The final-round Masters showdown between eventual victor Jon Rahm and LIV&nbsp;Golf's Brooks Koepka was the most-watched&nbsp;golf&nbsp;telecast on any network in five years, CBS said on Tuesday.

The telecast, during which Rahm came back from a two-shot deficit on Sunday to win his second major and reclaim the world number one ranking, averaged 12.06 million viewers, up 19% compared with Scottie Scheffler's win at last year's Masters.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/this-one-was-for-seve-ballesteros-says-jon-rahm-after-masters-triumph-580822">'This one was for Seve Ballesteros,' says Jon Rahm after Masters triumph</a>

Ratings for Rahm's victory peaked at more than 15 million viewers&nbsp;from 7:00-7:15 p.m ET (2300-2315 GMT), as Rahm was putting the finishing touches on his four-shot victory over Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

The Masters has long been one of the most anticipated&nbsp;golf&nbsp;events, but the 2023 edition had added intrigue given it was the first since the start of the Saudi-backed LIV&nbsp;Golf&nbsp;circuit, which drew in a prominent group of players like Koepka and Mickelson.

The final-round Masters showdown between eventual victor Jon Rahm and LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka was the most-watched golf telecast on any network in five years, CBS said on Tuesday.

The final-round Masters showdown between eventual victor Jon Rahm and LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka was the most-watched golf telecast on any network in five years, CBS said on Tuesday. The telecast, during which Rahm came back from a two-shot deficit on Sunday to win his second major and reclaim the world number one ranking, averaged 12.06 million viewers, up 19% compared with Scottie Scheffler's win at last year's Masters. Also Read: 'This one was for Seve Ballesteros,' says Jon Rahm after Masters triumph Ratings for Rahm's victory peaked at more than 15 million viewers from 7:00-7:15 p.m ET (2300-2315 GMT), as Rahm was putting the finishing touches on his four-shot victory over Koepka and Phil Mickelson. The Masters has long been one of the most anticipated golf events, but the 2023 edition had added intrigue given it was the first since the start of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which drew in a prominent group of players like Koepka and Mickelson.

Golf: STAGGERING! Masters final-round telecast ratings hit five-year high

Jon Rahm has again emerged victorious at the Masters 2023 and moved back to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for the second time in 2023. Jon Rahm's first prominent title was the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines.

Jon Rahm has again emerged victorious at the Masters 2023 and moved back to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for the second time in 2023. Jon Rahm's first prominent title was the 2021 US Open at Torrey Pines. The 28-year-old also celebrated his first green jacket this year. The PGA star hails from Barrika, Spain. However, now he calls Scottsdale, Arizona, home. He has split his success between two continents. He has five PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) tours and six more on a European tour. Jon Rahm also holds the record for the longest stint atop the amateur rankings at 60 weeks. Here's everything you need to know about the Spanish Golf star, Jon Rahm. Jon Rahm: Career According to the official website of PGA, Jon Rahm has played 141 events. He has had 11 PGA tour wins, eight international victories, eight runner-ups, ten third-place finishes, and 70 finishes in the top 10. Before the Masters Tournament, Rahm won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, The Genesis Invitational, and The American Express. He also won the US Open in 2021. Rahm's most recent international wins include Acciona Open de Espana and DP World Tour Championship. Furthermore, he has played for the national team and made the country proud by winning many tournaments, including World Cup (2016), Ryder Cup (2018, 2020), Palmer Cup (2014, 2015) and Eisenhower Trophy (2014). He defeated Dustin Johnson at the BMW Championship in 2019-20. Jon Rahm: Personal Life Jon Rahm's wife Kelley threw javelin for Arizona State. He proposed to her while hiking around Torrey Pines in 2018. Once, Rahm jokingly suggested that the couple conceived their first son, Kepa, on the night he first reached No. 1 in the OWGR in July 2020. "We suspect it was that night," he said. Their second son, Eneko, was born in 2022. Jon Rahm: Net Worth As per the official website of PGA, Jon Rahm has made $48,312,583 with sports events. Some sources say that his net worth is $20 million. However, there are no official reports on how moneyed the Spaniard is.

