Rahm was one of the pre-tournament favourites - alongside Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed the halfway cut, and world number one Scheffler - after an impressive year in the lead-up to the first men's major of the season.

With three wins on the PGA Tour this year, plus four top-10 finishes in six previous Masters starts, Rahm had the form and previous pedigree to win at Augusta - and he duly delivered.

Remarkably, he started his bid on Thursday with a double bogey after a four-putt on the first hole. After that he barely made a wrong move.

Rahm showed all facets of his outstanding all-round game - particularly his relentlessly huge driving and nerveless putting - to record an opening round of 65 and then posting scores of 69, 73 and 69.

Not only did Rahm win the iconic Green Jacket for the first time, he also returned to the world number one ranking.

Leading by four shots with four holes left to play, he maintained that advantage going into the 18th hole and could even afford to hit his final drive into the trees.

The ball ended up bouncing back into play and landing 150 yards from the tee, but he retained composure to lay up and knock a sublime chip to within a few feet for an unorthodox par.

"It was a very unusual par, very much a Seve par - it was in a non purposeful way, a testament to him. I know he was pulling for me and it was a great Sunday," added the 28-year-old.

"This one is for Seve. I knew he would be up there helping and help he did."

After sinking his final putt, Rahm shook his clenched fists while looking up to the sky.

His family - wife Kelley, along with two sons Kepa and Eneko - quickly joined him on the 18th green before he was congratulated further by friends and family.

Those included compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal, another two-time Masters champion and one of Rahm's mentors.

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