Masters final round: Koepka looks to hold off Rahm to join elite company

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The final round of the Masters is here. After a start-and-stop last few days due to weather, we’re all caught up at Augusta National.

Here’s everything you need to know heading into the final 18 holes.

KOEPKA LEADS

Brooks Koepka holds a two-shot lead and is looking for his fifth major-championship triumph.

Only 12 men in history have won five or more major championships.

Koepka, who left for LIV Golf last year, won the rival circuit’s event in Orlando, Fla. last week prior to the Masters and is finally feeling close to 100 percent after two years battling injury troubles in his leg. This is, however, the first time Koepka will play 72 holes in a competitive tournament since the U.S. Open in 2022.

“I feel fine, I’m just going about me. That’s it,” said Koepka.

The 32-year-old was on the seventh green when the third round began early Sunday. He missed the putt – his first stroke of the day – and made bogey but got it back with a birdie on No. 8.

Koepka made bogeys on both the par-3 12th and the par-4 17th after a nervy three-putt. He shot 1-over 73, his first over-par round of the week.

Koepka’s three-putt on No. 17 left the door open ajar to the chasing pack. He’ll be paired with Jon Rahm in the final group, who sits at 9 under and is just two shots back.

Despite the second-nine mistakes, Koepka has all parts of his game working solidly. He’s hit nearly 70 percent of his greens and 80 percent of his fairways this week and is sixth in putting.

“Look, it’s going to be an interesting afternoon,” said Koepka. “If the wind keeps blowing and keeps swirling like this down there, anything can happen.”

Koepka has won his last three major championships after having the 54-hole lead/co-lead.

RAHM CHASING

For a while Sunday morning it looked like it was going to be a two-horse race with just Koepka and Jon Rahm battling it out as the shadows got long amongst the Georgia pines.

Rahm, looking to win his first Masters on the birthday of his childhood idol Seve Ballesteros, three-putted both of the par fives on the second nine, however, and will go into the final round two back.

While a few others are in the mix now, Rahm and Koepka will still be the heavyweight fighters in the final group.

The Spaniard matched Koepka with a 1-over 73 for the third round.

Rahm, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour already this season, started the day with a two-shot swing after he made birdie on No. 7 to Koepka’s bogey. He also added a birdie on No. 8. But bogeys on two of four holes on his back nine means he’ll be needing one of those iconic Augusta National-Sunday charges to topple Koepka.

HOVLAND IN THE MIX

Viktor Hovland, one of the first-round co-leaders, was at one point 10 shots back of the lead as his final round chugged along.

But a bunch of circles on a scorecard will certainly help the cause, as Hovland proved.

Hovland, who made bogey on Nos. 9 and 10, rattled off five-straight birdies on Nos. 11-15 to start climbing back.

“I’d say I’m liking it a lot better,” said Hovland, with a smile, about his chances this afternoon. “Definitely coming in with some momentum off of that back nine. That was really nice. We’ve still got a lot of work ahead. I need to post a really good number later this afternoon.”

He’ll be in the penultimate pairing with Patrick Cantlay, who’s 4-under 68 was the second-lowest round of anyone for the third round and is at 6 under.

Hovland, and 8 under, will be just three shots back of Koepka’s lead. The largest recent come-from-behind Masters victory was Charl Schwartzel, who came from four back in 2011.

Hovland was coming into the week off his best-career major championship result, a tie for fourth at The Open Championship last year at St. Andrews.

HUGHES LOOKING FOR BEST-CAREER MASTERS RESULT

Mackenzie Hughes was the lone Canadian to make the cut at the Masters this year and now he’s looking for his best-ever result at Augusta National.

Hughes put a bow on a 2-over 74 Sunday morning. He made only one par in his first nine holes (he played Nos.10-18 on Saturday) but was steadier for his second nine Sunday morning.

He birdied the par-5 2nd but gave that shot back with a bogey on No. 5. He added a final circle on the par-5 8th.

Hughes is currently tied for 40th. His best Masters result is that exact finish, which came in 2021.

He tees off at 1:36 p.m. ET and will be paired with Zach Johnson, the Masters winner from 2007, for the final round.