Jon Rahm is the first European Masters champion in six years, with a score of -12

Jon Rahm became Masters champion for the first time on Sunday as the Spaniard became the first European to win the competition, donning the famous Augusta green jacket in six years.

He emerged victorious in his bout with Brooks Koepka going into the final round with a two shot lead to overtake the American in front of a cheering US home crowd and spoil the party.

The duo were almost inseparable throughout the tournament and on Sunday all eyes were on who would succumb first as the end of the watered-down third round kicked off in the morning.

Koepka led the LIV-inspired attack for a green jacket and started where he left off as he and Rahm battled for the lead, both dropping shots at times, but if one fouled the other followed closely behind.

Rahm messed up an eagle chance on the 15th that ended with a par, while Koepka was forced to take a drop on the same whole.

Rahm turned around a shocking first hole on Day 1 to win the 2023 Masters by some distance

Neither seemed able to deliver a serious blow to the other and the third round standings ended as they began, with Koepka ahead by two shots and Rahm chasing down his American counterpart in the final session.

Meanwhile, day one leader Viktor Hovland bounced back to put himself in the frame as he went through five consecutive birdies on the back nine. He left in the afternoon, but it was a great show from the Norwegian.

And so began the true final day of the Masters, a two-horse race to the finish, Koepka against Rahm, America against Europe, LIV against PGA, don’t tell Sergio Garcia after his outburst.

Untouchable for large parts of the morning on Sunday, Koepka quickly collapsed as throngs of customers followed the duo on a championship-deciding walk around Augusta.

The 32-year-old didn’t birdie until the 13th hole, before dropping four bogeys that eventually became five over the front and back nine.

A collapse no one saw coming, especially Phil Mickelson who spent the last few holes on the scoreboard as Rahm’s leading challenger after a sensational round of 65. The lowest score in any Masters round by a player aged 50 or over.

Jordan Spieth, winner of the 2015 Masters, was one under par after 54 holes of golf. He ended his final round with a half-scream that he was able to attack if the leaders dropped, a round in which Spieth took nine birdies put him at -7.

But Sunday really was a procession of crowning a new champion and Rahm, after taking the lead on the sixth hole for the first time, never looked back.

Before starting his final round, Rahm foreshadowed legendary compatriot Seve Ballesteros’ words about what would have been his 66th birthday and 40th anniversary of his second Masters win.

Rahm told Sky Sports: “I’d like to think he’s up there watching me and pulling for me, and if there’s anyone who has enough charisma to have any influence from above, it’s someone like him.”

Perhaps he was right, because Rahm was a man on a mission who would stop at nothing in his quest for his first green jacket and chance to become number one in the world again.

It wasn’t a flashy round, it was a matter of consistency for Rahm to stay focused while those around him fluttered. Koepka’s collapse could have dragged his playing partner with it. It didn’t.

Rahm stayed focused as he split pars with an occasional birdie and was only nervous once on the 9th when he bogeyed. He recovered to keep his cool and on the 13th made his move.

Phil Mickelson’s final round of 65 is the lowest round in Masters history by a player over 50

Matching Koepka’s birdie putt, the American pursuer emptied, he had left it too late in the last round and Rahm, whether he admits it or not, knew as he walked to the 14th tee that the green jacket was his bar was a monumental collapse.

He hit his tee shot in the rough and under the shade of a tree, a position that could derail a weaker mind’s title references, but everything seemed easy to Rahm.

He chipped from that position to within a yard of the pin and rolled into an easy birdie. Koepka was ready, Rahm was ready to start his march to the last few fairways where a green jacket was waiting for him on the 18th.

Rahm’s approach to the final putt was met with cheers on the course as he stepped forward to make history – on Seve’s 66th birthday. The Spaniard is said to have been proud of his compatriot, as he wrapped up his -12 scorecard.