Who is Jon Rahm? Here's all you need to know about the Masters 2023 winner's career, net worth & personal life

On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit.

McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys, 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years in a season where many hoped he could finally win at Augusta and complete his career Grand Slam.

Play was stopped due to stormy weather before the second round was complete but at five-over for the tournament, in joint 61st position, the Northern Irishman is well adrift of the projected cut to the low 50 and level, set at two-over.

The 33-year-old has won four majors but it is now nine years since the last of those triumphs in the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

McIlroy has been the unofficial player's spokesman for the PGA Tour in its battle with the Saudi-backed LIV and took a prominent role in recent meetings that led to changes to the PGA Tour, with the introduction of 'enhanced events' boasting smaller fields and bigger purses.

After missing the cut at the Players Championship last month, however, McIlroy said his role in rallying players to the changes and defending the tour from the emergence of LIV had taken a toll on his time management ahead of tournaments.

"I'd love to get back to being a golfer again," he said, adding that he had "maybe sacrificed a little bit of time with some of this other stuff."

Whether his willingness to organize meetings and speak on behalf of the players had any lingering influence on his poor showing at Augusta is, however, uncertain and the Northern Irishman left the grounds during the storm break and did not speak to media.

There certainly did not appear to be much wrong with McIlroy's swing when he practiced on the range ahead of his round on Friday morning and his popularity among the Augusta patrons was evidenced by his warm reception on the first tee.

But, after a solid start on the opening hole, he walked to the second tee, oddly just as his ex-fiancé, former tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki, passed by, and from there his round fell apart.

McIlroy drove into the sand and then fired over the back of the green as he bogeyed the par-5 second and by the seventh hole he had made three more bogeys.

He found water with his approach on the 11th, leaving him looking distraught, and even the boost of birdies on the 13th and 15th was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 18th.

As he had shown earlier in the day on the range, McIlroy has one of the best-looking swings in the game and no one has doubted his talent and ability to handle courses as challenging as Augusta.

- 'The right head space' -

Last year, he finished second after a superb final round of 64, just one short of the Masters record, and he came into this year's tournament saying he had all the ingredients in place for success.

"I'm feeling as relaxed as I ever have coming in here. I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just as about as well as anyone," McIlroy said Tuesday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-felicitated-by-mca-on-eve-of-el-clasico-clash-wankhede-to-have-2011-wc-victory-memorial-580217">IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial</a>

Ever since McIlroy's meltdown at Augusta in 2011, when the then 21-year-old went into the final round with a four-shot lead but ended it 10 strokes back, there have been people who have questioned his ability to deal with the mental side of the game.

McIlroy certainly understands the importance of the mind in golf and regularly consults with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella.

Perhaps it was significant that on the even of the tournament, McIlroy had referred to his "scar tissue" from Augusta and the importance of the mental game.

"I've always felt like I have the physical ability to win this tournament," he said. "But it's being in the right head space to let those physical abilities shine through."

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On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit.

