Rahm closes gap on leader Koepka as Masters resumes
Jon Rahm pulled within two strokes of leader Brooks Koepka as the third round of the Masters resumed on Sunday at rain-softened, cold Augusta National. Rahm began the morning by sinking a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-4 seventh hole while Koepka curled an 11-foot par putt beyond the hole, his first stumble after 29 holes in a row without a bogey. Koepka kept at the top on 12-under with Rahm charging to 10-under, trimming half his overnight deficit. A marathon last-day drama was poised to unfold under the towering Georgia pines with Koepka chasing his fifth major title, third-ranked Rahm seeking his second and both hunting a first green jacket. An additional sub-plot to the final day duel is that Koepka plays on the Saudi-backed upstart series LIV Golf while Spaniard Rahm has stayed loyal to the PGA Tour. Heavy rain forced a suspension of play on Saturday, water puddling on the famed undulating greens, with Koepka setting the pace on 13-under and Rahm four adrift after bogeys at the par-3 fourth and par-4 fifth holes. Koepka and Rahm appeared set for a head-to-head duel over 30 holes, with their nearest rival being US Amateur champion Sam Bennett in third on 6-under. No one else was within eight strokes of the overnight lead.  With clear but sometimes windy conditions expected, the third round was set to finish in the morning and twosomes planned off split tees in the afternoon final round with plans to complete the year's first major tournament before sundown. (AFP)