Augusta (United States) (AFP) - Brooks Koepka clung to a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm as Sunday's final round of the Masters began, setting the stage for a closing drama at rain-softened Augusta National.
They finished off the last 12 holes of the storm-hit third round on Sunday morning, with Koepka and Rahm each firing a one-over par 73 to leave American Koepka on 11-under 205 after 54 holes and Rahm two back on 207 -- neither managing a back-nine birdie.
"I'm fine with two," Koepka said of his lead, halved from overnight."I feel fine, I'm just going about me.That's it."
Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion with three PGA titles this year, seeks 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."
Adding to the tension was a run by ninth-ranked Viktor Hovland, five consecutive birdies starting at the par-4 11th lifting the Norwegian to third on 208 and in the hunt for his first major crown after shooting 70.
"Definitely coming in with some momentum off of that back nine," Hovland said."We've still got a lot of work ahead.
"I have to go out there and get it.If I can keep the mindset I had on that back nine versus maybe the guys in the lead feel like they have to protect a little bit more."
An additional sub-plot to the final day duel is that Koepka plays in the Saudi-backed upstart LIV Golf League while Rahm and Hovland have stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.
A marathon last-day battle was poised to unfold as gusty winds blew through the Georgia pines with Koepka chasing his fifth major title, Spain's third-ranked Rahm seeking his second and Hovland his first -- all hunting a first green jacket.
"If the wind keeps blowing and keeps swirling like this, anything can happen," Koepka said."You've just got to be in control of your ball."
"With the wind we're going to have, the main thing is staying committed to whatever shot you pick," Rahm said."Have a clear picture and commit to it."
Koepka was at 13-under with Rahm four adrift overnight, but Rahm sank a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-4 seventh hole to start his Sunday and playing partner Koepka missed an 11-foot par putt, his first stumble after 29 consecutive bogey-free holes.
Both birdied the par-5 eighth but Koepka missed an eight-foot par putt to bogey the par-3 12th and Rahm lipped out on a six-foot par putt at the par-5 13th.
Rahm missed a 10-foot par putt at the par-3 16th but Koepka lipped out from three feet at 17 for his first three-putt bogey of the week.
"It's pretty good," Koepka said of his confidence level."How could you not be, right?"
Koepka has won all three prior times when leading a major after 54 holes.
Koepka, a winner of last week's Orlando LIV event, has battled back from 2021 knee surgery to again threaten in majors after winning the 2017 and 2018 US Opens and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships.
Breakaway LIV Golf lured several big names from the PGA Tour last year with record $25 million purses from 54-hole events, sparking the PGA to ban LIV players from its events.
The PGA-LIV fight is set for a court date early next year, but meanwhile majors allow LIV players to set up showdowns on grand stages.
Koepka, ranked 118th because LIV events bring no ranking points, would be the lowest-rated Masters champion since the system began in 1986.
Injured Tiger withdraws
Tiger Woods, limping on a soggy layout Saturday, withdrew Sunday from the Masters with a foot injury.
"I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis," Woods tweeted.
The 15-time major winner, still nagged by severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, withdrew from his Bahamas invitational last December with the foot injury.