On a day when one of the most prominent players in the breakaway LIV Golf series led the field at the Masters by three shots, Rory McIlroy, the world number two and the PGA Tour's most active supporter, faced an early exit. McIlroy shot a five over-par 77 with seven bogeys, 17 strokes behind pace-setter Brooks Koepka, and is facing his second missed Masters cut in three years in a season where many hoped he could finally win at Augusta and complete his career Grand Slam. Play was stopped due to stormy weather before the second round was complete but at five-over for the tournament, in joint 61st position, the Northern Irishman is well adrift of the projected cut to the low 50 and level, set at two-over. The 33-year-old has won four majors but it is now nine years since the last of those triumphs in the PGA Championship at Valhalla. McIlroy has been the unofficial player's spokesman for the PGA Tour in its battle with the Saudi-backed LIV and took a prominent role in recent meetings that led to changes to the PGA Tour, with the introduction of 'enhanced events' boasting smaller fields and bigger purses. After missing the cut at the Players Championship last month, however, McIlroy said his role in rallying players to the changes and defending the tour from the emergence of LIV had taken a toll on his time management ahead of tournaments. "I'd love to get back to being a golfer again," he said, adding that he had "maybe sacrificed a little bit of time with some of this other stuff." Whether his willingness to organize meetings and speak on behalf of the players had any lingering influence on his poor showing at Augusta is, however, uncertain and the Northern Irishman left the grounds during the storm break and did not speak to media. There certainly did not appear to be much wrong with McIlroy's swing when he practiced on the range ahead of his round on Friday morning and his popularity among the Augusta patrons was evidenced by his warm reception on the first tee. But, after a solid start on the opening hole, he walked to the second tee, oddly just as his ex-fiancé, former tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki, passed by, and from there his round fell apart. McIlroy drove into the sand and then fired over the back of the green as he bogeyed the par-5 second and by the seventh hole he had made three more bogeys. He found water with his approach on the 11th, leaving him looking distraught, and even the boost of birdies on the 13th and 15th was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 18th. As he had shown earlier in the day on the range, McIlroy has one of the best-looking swings in the game and no one has doubted his talent and ability to handle courses as challenging as Augusta. - 'The right head space' - Last year, he finished second after a superb final round of 64, just one short of the Masters record, and he came into this year's tournament saying he had all the ingredients in place for success. "I'm feeling as relaxed as I ever have coming in here. I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just as about as well as anyone," McIlroy said Tuesday. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial Ever since McIlroy's meltdown at Augusta in 2011, when the then 21-year-old went into the final round with a four-shot lead but ended it 10 strokes back, there have been people who have questioned his ability to deal with the mental side of the game. McIlroy certainly understands the importance of the mind in golf and regularly consults with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella. Perhaps it was significant that on the even of the tournament, McIlroy had referred to his "scar tissue" from Augusta and the importance of the mental game. "I've always felt like I have the physical ability to win this tournament," he said. "But it's being in the right head space to let those physical abilities shine through." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Masters 2023: World No 2 Rory McIlroy crashes out early in Augusta; wait continues for career Grand Slam

Brooks Koepka gained an early advantage in the ongoing Masters 2023 after stamping his authority with some clean finishing. Koepka scored five-under par 67 and take a four-shot lead into the weekend. One year ago, on Friday of the 2022 Masters, Brooks Koepka was so frustrated with the state of his golf after missing the cut that he tried to smash the window of his courtesy car with his bare fist while still inside the Augusta National Golf Club premises.

Not content with his first effort – which could not break the glass – Koepka had another go at it. The window somehow survived the onslaught.

“I guess Mercedes makes a pretty good back window, or I am not strong enough. I think there was just a lot of frustration,” recalls Koepka, who shattered his right kneecap after falling down in 2021, and also faced hip issues.

Unable to bend his knee, it affected his ability to crouch on the greens and read the putts and also hampered a key move in the swing where the legs push down on the ground to generate power in any golf shot.

Cut to 52 weeks later to the day, the 32-year-old walked the golf course with the same swagger that made him such a ‘major beast’ between 2017 and 2019. In that period, he won two US Opens and two PGA Championships and was also a runner-up at the 2019 Masters.

On Friday, Koepka made the most of the better playing conditions in the morning, shooting a bogey-free five under par 67 to add to his overnight 65. That gave him a four-shot lead in the clubhouse over the reigning US Amateur champion Sam Bennett (68-68).

Among players on the field when play was suspended at 4:22 pm local time – after three massive pine trees were uprooted next to the 17th tee, but miraculously did not cause any injury – were Jon Rahm, who had moved to nine-under par through nine holes and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, who had dropped one shot and was at six-under par through 10 holes.

Australian Jason Day seemed poised to get close to Koepka, but after reaching nine-under par, he dropped four shots in his last four holes, including a double bogey on the par-5 15th where he hit his third shot in the water.

