Stuart Ballard
Can Hovland challenge?Five birdies in a row will have Viktor Hovland full of confidence heading into the final round.
He’s only three shots back from the lead so he’s definitely still in with a chance of winning the green jacket.
Viktor Hovland is also in contention (Image: GETTY)
Odds in Koepka’s favourAll the bookmakers now seem to unanimously agree that Brooks Koepka will hold off his playing partner Rahm to claim his first green jacket.
The American is priced at evens to get the job done, with Rahm and Hovland just behind him.
Britain’s best hope remains Justin Rose, who will begin the final round at Augusta in good form at -3.
week ago17: 11 Stuart Ballard
Final pairings confirmedIt will be the more traditional pairings for the final round at The Masters, although the groups will be teeing off on the 10th tee as well as the first.
It means both Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka are put together with just two shots separating them.
They’re set to tee off at 2.33pm local time (7.33pm BST). Strap in for a late evening!
Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm are in the final pairing (Image: GETTY)
week ago15: 50 Stuart Ballard
Hovland on the moveThis may end up being a three-horse race at the end of the third round after all.
Viktor Hovland dropped off the radar slightly, but he’s just hit five consecutive birdies to move him to eight-under and just four off the lead!
Still plenty of work to do from where he is but the 2019 Masters low amateur champion is doing all the right things at the moment.
Viktor Hovland is on the move (Image: USATODAY)
week ago15: 03 Stuart Ballard
Rahm within oneNow it’s starting to spice up at the top of the leaderboard!
Brooks Koepka has been grinding his way round the back nine, but is punished at the Amen Corner 12th hole.
His bogey gives Rahm a chance to close within one and the Spaniard drops his putt in!
Just one shot between the two now at the top of the leaderboard!
week ago14: 05 Stuart Ballard
Back under actionIt’s turning into a two-horse race at the top of the leaderboard with Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm separated by just two shots.
They’re just about to come onto the back nine from their third round with Rahm already putting pressure on the American.
We’re now back underway for the end of the third round (Image: USATODAY)
week ago13: 14 Stuart Ballard
Tiger reveals reason behind withdrawalTiger Woods has revealed the reason for his Masters withdrawal was due to a reaggravation of the plantar fasciitis injury he suffered last year.
“I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis,” he said.
“Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!”
FULL STORY
Tiger Woods has withdrawn from The Masters (Image: GETTY)
Tiger Woods withdrawsTiger Woods has withdrawn from the tournament ahead of the final day’s play.
The Masters announced in a statement: “Due to injury, @TigerWoods has officially withdrawn from the Masters Tournament after completing seven holes of his third round. #themasters.”
Tiger Woods fears come trueTiger Woods’ caddie Joe LaCava spoke ahead of the Masters about his ‘biggest fear’ that the American would have to play more than 26 in one day.
And that is about to become a reality as Woods has 29 holes remaining today.
“My biggest fear going in … is we get a lot of rain and thunderstorms and we get the stop and start, or we get extra holes one day,” LaCava said. “I can’t imagine him going 27-plus holes [in one day] around here. … I’m hoping first and foremost that doesn’t happen.”
Masters prize moneyA reminder of what everybody is playing for today;
1st: $3,240,000
2nd: $1,944,000
3rd: $1,224,000
4th: $864,000
5th: $720,000
6th: $648,000
7th: $603,000
8th: $558,000
9th: $522,000
10th: $486,000
11th: $450,000
12th: $414,000
13th: $378,000
14th: $342,000
15th: $324,000
16th: $306,000
17th: $288,000
18th: $270,000
19th: $252,000
20th: $234,000
21st: $216,000
22nd: $201,600
23rd: $187,200
24th: $172,800
25th: $158,400
26th: $144,000
27th: $138,600
28th: $133,200
29th: $127,800
30th: $122,400
31st: $117,000
32nd: $111,600
33rd: $106,200
34th: $101,700
35th: $97,200
36th: $92,700
37th: $88,200
38th: $84,600
39th: $81,000
40th: $77,400
41st: $73,800
42nd: $70,200
43rd: $66,600
44th: $63,000
45th: $59,400
46th: $55,800
47th: $52,200
48th: $49,320
49th: $46,800
50th: $45,360
Good morningGood morning and welcome back to what is expected to be the final day play at the Masters.
Brooks Koepka is four shots clear of Jon Rahm, while British hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick is eight shots from the lead in fourth place.
Action-packed Sunday aheadAfter the delay in play wrote off all the remainder of Saturday at Augusta National, it has now been confirmed that action with reconvene on Sunday morning.
The Masters third round will aim to finish up, before starting the final round of play around midday (UK time).
Third round of play will recommence at 8.30am, with the final round expected to begin at 12.30pm.
As always, stay with Express Sport for all the LIVE action.
Tiger still notching those recordsWrite him off all you like, but Tiger Woods simply refuses to stop entering the record books.
Today, in making the cut, he equalled the record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.
Woods has never missed a cut since turning professional in 1997. His mark of 23 straight made ties Couples (1983-2002) and Player (1959-1982) for the all-time lead.
Tiger Woods equalled the record for most consecutive cuts at the Masters (Image: GETTY)
The Leaderboard as it stands… and it could stand as so for some time, given we have no indication as to how long this latest weather stoppage will be.
LIV rebel Brooks Koepka continues to lead the way after playing some masterful golf in testing conditions, while Tiger Woods holds up the entire pack and nurses the worst score out on the field at +9.
Masters 2023 leaderboard (Image: )
Play suspended… againThe weather at Augusta National is still just simply horrendous.
