Rahm grabs two-stroke Masters lead with nine to go
Jon Rahm seized a two-stroke lead over US stars Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka midway into Sunday's final round of the Masters as a dramatic back-nine shootout loomed at Augusta National. Rahm birdied the par-4 third and par-5 eighth holes but made bogey at nine to reach the turn at 10-under for the tournament while Koepka made bogeys at the par-3 fourth and sixth and the ninth to stumble two back after leading by two through 54 holes. When Rahm missed a six-foot par putt at the ninth, the stage was set for a dramatic fight down the stretch for the green jacket in windy conditions under the Georgia pines as leaders stumbled while challengers caught fire. The Masters champion will pocket a record top prize of US$3.24 million from a record US$18 million purse. Spain's Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion with three PGA Tour titles this year, chased his first Masters win on what would have been the 66th birthday of his idol, the late Seve Ballesteros, who won the Masters 40 years ago. "I'd like to think he's up there watching and pulling for me," Rahm said. "If there's somebody who would have enough charisma to give me any help, it would be him." World number three Rahm could become the fourth Spaniard to grab the green jacket after Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia. Rahm also would overtake defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as world number one with a victory if the American finishes outside the top four. Scheffler was 4-under overall with four holes to play in a share of 14th. Koepka, a four-time major winner, led on 11-under 205 after 54 holes with Rahm two back after both concluded one-over 73 third rounds Sunday morning. Heavy rains on Saturday had halted play due to puddling on greens. (AFP)