Battling to make the cut was the five-time champion Tiger Woods, who was at two-over par after being even-par for the second round through 11 holes. World No2 Rory McIlroy was sure to get a weekend off after finishing on five-over par for his first two rounds.

Koepka is proving he is as tough and unbreakable as his car window. He feels he is close to his best form after enduring a couple of terrible years as he struggled with his knee injury – which he admitted led to him accepting an offer to join LIV Golf.

“I don’t think too far ahead. I just take it as it is right now, but the feeling is pretty similar. I feel really good. I like the way I’m swinging the golf club, putting it, chipping it, driving it, iron play is solid. It feels similar,” said the American, who has fallen to No118 in the world rankings.

Greenshoots started appearing in his game towards the end of last year when he won the LIV Invitational – Jeddah in October and then added another title at LIV Invitational – Florida last month.

“Even when I played and won in Saudi, I still didn’t feel like I had it fully back. I thought my game was just okay. I somehow got it around really well,” said Koepka.

“But the Saudi win came at the perfect time. I definitely needed it. I don’t know if that spurred a little bit of confidence or what else it did, I felt some momentum starting to build. I stopped thinking and feeling I can't do this anymore. And it has led me to this.”

On Friday, Koepka exploited the par-5s of Augusta National to the hilt, making birdies on three of the four, and adding an eagle on the remaining eighth hole.

“It was really solid. Didn’t do too much wrong. Maybe, the speed kind of got me on a few putts as I wasn’t hitting them hard enough towards the end. But I was striking the ball really well and leaving it in good spots,” added Koepka.

“That’s what you’ve got to do here. You've got to make birdies on these par 5s…take advantage of them. And I did a good job of that playing them 5-under.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-felicitated-by-mca-on-eve-of-el-clasico-clash-wankhede-to-have-2011-wc-victory-memorial-580217">IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial</a>

Koepka said winning major championships remains his biggest motivation and he did not want to miss playing any of them.

“The whole goal is to win the Grand Slam, right. I feel like all the greats have won here and they have all won British Opens as well. Look, I guess it’s one more box for me to tick to truly feel like I’ve done what I should have accomplished in this game,” said Koepka, who started his professional career with a Challenge Tour event in Ahmedabad in 2012.

“I’ve missed enough majors. I missed this one when Patrick Reed won. I missed the US Open that Bryson (DeChambeau) won. I missed like three or four through that whole stretch of 2016 to 2020. I am just tired of missing majors. It’s not fun. But I feel a lot better now. To be here is special. The Masters is a special event.”

Phil Mickelson, a three-time champion in Augusta and another LIV Golf star, shot a three under par 69 on Friday and was just outside the top 10 at a four under par total.

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Brooks Koepka gained an early advantage in the ongoing Masters 2023 after stamping his authority with some clean finishing. Koepka scored five-under par 67 and take a four-shot lead into the weekend.