Water is pelting down at an alarming rate and the state-of-the-art sub air systems under the greens cannot keep it.
Water is pooling on the putting surfaces and as a result play is suspended.
The siren has rang out three times at Augusta signalling for the patrons to evacuate the premises, due to the threat of lightning incoming.
Play has once again been suspended at Augusta National for the Masters (Image: GETTY)
week ago18: 02 Stuart Ballard
Punishing conditionsIt was evident over the final few holes earlier today that the ball wasn’t flying anywhere near what the players were used to.
Cameron Young was one of the players who struggling in the early morning conditions.
He said: “I don’t really know what you’re supposed to do. It was basically impossible. It’s playing so long. I hit a great shot on 18, I think it handed in a puddle, so it’s hard. But I played well, honestly.”
week ago17: 42 Stuart Ballard
Leaderboard reminderA reminder on how things stand going into the third round.
Brooks Koepka holds a two-shot lead over Jon Rahm with amateur Sam Bennett two shots further back.
Will the long break help Koepka or will it hinder him at not getting used to the course conditions?
We’ll soon find out!
A reminder of how things stand going into the third round (Image: USATODAY)
week ago17: 10 Stuart Ballard
Tee times in fullAll times BST
Starting at hole 1
1630 Adam Scott (Aus), Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith (Aus)
1642 Tom Kim (Kor), Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele
1654 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Harris English, Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng)
1706 K.H Lee (Kor), Ryan Fox (Nzl), Patrick Reed
1718 Justin Rose (Eng), Russell Henley, Shane Lowry (Irl)
1730 Gary Woodland, Phil Mickelson, Joaquin Niemann (Chi)
1742 Sam Burns, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young
1754 Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Jason Day (Aus)
1806 Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm (Esp), Sam Bennett (x)
Starting at hole 10
1630 Sepp Straka (Aut), Harold Varner III, Dustin Johnson
1642 Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Tony Finau
1654 Sahith Theegala, Abraham Ancer (Mex), Mito Pereira (Chi)
1706 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Max Homa, Chris Kirk
1718 Taylor Moore, Si Woo Kim (Kor), Zach Johnson
1730 Fred Couples, Mackenize Hughes (Can), Seamus Power (Irl)
1742 JT Poston, Talor Gooch, Keith Mitchell
1754 Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Billy Horschel, Scott Stallings
1806 Thomas Pieters (Bel), Tiger Woods, Sungjae Im (Kor)
week ago16: 31 Stuart Ballard
Quick turnaroundThe third-round tee times are now out with the decision made to have groups of threes as opposed to the usual double pairs.
Tiger Woods is grouped with Sungjae Im and Thomas Pieters with the trio starting on the 10th tee at 6: 06pm.
The leading group will feature Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and amateur Sam Bennett who will also tee off at 6: 06pm, although on the more traditional first hole.
week ago15: 36 Stuart Ballard
Official: Tiger Woods makes the cutJustin Thomas’ bogey at the 18th means Tiger Woods has made history at The Masters!
He’s now secured his spot for the final two rounds at The Masters for the 23rd consecutive time.
That ties the all-time tournament record held by Fred Couples and Gary Player!
Tiger Woods has made the cut (Image: GETTY)
week ago15: 20 Stuart Ballard
Umbrellas out in forceThe rain is hammering it down now at Augusta!
Umbrellas are out in force with players doing everything to try and stay dry as they bring their rounds to a close.
It’s already hampered several players with Justin Thomas dropping a bogey to put him level with Tiger Woods at three-over par.
Sungjae Im is also in the equation to decide what the cut line will be.
Umbrellas out in force (Image: GETTY)
week ago14: 58 Stuart Ballard
Woods in at three-overIt’s now an anxious wait for Tiger Woods to see whether he makes it after a bogey on the 18th.
He needs a couple of players currently out there to join him at three-over but he’s currently out of the tournament…
week ago14: 44 Stuart Ballard
Tiger Woods in troubleHow quickly the momentum shifts!
A bogey on the 17th put even more pressure on Tiger Woods walking up to the 18th.
A par is needed to book his place in the final two rounds and he’s pulled his drive into the trees.
Three over might be enough depending on others out there, but a par leaves nothing up for debate
Tiger Woods is in trouble on the 18th (Image: GETTY)
week ago14: 32 Stuart Ballard
Tiger Woods inside cut lineTiger Woods may not be going anywhere for the weekend!
He birdied the 15th to put him inside the cut line, projected to be two-over par at the moment.
Just a few holes remaining for Woods to hold on and book his spot in the final two rounds.
Tiger Woods is inside the cut line (Image: GETTY)
week ago13: 42 Stuart Ballard
Jon Rahm on the moveThe conditions don’t appear to be affecting Jon Rahm as he’s picked up where he left off.
Cameron Young is also keeping tabs with the leaders.
All setting up to be a shoot-out at the top…
Jon Rahm is chasing Brooks Koepka down (Image: USATODAY)
week ago13: 08 Stuart Ballard
Play underwayStrange scenes at Augusta with no patrons out there but those finishing their second rounds are now on the course and underway.
Can Jon Rahm battle the conditions to close in on Brooks Koepka?
week ago12: 22 Stuart Ballard
Welcome backGood afternoon and welcome back to Express Sport’s live coverage of The Masters.
Friday’s second round was brought to an abrupt end after three huge pine trees fell down between the 15th and 17th greens.
Fortunately nobody was hurt in the terrifying scenes, but inclement weather is set to once again hit the Augusta course today.
It means for a chaotic schedule today with several still needing to finish their second rounds.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the day.
Brooks Koepka leads the field into Saturday (Image: GETTY)
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