Brooks Koepka gained an early advantage in the ongoing Masters 2023 after stamping his authority with some clean finishing. Koepka scored five-under par 67 and take a four-shot lead into the weekend. One year ago, on Friday of the 2022 Masters, Brooks Koepka was so frustrated with the state of his golf after missing the cut that he tried to smash the window of his courtesy car with his bare fist while still inside the Augusta National Golf Club premises. Not content with his first effort – which could not break the glass – Koepka had another go at it. The window somehow survived the onslaught. “I guess Mercedes makes a pretty good back window, or I am not strong enough. I think there was just a lot of frustration,” recalls Koepka, who shattered his right kneecap after falling down in 2021, and also faced hip issues. Unable to bend his knee, it affected his ability to crouch on the greens and read the putts and also hampered a key move in the swing where the legs push down on the ground to generate power in any golf shot. Cut to 52 weeks later to the day, the 32-year-old walked the golf course with the same swagger that made him such a ‘major beast’ between 2017 and 2019. In that period, he won two US Opens and two PGA Championships and was also a runner-up at the 2019 Masters. On Friday, Koepka made the most of the better playing conditions in the morning, shooting a bogey-free five under par 67 to add to his overnight 65. That gave him a four-shot lead in the clubhouse over the reigning US Amateur champion Sam Bennett (68-68). Among players on the field when play was suspended at 4:22 pm local time – after three massive pine trees were uprooted next to the 17th tee, but miraculously did not cause any injury – were Jon Rahm, who had moved to nine-under par through nine holes and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, who had dropped one shot and was at six-under par through 10 holes. Australian Jason Day seemed poised to get close to Koepka, but after reaching nine-under par, he dropped four shots in his last four holes, including a double bogey on the par-5 15th where he hit his third shot in the water. Battling to make the cut was the five-time champion Tiger Woods, who was at two-over par after being even-par for the second round through 11 holes. World No2 Rory McIlroy was sure to get a weekend off after finishing on five-over par for his first two rounds. Koepka is proving he is as tough and unbreakable as his car window. He feels he is close to his best form after enduring a couple of terrible years as he struggled with his knee injury – which he admitted led to him accepting an offer to join LIV Golf. “I don’t think too far ahead. I just take it as it is right now, but the feeling is pretty similar. I feel really good. I like the way I’m swinging the golf club, putting it, chipping it, driving it, iron play is solid. It feels similar,” said the American, who has fallen to No118 in the world rankings. Greenshoots started appearing in his game towards the end of last year when he won the LIV Invitational – Jeddah in October and then added another title at LIV Invitational – Florida last month. “Even when I played and won in Saudi, I still didn’t feel like I had it fully back. I thought my game was just okay. I somehow got it around really well,” said Koepka. “But the Saudi win came at the perfect time. I definitely needed it. I don’t know if that spurred a little bit of confidence or what else it did, I felt some momentum starting to build. I stopped thinking and feeling I can't do this anymore. And it has led me to this.” On Friday, Koepka exploited the par-5s of Augusta National to the hilt, making birdies on three of the four, and adding an eagle on the remaining eighth hole. “It was really solid. Didn’t do too much wrong. Maybe, the speed kind of got me on a few putts as I wasn’t hitting them hard enough towards the end. But I was striking the ball really well and leaving it in good spots,” added Koepka. “That’s what you’ve got to do here. You've got to make birdies on these par 5s…take advantage of them. And I did a good job of that playing them 5-under.” ALSO READ | IPL 2023: MS Dhoni felicitated by MCA on eve of El Clasico clash; Wankhede to have 2011 WC victory memorial Koepka said winning major championships remains his biggest motivation and he did not want to miss playing any of them. “The whole goal is to win the Grand Slam, right. I feel like all the greats have won here and they have all won British Opens as well. Look, I guess it’s one more box for me to tick to truly feel like I’ve done what I should have accomplished in this game,” said Koepka, who started his professional career with a Challenge Tour event in Ahmedabad in 2012. “I’ve missed enough majors. I missed this one when Patrick Reed won. I missed the US Open that Bryson (DeChambeau) won. I missed like three or four through that whole stretch of 2016 to 2020. I am just tired of missing majors. It’s not fun. But I feel a lot better now. To be here is special. The Masters is a special event.” Phil Mickelson, a three-time champion in Augusta and another LIV Golf star, shot a three under par 69 on Friday and was just outside the top 10 at a four under par total. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Masters 2023: Brooks Koepka gains major advantage in Augusta; Woods, Hovland survive, McIlroy crashes out

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Golf: STAGGERING! Masters final-round telecast ratings hit five-year high

Who is Jon Rahm? Here's all you need to know about the Masters 2023 winner's career, net worth & personal life

Masters 2023: World No 2 Rory McIlroy crashes out early in Augusta; wait continues for career Grand Slam

Masters 2023: Brooks Koepka gains major advantage in Augusta; Woods, Hovland survive, McIlroy crashes out